Do the schools in Haifa accept proud students and teachers? Do students feel comfortable sharing their inclinations with other students and the teaching staff without fear of paying a price?
"Sometimes I teach in a class where there is a student who, already in the seventh grade, told everyone that he is gay, and suddenly one of the children slaps another student, 'You're gay,' and then I immediately look at the student who shared his sexual orientation with everyone and I die of fear," says a middle school teacher In one of the schools in Carmel. "When he came out of the closet a year ago, he was 12 years old, I wasn't sure he even knew the meaning of the matter to the end, but a year and a half has passed since then and he seems to know very well. It's an amazing piece, which 10 years ago middle school students didn't allow themselves to talk about their sexual orientations, and now children feel comfortable to come and say 'we like boys and not girls'. I think it has to do with what is happening in the country, I feel that the atmosphere is more tolerant and open. Today there are many artists and creators who upload pictures to social networks with their partner And proud of their gay relationship, it gives courage to our students and in my eyes it's excellent," she says.
"To each his own time"
"Of course, there are also cases of students I see in class, who seem to me to be yet to discover themselves, or they are still hiding or not talking about it. Sometimes it is really noticeable, and I never know if these students know about their tendency, but it is still difficult for them to share, or they still don't know for themselves. I feel that adolescence is not an easy age in any case, and it is not easy, along with the 'usual' difficulties, to also come out of the closet. I certainly understand those who wait until high school, or even a later stage, after that they crystallize among themselves. Everyone has their own time and rhythm."
Indeed, the word "gay" and other words that used to be considered derogatory words or insults, are still heard among the students who use them as if it were a curse, something that is now clearly problematic, especially if there are LGBT students in the class.
I kissed a girlfriend - what does that mean about me?
"In the summer of a year ago, I found myself kissing one of my friends," says a 9th grade student at a middle school in the city, "At first I was very confused and I didn't know if a few kisses meant I was a lesbian or not. I also didn't have too much to ask. Obviously That I wouldn't bring such a thing to my mother, she would just freak out. And it didn't occur to me to tell my friends, or even someone from school, who could tell everyone, and then I really wouldn't be able to leave the house.
I was very afraid that other people would know about it, to the point where I would dream about it at night out of hysteria. The relationship with that girl stopped and during the year I found some friends with whom I felt more open and shared with them. I hope I will find that they are worthy of the trust I have placed in them. Anyway, I still have no idea what this means about me and who I will be interested in next school year, when I'm in high school. For sure, I hope no one will know about what happened to me, even though I really didn't do anything bad or forbidden."
LGBT teachers
Schools also deal with the issue when it comes to LGBT teachers. There is no doubt that today sexual tendencies and differences between people in general are discussed in our society with greater openness and acceptance than ever before. LGBT teachers teach in schools, when their lifestyles are visible and they are much less busy, if In general, in hiding it, unlike what was customary 10 or 20 years ago. Of course, there is still a long way to go and there are still stereotypes and prejudices towards LGBT people on various levels, but in general, we live today in a much more inclusive and accepting society compared to the one that was here not many years ago.
The educator returned as an educator
Just a few years ago, in one of the high schools in Carmel, there was a teacher who informed the administration of his intention to undergo a sex change process, and that he would return after the long vacation as a female teacher. The school accepted things in the most inclusive and open way imaginable. The students who said goodbye to their teacher on 20/6 at the end of the school year, met a female teacher at the beginning of the following school year. The school has demonstrated openness and tolerance and there is no doubt that this deserves all praise. It must be assumed that a certain adaptation process is required, both on the part of the students and on the part of that teacher's colleagues, but the very fact that this was possible and the school's blessing was given, there is a lesson in accepting the person as he is, a lesson as important and significant as any other lesson learned in school.
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Ministry of Education: individual and systemic response
A gender instructor from the Ministry of Education in the district, Dafna Tzin, told Lahi Pa:
As part of the action of the Ministry of Education, which is led by the unit for sexuality and prevention of harm to children of the psychological-consultative service, also in the schools of the Haifa district, the answer is given both at the systemic level and at the individual level. The individual response includes personal accompaniment to the students by the school counselor and providing emotional support if necessary, and creating a safe space. The systemic response includes working with the student population and teachers, with the aim of developing tolerance and preventing expressions of LGBTphobia.
In recent years, the Ministry of Education budgets for workshops for educational staff and students, dealing with sexual orientation and gender identity, within the framework of the budget regulation for education for tolerance.
Many schools in the Haifa district have been inviting the proud organizations to conduct these workshops for years.
In addition, every year on 17/5/22 the schools mark the day of understanding and talk in the classrooms with the students about the importance of tolerance and expressing a position against expressions of hatred based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
For years in elementary, middle and high school I was neglected.
I didn't fall between the chairs, I was thrown between them and trampled under the size of the **** placed on me.
12 years of ignoring a child who is starving, neglected and full of anxiety and adjustment problems, who has nowhere or no one to return to every day.
Go ahead, eat until you eat yourselves, you bunch of wretches.