(no subject)

[nny]

Apparently I won't be doing the educational study that I had in mind, which is... disappointing.

I have spoken to my professional tutor about it and he doesn't consider that it would be of use to the school, doesn't think I could speak to pupils about it and doesn't consider that any staff would give me more than one word answers. So unless I can come up with a slant to it that he feels would be of use, I won't be doing it.

I can see where he's coming from; I was considering it from too academic a perspective, I think. Still, it's disappointing, and has answered at least one of the questions I was hoping to answer: it would seem that LGBT pupils would indeed be disadvantaged by going to a secondary school with sixth form (11-18) rather than a seperate sixth form college (17-18).

I'm going to speak to the teacher that covers sex ed and such anyway, see if there are any resources should questions be raised in lessons (with an entirely possible subsidiary question of 'if not, why not?')

It was kind of hard to take as a reaction; I felt like an idiot for suggesting it, although I'm not sure if that was due to the reaction it received or because the refusal (and the implication that it was unimportant as an issue) brought up a lot of the problems I had with the issue when I was just coming to terms with it myself. Also there was the feeling that accepting his dismissal was kind of... betraying queerdom, in a way. However I'm an adult, and nothing has proved that more than being able to weigh up the sides of this argument and decide that I am not wrong but that my position as trainee teacher (essentially powerless and at the whim of the school) means that it's something I should address later. And I will.

Comments

[merrymoll.livejournal.com]

Looks like the pupils, regardless of sexual orientation, are still going to have to rely on *themselves* to track down pertinent information then... Doesn't look like things have changed much since I was at school (18 to 13 years ago).

Helping to prevent teenage pregnancies and or sexually transmitted diseases, or helping a kid who might be confused about their orientation isn't pertinent to the School? Eh?

DON'T feel like an idiot for having suggested it, as it was a damn fine idea. You're quite right to keep it in mind for later. You've lost a battle, not the war. Kudos to you!

[liz666.livejournal.com]

Oh sweetie that sucks! But it does prove your point-it is an important issue to young people and should be addressed. You're not an idiot for suggesting it at all and you definitely will be able to go back to it at a later time when you are in a stronger position.

It's a shame that this school and probably many others still have this attitude. They don't seem to realise that approaching this subject in an adult manner is the best way to alleviate confusion and prevent STDs and unwanted pregnancy. You've learned this for yourself but many don't find out for themselves until it's too late. Prove yourself in the classroom and the course and then you will able to address it better than maybe you could do now.

*snuggles*

[silveraspen]

I'm sorry, hon. It's hard to be all excited about a research topic and find that for one reason or another it's not truly feasible.

Not uncommon, but hard.

*sends tea*

Don't feel like an idiot. Everything begins with an idea, and ideas get reshaped.

[blueeyedtigress.livejournal.com]

Sometimes an idea has to be suggested several times until they think it's their idea before people are receptive to it.

Don't discount the panicky knee-jerk reaction to this being about sex, and sex is private, WTFOMGBBQastheysayPONIES!!!1!!1!!! You'll get that reaction a LOT, especially from representatives of older generations.

Good for you, keep up the good work, and nolite bastardos carborundum, eh? ;]

[vimeslady.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, dear. I'm also disappointed personally, because it sounded so interesting and pertinent.

Professional tutor qualifies more as an idiot than you do.