A school geared specifically towards LGBT students may be opening its doors in Manchester, England within the next three years.
“It is about trying to develop something that helps people that need extra support,” Amelia Lee, strategic director for LGBT Youth North West in Manchester, told The Guardian. “Despite the laws that claim to protect gay people from homophobic bullying, the truth is that in schools especially, bullying is still incredibly common and causes young people to feel isolated and alienated, which often leads to truanting and, in the worst-case scenarios, to suicide.”
The proposed school will be located in the heart of Manchester and will offer classroom space for up to 40 full-time students, as well as 20 part-time students who also want to continue attending a mainstream school.
“This is not about making a little, safe enclave away from the real world,” Lee said. “The school will have a gentle, supportive atmosphere. Its curriculum will be closely tailored to each child’s needs and incorporate academic work with youth-work techniques, such as building self-esteem and functional skills by working in the charity’s cafe or community garden.”
Lee noted that the present school system in Manchester is failing 5-10 percent of pupils, many of whom either don’t respond well to the structure or are struggling with their identities. This new school will offer them an alternative and a place to thrive.
“We can either hope every school is going to be inclusive,” Lee said, “or we can recognize we are not there yet and so, for the moment, we need more specialized schools.”
“It will be LGBT-inclusive, but not exclusive,” she said.
But not everyone agrees with Lee. Some LGBT rights activists feel a school of this sort doesn’t help to advance their cause.
“We know that LGBT students still experience bullying and harassment. That needs to change,” Ruth Hunt, chief executive of the LGBT advocacy group Stonewall, tells the Guardian. “While we’re sympathetic to the aims and objectives of LGBT-only schools, we don’t see them as the answer.”
“Our experience working with more than 12,000 schools across the country shows that it is possible to create safe and inclusive environments where all pupils can be themselves,” she continues. “This makes the learning environment better for all students–regardless of their sexual orientation–and is the key to eradicating homophobia in every single school in Britain.”
But there are plenty of young people who feel that a specialized school is absolutely necessary.
Ellie (not her real name) told the Guardian that after she was outed by someone at her school the fallout was “awful” and that “none of the teachers did anything to help me.” In fact, some went out of their way to make things worse.
“The PE teacher made me change clothes with the lads because she said I wasn’t attracted to them,” Ellie said. “It annoyed me so much that I stopped going to PE, which meant I got in trouble for missing the lessons.”
She eventually had to transfer to a new school.
Rob (also not his real name) told the Guardian that constant homophobic bullying made his school experience extremely difficult. He, too, blames his teachers for not doing enough to stick up for him.
“They need to help us feel safe in our own environment of school,” Ron said. “And they should teach the other students how LGBT people just want to be like anyone else. But none of this happens and, as a result, LGBT pupils routinely experience bullying that, if it was racist or sexist, wouldn’t be accepted by the school for a second.”
The new school is being planned as an extension to Manchester’s Joyce Layland LGBT Centre and will likely open in 2018.
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loren_1955
Similar high school exists in Phoenix, Arizona as part of the 1in10 organization. The students are thriving having a safe place to go at least part of the day. For some that may be the only alternative to suicide. Manchester is doing the right thing.
DarkZephyr
@loren_1955: I would have LOVED to attend such a school when I was a teenager in the 1990s. My teen years were NOT easy thanks to anti-gay bullying.
jwtraveler
The Harvey Milk School in NYC has been there since 1985. It has helped hundreds, maybe thousands of kids get an education. It would be great if there were no need for a place like this and every LGBTQ kid could get an education in a safe, supportive school. Sadly, that’s not the case. Until there is equality in education here and abroad, there is a need for more schools like this. Bullying doesn’t build anyone’s character.
polarisfashion
@DarkZephyr: I agree, such a school would have been great! It would have been nice to not have to worry daily about homophobic people hell bent on making life miserable for me.
Large Marge
“We know that LGBT students still experience bullying and harassment. That needs to change,” Ruth Hunt, chief executive of the LGBT advocacy group Stonewall, tells the Guardian. “While we’re sympathetic to the aims and objectives of LGBT-only schools, we don’t see them as the answer.”
“Our experience working with more than 12,000 schools across the country shows that it is possible to create safe and inclusive environments where all pupils can be themselves,” she continues. “This makes the learning environment better for all students–regardless of their sexual orientation–and is the key to eradicating homophobia in every single school in Britain.”
Okay biatch… it may be possible to change the schools, but YOU AIN’T DOING IT FAST ENOUGH… do you want these kids to endure torture at the hands of their peers (and that’s exactly what it is) because you feel that your program can eradicate it… if your program worked, this school wouldn’t be needed you daft woman. You have a lofty and noble goal… but that isn’t helping the students in school now who are being literally bullied to death.
Clark35
@jwtraveler: The Harvey Milk school is a total joke, and you don’t get a good education there.
LGBT people do not need special schools, or any other stuff like this.
Sebizzar
YES this is a good idea, too bad it can’t be in places that could really use it(like the South U.S.). Kids need to focus on education and if they’re being bullied we all know they’re most likely to drop out or worse end their life.
DarkZephyr
@Large Marge: *thunderous applause*
@Clark35: I don’t know anything about that school. Other than your disagreement of a school especially for LGBT students, what makes it a “joke” and a poor school for students to get an education? Also, can you explain why you feel that our LGBT youth doesn’t need “special” schools?
juicestyx
Personally I think it’s an excellent Idea. As a bisexual student who goes to a school which has supposedly had “help and guidance” to become a bully and homophobia free environment I can safely say that this school will be the only school that truly is homophobia free to the highest possible extent. The statement “Our experience working with more than 12,000 schools across the country shows that it is possible to create safe and inclusive environments where all pupils can be themselves,” may be true in some cases to an extent, but it certainly isn’t in the school I attend. I’m still bullied and ridiculed on a daily basis as it has been since I came out. These schools they’ve been working with have been giving false impressions of what they’re like behind closed doors, where there are no inspectors or regulators looking in on what the situations are like for LGBT students. I’m all in favor for this school, and as it’s in my area I’ll likely be contacting them when it opens to see if there is a job opening for any position whatsoever, as it should be open once I’m done with college.
EmzyBaby
I think it would be great, as there are way to many people committing suicide because of bullying for being LGBT it is disgusting! If i was younger and this school was open then I would of went to that school as i almost committed suicide because of bullying, myself it would be great and they will be able to feel safe
Emily Weasley
I want to go to a school like this because my school is really bad at supporting me in my sexuality. I am bullied everyday because of it, and I am scared to tell my parents. How do I live like that?? I don’t. I shut everyone out because of what I’m going through and push my few friends away.