Gay Teachers – thinking about quitting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one cares if you are gay, but it doesn't mean you need to broadcast it every minute.

You know what's the worst thing? Heterosexuals holding hands and kissing and talking about their kids in public broadcasting it. Then coming onto an LGBT board and complaining about gay people doing that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My advice would be to do your job and not talk about your personal life. In fact, that's the advice for ALL teachers. I'm not sure why my kid's gay language teacher insists on saying things like, "That was a gay thing to say." Sexuality has no place in the classroom because it is irrelevant to the task at hand. Doubtful you will be accused of grooming anyone if you keep your personal life private. Again, that goes for all teachers, not just gay ones.

Same with my kid's 6th-grade science teacher. Nobody cares that he is gay, and he is pretty flamboyant about it, but he rants about hating school, told the students he uses every sick day he can, and goes on 20+ minute rants about liberal politics and how global warming will kill them in the next 20 years. I am fine with my kid knowing he is gay, but he should be teaching science, and not indoctrinating. My kids group of friends compare stories and laugh about the teacher's latest rants, but they get frustrated since they end up with homework they could have finished in class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My advice would be to do your job and not talk about your personal life. In fact, that's the advice for ALL teachers. I'm not sure why my kid's gay language teacher insists on saying things like, "That was a gay thing to say." Sexuality has no place in the classroom because it is irrelevant to the task at hand. Doubtful you will be accused of grooming anyone if you keep your personal life private. Again, that goes for all teachers, not just gay ones.

Same with my kid's 6th-grade science teacher. Nobody cares that he is gay, and he is pretty flamboyant about it, but he rants about hating school, told the students he uses every sick day he can, and goes on 20+ minute rants about liberal politics and how global warming will kill them in the next 20 years. I am fine with my kid knowing he is gay, but he should be teaching science, and not indoctrinating. My kids group of friends compare stories and laugh about the teacher's latest rants, but they get frustrated since they end up with homework they could have finished in class.

It may be a few more years than 20, but what else should a science teacher be ranting about more than global warming?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My advice would be to do your job and not talk about your personal life. In fact, that's the advice for ALL teachers. I'm not sure why my kid's gay language teacher insists on saying things like, "That was a gay thing to say." Sexuality has no place in the classroom because it is irrelevant to the task at hand. Doubtful you will be accused of grooming anyone if you keep your personal life private. Again, that goes for all teachers, not just gay ones.

Same with my kid's 6th-grade science teacher. Nobody cares that he is gay, and he is pretty flamboyant about it, but he rants about hating school, told the students he uses every sick day he can, and goes on 20+ minute rants about liberal politics and how global warming will kill them in the next 20 years. I am fine with my kid knowing he is gay, but he should be teaching science, and not indoctrinating. My kids group of friends compare stories and laugh about the teacher's latest rants, but they get frustrated since they end up with homework they could have finished in class.

It may be a few more years than 20, but what else should a science teacher be ranting about more than global warming?

Actually teaching real science and methods that will educate them for harder science studies and objective thinking. But you knew that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My advice would be to do your job and not talk about your personal life. In fact, that's the advice for ALL teachers. I'm not sure why my kid's gay language teacher insists on saying things like, "That was a gay thing to say." Sexuality has no place in the classroom because it is irrelevant to the task at hand. Doubtful you will be accused of grooming anyone if you keep your personal life private. Again, that goes for all teachers, not just gay ones.

So, no teachers should ever mention their partners/spouses?

Correct!! My kids’ teachers talk so much about their partners and their KIDS, good lord. No one cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the most insane thread. Good teacher connect with their students. Good teachers often connect with their students by sharing about their lives. Teachers expect students to share personal anecdotes as part of writing instruction. As models, teachers share perusal anecdotes. Why should teachers not be allowed to represent themselves completely? Sharing about your personal life is not imposing your beliefs on anyone. Sharing that you went to the beach with your partner and your kids doesn't mean your students need to grow up to have a partner or to have children. Good teachers know how to share within acceptable boundaries. Good teachers, we need you! Please continue to be yourselves in school.

Good teachers keep their family chat to a minimum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My advice would be to do your job and not talk about your personal life. In fact, that's the advice for ALL teachers. I'm not sure why my kid's gay language teacher insists on saying things like, "That was a gay thing to say." Sexuality has no place in the classroom because it is irrelevant to the task at hand. Doubtful you will be accused of grooming anyone if you keep your personal life private. Again, that goes for all teachers, not just gay ones.

I disagree. It’s important that gay teachers be open and talk about their sexuality precisely because moronic parents try to shelter their children from the reality that gay people exist. Don’t hide who you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My advice would be to do your job and not talk about your personal life. In fact, that's the advice for ALL teachers. I'm not sure why my kid's gay language teacher insists on saying things like, "That was a gay thing to say." Sexuality has no place in the classroom because it is irrelevant to the task at hand. Doubtful you will be accused of grooming anyone if you keep your personal life private. Again, that goes for all teachers, not just gay ones.

