A Troubling Trend: Discussing Bullying and Antigay Attitudes
By SARAH KAVANAGH AND HOLLY EPSTEIN OJALVO
Overview | What is the societal climate for antigay bullying in schools and a recent rash of related student suicides? What, if anything, can be done to make schools safer and more inclusive? In this lesson, students examine and discuss responses to the recent suicides that have occurred amid antigay bullying and complete an optional campaign to foster safety and acceptance at their own school.
Materials | Copies of handouts, including the Bullying in Our School Communityquestionnaire (PDF); resources for creating optional campaigns as described in the Going Further section below
Note to Teacher | This lesson raises sensitive issues regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teenagers, and the article is about the suicides of several young people. As always, please
