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Expert wants homophobic slurs to stop U of A professor says teachers should intervene when students say 'fag' or 'that's so gay'Kevin Allerston Northern News Services Published Friday, April 20, 2012
Kristopher Wells, a professor and researcher with the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services at the University of Alberta, gave a presentation to about 20 community members and school administrators at William McDonald School Wednesday evening. "What the school board is doing is important. First of all, showing leadership by hosting these talks and presentations. That's incredibly important and speaks to the importance that the school district and board put to this particular issue, bullying in general, creating safe caring, respectful and inclusive schools," said Wells. "The bottom line is that students can't learn when they don't feel safe," Wells said. "In the educational system, professional development is critical, you know, having safe places for teachers to be able to talk about their experiences and to learn what does homophobic bullying look like and how do you address it when you see and hear it, because silence makes you complicit in it. Silence is never neutral," he said. That bullying, Wells said, doesn't always take the form of traditional bullying where a student is physically attacked or specifically harassed. Often, he said, it is the language that is used by students, such as calling a classmate a "fag" or using the phrase "that's so gay" to describe something a student doesn't like. He said when a teacher or other staff member hears language like this, they must intervene. "The first thing they should do is intervene, because if you don't your silence signals that you are complicit in that act of discrimination," said Wells. Metro Huculak, superintendent of Yellowknife Education District No. 1, attended the presentation and said that, while his emphasis is on all forms of bullying, he would be willing to have Wells back to speak with teachers, principals and other school staff about how to deal with homophobia among students. "They are more prepared to deal with the other forms of bullying, so I think having him come up and speak with staff I think will support staff in being able to deal with that type of bullying," said Huculak. When asked about whether the school district would consider instituting policies specific to homophobic bullying, Huculak again said the emphasis is on all forms of bullying. According to YK1 documents, the school district's policy toward bullying includes speaking with all parties involved in any reported bullying with a report going to the principal and informing parents that an incident is being investigated. The principal is to decide on a consequence in collaboration with administrators, counsellors and teachers, and there is to be monitoring of the situation by school staff. Wells also had meetings scheduled with the NWT Human Rights Commission and YK1 administration yesterday and today.
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