I disagree. It’s important that gay teachers be open and talk about their sexuality precisely because moronic parents try to shelter their children from the reality that gay people exist. Don’t hide who you are.

Because why? Should they also talk about their religion? Their girlfriends and boyfriends? Their poverty or wealth? Their dyed hair which used to be brown? Why does this relate to math or science or social studies or English? The class is for the students, not the teacher. Sure if there is an appropriate story related to teaching you can point it out - My boyfriend and I were buying a car this weekend and realized the sales tax had increased to 5%, but no parent wants their kid's math teacher to spend a lot of time talking about their personal life unless it relates to math. And give me a break that the DC area population doesn't know that gay people exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My advice would be to do your job and not talk about your personal life. In fact, that's the advice for ALL teachers. I'm not sure why my kid's gay language teacher insists on saying things like, "That was a gay thing to say." Sexuality has no place in the classroom because it is irrelevant to the task at hand. Doubtful you will be accused of grooming anyone if you keep your personal life private. Again, that goes for all teachers, not just gay ones.

I disagree. It’s important that gay teachers be open and talk about their sexuality precisely because moronic parents try to shelter their children from the reality that gay people exist. Don’t hide who you are.

Are you crazy?? Teachers should not talk about their “sexuality” - no matter what. THAT is a quick way to get fired. As it should be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My advice would be to do your job and not talk about your personal life. In fact, that's the advice for ALL teachers. I'm not sure why my kid's gay language teacher insists on saying things like, "That was a gay thing to say." Sexuality has no place in the classroom because it is irrelevant to the task at hand. Doubtful you will be accused of grooming anyone if you keep your personal life private. Again, that goes for all teachers, not just gay ones.

I disagree. It’s important that gay teachers be open and talk about their sexuality precisely because moronic parents try to shelter their children from the reality that gay people exist. Don’t hide who you are.

Are you crazy?? Teachers should not talk about their “sexuality” - no matter what. THAT is a quick way to get fired. As it should be.

I definitely had female teachers that mentioned their husbands hand children. How is that any different from a gay man mentioning his husband or children?

[Anonymous]

This is all such a weird thread. Any good educator knows that relationship building is CRUCIAL to student engagement and successful classroom management. My students share about interactions with their families so of course I share about mine. When I was getting married, I kept a copy of the invitation in my classroom leading up to the wedding day. I don't understand why some teachers feel the need to keep your personal life hidden, and it makes me sad to hear that a gay teacher is being advised to do just that.

[Anonymous]

He's not. It's just not that special. There is no need to make a teaching moment all the time. If it relates to the discussion or some big event the kids want to know about, go ahead.

[Anonymous]

It's like he's trying to make a play out of his life when certainly in drama it's not going to make waves to be a gay teacher in this day and age. He's paranoid about it, but nothing has actually happened to him. It doesn't make sense to leave a teaching field because of a fear that doesn't actually exist in reality for you. Enough people stay in jobs they don't like for real problems. Maybe he's tired of his career and just wants an excuse to leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a gay middle school drama teacher (cliche I know) and the thing that is pushing me out of the field isn't the pandemic or the kids' post-quarantine behavioral problems/mental health crisis, but the idea that I might get accused of "grooming" a student.

The attacks on teachers across the board are so demoralizing but the worsening levels of overt homophobia and transphobia on the right are just so terrifying and exhausting. I love my students. I love teaching. I really don't know if I can stick it out if this is the new normal.

It's simple...just do your damn job. Don't discuss anything other than what you are paid to do (and what you should be doing)...and that is math/algebra, English, history, etc.... School isn't a place to talk about personal issues. Keep away from all that liberal arts crap and teach the children what they need to succeed. If you have a kid in your class who is gay and asking you something...then you do the right thing and tell them to speak with their parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My advice would be to do your job and not talk about your personal life. In fact, that's the advice for ALL teachers. I'm not sure why my kid's gay language teacher insists on saying things like, "That was a gay thing to say." Sexuality has no place in the classroom because it is irrelevant to the task at hand. Doubtful you will be accused of grooming anyone if you keep your personal life private. Again, that goes for all teachers, not just gay ones.

So, no teachers should ever mention their partners/spouses?

I cannot remember a time when a teacher mentioned or needed to mention their spouse. Good try on trying to push your agenda.

Are you kidding? Teachers reference their spouses ALL THE TIME. It’s totally normal, as it should be. THey are humans.

I never knew anything about my teacher's spouses. That is useless information. Do you think teachers in China are talking about their spouses to their students?...hell no! And that is why Asian kids succeed academically on average, compared to American kids...