Kathleen Anderson

I believe that one of the central missions of public education is to teach students to live in a multicultural society, and to be respectful of others who do not share the same backgrounds, beliefs, abilities or ways of thinking about identity, gender or sexuality. This can be done sensitively, respectfully, at appropriate developmental stages, and in dialog with parents and local community members. It is not well done by trying to legislate only one way of thinking about identity. We know what happens when young people are told that they are misfits, or sinners: drug abuse, self-loathing, and even suicide. Schools have to be safe.places where students can express themselves and learn respect for diversity. If we do not provide constructive ways to think about identity, students will be ill prepared for the world beyond high school.