Article: Bridging Multicultural Education

Swartz, Patti. Bridging Multicultural Education: Bringing Sexual Orientation into the Children’s and Young Adult Literature Classrooms. Radical Teacher no66 (2003).

This article discusses the importance of including literature displaying homosexuality. One of the main causes for the struggles of gay and lesbian individuals stem from name calling. Swartz notes in her article that this typically occurs in elementary school. Due to this fact, the idea of introducing diverse literature including homosexuality at an early age will ultimately help prevent future discrimination. However, this then places the burden upon teachers. Swartz believes they should be obligated to become familiar and comfortable with the topic of homosexuality as well as know what purposes this type of literature can serve to a classroom of young children. One purpose would be to allow children the opportunity to ask questions.

Additionally, there is an enormous stress placed upon stereotypes. This article mentions that the more kids hear inaccurate information, the more tempted they are to believe the false-hoods that often accompany stereotypes. Swartz brings into focus the idea of gender roles and the uneven discrimination that is distributed to male and female homosexuals. It is the belief of Patti Swartz, that through the introduction of homosexual literature in classrooms the acceptance of the homosexual culture and community will be more effective.