#EDMCS Validation

[bispsolutions]

Oracle EDMCS Validation

[flatfreire]

       Flat Freire is drawing attention to the fact that for the first time in my entire educational career, my EDMC 3300 professor has explicitly stated his pronoun in his syllabus.  Professor Felton-Koestler not only has this written down in his syllabus, but he also introduced himself to the class by expressing his preferred pronouns. At the time I thought, “Wow this is going to be the next, big thing”.  I did not really appreciate the significance nor how powerful his statement truly meant for students who are gender non-conforming. During the LGBT Speak Out, the guest speakers encouraged us to not be afraid to ask students what their preferred pronouns are, and to even purposely facilitate this as a whole class share out.  Although at the time, what Professor Felton- Koestler said seemed quite revolutionary and perhaps a bit “radical” hopefully one day this will be normalized and become something students at the elementary, secondary and post-secondary level will come to expect.  

  In our class, we were all expected to read GLAAD, “Media Reference Guide: Transgender Issues”.  This article, also argues that we should ask a transgender person what pronouns they would like you to use (p. 5).  I can only speak for myself, but when working with students who I cannot “visible” tell if they are male or female, I am way too afraid to ask them what their preferred pronouns are.  For instance, my first year ever as counselor there was a child with long blonde hair.  I was having a huge internal discrepancy because I could not tell if the child was a girl or a boy.  For those first weeks of camp, I avoided speaking to the child altogether because I was too afraid to hurt their feelings and embarrass myself. However, I realize how much easier this situation would have went if I had just asked him what his preferred pronouns were from day one. In fact, if I modeled this behavior perhaps other children would not have the same unanswered questions as well and would emulate my behavior in the future. Clearly, Professor Felton-Koestler is encouraging his students to tell him our preferred pronouns in hopes that one day we will grant our students’ the same opportunity. 

  Lastly, in the reading "Naming All the Parts" which was written by Kate Bornstein. Bornstein brings up a good point, “Do we have the legal or moral right to decide and assign our own gender” (p. 23).  As educators, it is our job to promote and expand student’s growth. Thus, we must provide opportunities for our students to share their preferred pronouns like Professor Felton-Koestler did in his syllabus. Students deserve to be validated and respected. We cannot truly respect them if we continuously antagonize them by using the wrong pronouns. At the end of the day, it is time that we start using a person’s preferred pronoun, and it is time we expose our student’s to the fact that everyone is different, but being different is perfectly normal and definitely acceptable! 

Posted by Ariana

[bispsolutions]

EDMCS NODE Validation