Gay Parenting 101: Choosing a School Which Supports Gay Families
Note: The onslaught of non-fiction 
mofic entries continues: meta, memes and this ongoing series on the basics of gay parenting. This one covers choosing a school. It's a revised and updated version of an essay I published after going through the process of choosing an elementary school for my eldest child, who is now 18.
Choosing a School Which Supports Gay Families
At this time of year, many parents are looking towards the fall, and the schools their children will attend. If your child will be entering preschool or kindergarten next autumn, you are probably looking at educational options now. If you are unhappy with an older child's school placement, you may be looking to change. In making these choices, it is incumbent upon us, as lesbian and gay parents, to consider how the school will view and teach about our families.
In order for schools to be appropriate places of learning for our children, they must be places where our kids can feel that their families are accorded the same respect as other children's families. They must be places where books, pictures, and classroom mention of families include depictions of the lives of children with same-sex parents. If our families are treated with disdain and hostility, or merely ignored, our children are presented with an obstacle to learning, and to enjoying school. We need to be sure that we are placing our children in schools which not only meet our children's academic needs, but where their needs for affirmation and celebration of their families are understood and accepted.
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ObFanfic connection: Unless Xavier's starts a preschool and elementary education program, Jean-Paul and Adam are going to need to find a gay-friendly, mutant-friendly school for Ezra pretty soon.
This is the seventh essay in an occasional series on lesbian and gay parenting. Previous essays in this series are available in my journal archives, and also on my website here .
Oh, and the school we chose turned out to be wonderful for our whole family for the thirteen years we had at least one child there. See My Tearful Good-bye to see why.
mofic entries continues: meta, memes and this ongoing series on the basics of gay parenting. This one covers choosing a school. It's a revised and updated version of an essay I published after going through the process of choosing an elementary school for my eldest child, who is now 18.Choosing a School Which Supports Gay Families
At this time of year, many parents are looking towards the fall, and the schools their children will attend. If your child will be entering preschool or kindergarten next autumn, you are probably looking at educational options now. If you are unhappy with an older child's school placement, you may be looking to change. In making these choices, it is incumbent upon us, as lesbian and gay parents, to consider how the school will view and teach about our families.
In order for schools to be appropriate places of learning for our children, they must be places where our kids can feel that their families are accorded the same respect as other children's families. They must be places where books, pictures, and classroom mention of families include depictions of the lives of children with same-sex parents. If our families are treated with disdain and hostility, or merely ignored, our children are presented with an obstacle to learning, and to enjoying school. We need to be sure that we are placing our children in schools which not only meet our children's academic needs, but where their needs for affirmation and celebration of their families are understood and accepted.
( Collapse )
ObFanfic connection: Unless Xavier's starts a preschool and elementary education program, Jean-Paul and Adam are going to need to find a gay-friendly, mutant-friendly school for Ezra pretty soon.
This is the seventh essay in an occasional series on lesbian and gay parenting. Previous essays in this series are available in my journal archives, and also on my website here .
Oh, and the school we chose turned out to be wonderful for our whole family for the thirteen years we had at least one child there. See My Tearful Good-bye to see why.
