Talking Points #3

Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community by Dennis Carlson

This reading was a little too long, and it seemed like it kept draging. I did like some of the points he made, how gayness should be taught in schools, and should exist in the community. He wants everyone to be treated the same as people, and shouldnt be stereotyped as being contagious, gross, and all the other stereotypes gay people are called.He also states that it is the job of teachers and leaders to use the words "gay", "lesbian", "homosexual", etc. in their language, because it isn't something to be ashamed of just another aspect of life different from the "normals".
1.) "Much as communist teachers were to be drummed out of the teaching corps because communism was 'contagious', so gay teachers were to be fired because they too were understood as contagious" I found this quote very disturbing, i dont think that anyone should have to be treated different just because of their sexuality. Carlson got this from Waller, and he also said that "homosexual teachers were presumed to be lecherous and develop "rediculous crushes" on students." when Waller said this i got very upset. Just because a teacher is gay, does not mean that he's going to have crushes on students. Gay does not mean pediphile. i just didnt agree with any one these quotes at all, teachers should be able to teach without being catorgorized as contagious, thats truely awful id people think that.
2.) "The problem with the message, "be yourself", is that it fails to account for the fact that the 'self'' is at least partially historical, cultural, and discursive production, which set limits apon even if they do not determine, one's "possibilities of existence"." this quote was interesting, one cannot be themselve if they are gay because of the way they'd be constructing and disempowering identities. being gay was to be known as flamboyant, emotionally unstable, and a feminized male. If you weren't this things you weren't out of the closet.
3.) "The objective of classroom discourse is thus not so much to achieve consensus on "truth" or "objective" depiction of reality, but rather to clarify differences and agreements, work toward coalition-building across difference when possible, and build relationships based on caring and equity." I thought this quote was a good one, its really what teachers have to do in order to make the classroom a comfortable learning environment. they need to also teach about these differences so they can bulid relationship with each other about subject of gayness and multiculturalism.
This reading was not as interesting to me as some of the others. Carlson made some good points in it and interesting ones as well. but it just didnt keep my attention, i had to re read a lot of things, because it was so long and draged on. :(