Saturday, February 28, 2009
New guide to help school teachers challenge homophobia
HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), have produced a new resource pack for secondary school teachers. Out in School is a free guide and provides teachers and other school staff with ideas they can use to help discuss topics like same sex relationships and homophobia with their students.
Research shows that young people who experience homophobia are less likely to do well at school. They are also more likely to truant and leave school at 16.
An increasing number of schools are encouraging open discussion about sexual orientation to ensure that lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) students are as confident and successful as their heterosexual peers.
THT’s Out in School is designed to make it easier for teachers to introduce this topic within school lessons and assemblies.
The guide is full of ideas on how to incorporate discussion within a wider context of relationships, marriage, diversity, religion, language and literature. Out in School also looks at how teachers can highlight the importance of challenging prejudice and being respectful to others.
All the lesson plans in the guide are written by practising teachers and have been used successfully in a range of classes from geography to foreign language lessons. Crucially, all the ideas suggested link to the Key Stage 4 curriculum.
For a free copy of Out in School contact email phillip.wragg@tht.org.uk or visit
For further information go to: www.tht.org.uk
