TCNJ student organizes workshop on sexual and gender identity for future educators

TCNJ green hall.jpg

TCNJ file photo

(Michael Mancuso | Times of Trenton)

EWING — A workshop at The College of New Jersey aimed to give future teachers and counselors some insight on working with students of various genders.

Student Megan Osika felt there was a lack of awareness about sex and gender issues being raised in classes for education majors. So she, along with other students, faculty and staff, set up Sexual and Gender Identities Every Educator Should Know.

The workshop, which wrapped up its fourth two-hour session last month, featured a number of different presenters who worked to build an understanding of what lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and queer students might be going through and the support they may need.

“Its very hard for students to learn if they have all these other things going on,” Osika said. “Am I safe here? Am I respected here?”

Julie Howe, adviser for Prism, the college’s support and awareness organization for LGBTQ issues, spoke about how these future teachers will be able to communicate to LGBTQ students that they can feel comfortable in the classroom.

“Books in your library or messages on your board. There’s a lot of ways you can say that this is a safe space,” Howe said.

Another presenter, counselor education professor Stuart Roe, said LGBTQ students often don’t have many people to turn to for support.

He told the group members to be explicit about their support, so that students understand where they stand. If, for example, a teacher makes it clear that they won’t tolerate derogatory language toward LGBTQ groups, it will make students feel better even if their peers continue to use such language.

Osika who studies English, secondary education and women’s and gender studies at the college, said that education majors can go through their entire program without being taught how to work with and support LGBTQ youth.

“In my mind, it’s a really smart way to garner acceptance in the queer community by educating future educators,” Osika said.

It may be more effective than similar efforts to reach educators who are already in the field because they are just beginning their careers, she said.

“Every teacher in here might encounter hundreds and hundreds of students,” Osika said.

Brendan McGrath may be reached at bmcgrath@njtimes.com. Follow him on Twitter @brendanrmcgrath. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

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