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Dignity for All - Book Cover Look Inside
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Dignity for All

Safeguarding LGBT Students

The author provides professional development ideas and strategies that will help educational leaders foster a more caring school culture not only for LGBT students, but for all students.

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Dignity for All - Book Cover Look Inside
Product Details
  • Grade Level: 6-12
  • ISBN: 9781452205908
  • Published By: Corwin
  • Year: 2012
  • Page Count: 136
  • Publication date: March 06, 2012
Price: $31.95

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This book is not available as a review copy.
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Description

Description

All students deserve a safe, respectful school environment

Students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered are susceptible to harassment from their peers and are at high risk of dropping out of school. This book provides professional development ideas and real-life vignettes that will help educational leaders foster a more caring school culture not only for LGBT students, but for all students. Peter DeWitt presents specific strategies for school leaders that include:

  • Implementing a student code of conduct and school board policies to safeguard students
  • Helping staff members recognize and respond to overt and covert LGBT issues
  • Professional development guidelines to equip staff to intervene
  • Ways to include appropriate LGBT topics in the curriculum
  • Supporting Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) in middle and high school settings

This practical and compassionate guide contains numerous cases and examples, strategies and templates for codes of conduct (including the NY Code), book study questions, and links to pertinent articles, websites, and blogs for further information. Dignity for All helps inform educators of the issues and methods for building acceptance in a diverse world.

Author(s)

Author(s)

Peter M. DeWitt photo

Peter M. DeWitt

Peter DeWitt (Ed.D) is the founder and CEO of the Instructional Leadership Collective, and approaches everything with a learner's mindset. He was a K-5 teacher for 11 years and a principal for 8 years. For over 12 years, he has been facilitating professional learning nationally, and internationally, based on the content of many of his best-selling educational books.

DeWitt's professional learning relationships are a monthly hybrid approach that includes both coaching and the facilitating workshops on instructional leadership and collective efficacy. His work has been adopted at the state level, university level, and he works with numerous school districts, school boards, regional networks, ministries of education around North America, Australia, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the U.K.

Peter writes the Finding Common Ground column for Education Week with Michael Nelson and they host Corwin’s Leaders Coaching Leaders podcast. In 2020 DeWitt co-created Education Week's A Seat At the Table where he moderates conversations with experts around the topics of race, gender, research, trauma and many other educational topics.

Peter is the author, co-author or contributor of numerous books and his articles have appeared in educational research journals at the state, national and international level. His books have been translated into numerous languages.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Author

1. The Silent Minority

Our School Experiences

What It Means to Be Gay

The Need for Role Models

Harassment and Discrimination of LGBT Students

Negative Stereotypes of LGBT Students

Conclusion

Action Steps

Discussion Questions

2. Bullying of LGBT Students

Where Bullying Behavior Begins

Cyberbullying

Setting the Tone in School

Safeguarding and Supporting LGBT Students

Conclusion

Action Steps

Discussion Questions

3. The Role of Schools

The Impact Schools Can Have on LGBT Students

Keeping Students Safe

Teacher Biases

Professional Development

Parent Outreach

Conclusion

Action Steps

Discussion Questions

4. Curriculum Matters

Diverse Literature at an Age-Appropriate Level

Supportive Learning Environments for LGBT Students

Curriculum

Elementary School Gender Differences and Character Education

English Language Arts

Social Studies

Guest Speakers Who Address Bullying

After-School Enrichment

Conclusion

Action Steps

Discussion Questions

5. Gay-Straight Alliances

Why Schools Should Offer a GSA

The Parameters of Creating a GSA

Events Held by a GSA

Conclusion

Action Steps

Discussion Questions

6. Following Through: School Board Policies and Codes of Conduct

Laws That Support School Decisions

School Leaders Embracing the Sexual Diversity of Students

A Shared Vision: Creating School Codes of Conduct

Creating School Board Policies

How Parents, Staff, and Students Can Help

Conclusion

Action Steps

Discussion Questions

Questions to Ponder

7. Important Stories From Higher Education

Appendix: NASP Position Statement: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth

References

Index

Reviews

Reviews

Quote by Diane Ravitch, Research Professor, New York University: "Dignity for All is a wise book that will help administrators, teachers, and parents work together to make sure that our schools are welcoming for all of our students. Peter DeWitt provides the insight and ideas to lead the way in including LGBT students."
"Dignity for All is a wise book that will help administrators, teachers, and parents work together to make sure that our schools are welcoming for all of our students. Peter DeWitt provides the insight and ideas to lead the way in including LGBT students."
Diane Ravitch, Research Professor
New York University
Quote by Carol Ann Tomlinson, William Clay Parrish, Jr. Professor, University of Virginia Curry School of Education: "In this book, a group of students that is often misunderstood and frequently maligned finds a voice. Educators whose reach extends to every student will discover here a deeper understanding of these students’ needs as well as sound advice on addressing those needs."
"In this book, a group of students that is often misunderstood and frequently maligned finds a voice. Educators whose reach extends to every student will discover here a deeper understanding of these students’ needs as well as sound advice on addressing those needs."
Carol Ann Tomlinson, William Clay Parrish, Jr. Professor
University of Virginia Curry School of Education
Quote by Todd Whitaker, Professor, Dept of Educational Leadership, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN: “Leaders set the tone for their buildings. Peter DeWitt offers an important resource for teachers and administrators that will help create an inclusive school for all students.”
“Leaders set the tone for their buildings. Peter DeWitt offers an important resource for teachers and administrators that will help create an inclusive school for all students.”
Todd Whitaker, Professor
Dept of Educational Leadership, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
Quote by Eliza Byard, Executive Director, Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN): "Dignity for All provides educators with critical information on the experiences of LGBT students in our schools and how to create safe and affirming spaces for these youth. Grounded in his experience as a teacher and school administrator, Peter DeWitt makes vital knowledge accessible for those on the front lines in schools."
"Dignity for All provides educators with critical information on the experiences of LGBT students in our schools and how to create safe and affirming spaces for these youth. Grounded in his experience as a teacher and school administrator, Peter DeWitt makes vital knowledge accessible for those on the front lines in schools."
Eliza Byard, Executive Director
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
Quote by Kevin Beach: "This book is a valuable resource guide for schools considering a course of action. It is recommended for all high schools seeking progressive change."
"This book is a valuable resource guide for schools considering a course of action. It is recommended for all high schools seeking progressive change."
Kevin Beach
    Price: $31.95

    Review Copies

    This book is not available as a review copy.

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