It Will Get Better

Think back. Was this past Monday different from any others? Did you do anything to commemorate the day? Did the dynamic of your class change in any manner?

I sincerely hope that it did.

I speak not about Columbus Day, although I enjoy celebrating the achievements of an opium addict as much as the next, I speak of National Coming Out Day.

I bring up this topic not because I’m trying to take a stand on the issue of homosexuality, nor am I advocating that any of you do the same. Rather I bring attention to this day because I worry that many are unaware of its existence.

As teachers it is imperative that our classrooms be safe havens for students of every variety, no matter what their backgrounds, or life “choices” may be. In theory, I think we can all agree with this, but in practice it’s a heck of a lot harder than it sounds.  We all come to the table with our own set of biases and prejudice. I have mine and no matter what I do I probably always will, at least to some extent. That being said, I know that I can never show these biases to my students. It would instantly destroy the safe haven that I am trying to construct.

This brings me to my point. Don’t celebrate National Coming Out Day in your classrooms, inherently that’s going to offend someone, but rather simply acknowledge that equality days like these exist, and acknowledge them all. In this way, those few students, for whom that day makes a difference, will know that they are safe and can choose for themselves how they want to express it.

I suppose I lied to you. I do not hope that last Monday was different for you and your students. Instead I hope that everyday celebrates an atmosphere of comfort and safety, rather than simply a few artificial days throughout the year.

-Christopher Bruce