I know that this blog, in the past, has been a pertinent source for easy scholarships and grants, but we will be changing the entire tone to discuss issues that I feel are a little more important, more controversial, but more relevant to our youth and how they being shaped within a classroom setting. The inspiration for altering the tone of this particular blog came to me one evening when I was chatting with good friends over dinner, discussing political issues and reminiscing about our schooldays when discussing world leaders in a negative light was something that was never considered. Not only was it not considered, but speaking out against one’s government, even in this so-called free democracy, is not something that was encouraged in the classrooms that I grew up in. So when I hear about young children discussing issues like tolerance, poor governments, environmental issues and anything that pertains to making their community better, my heart sings, but I worry that it’s not a regular occurrence.
President Obama recently announced his support for same-sex marriage and while this issue is regularly discussed at a university level, at the high school and elementary school levels, it’s an issue that is handled with kid gloves. I do understand this to an extent. Kids can be cruel. No, strike that, kids are cruel. They spit out insults with little or no understanding or appreciation for the consequences they could face. Thousands of young teens are terrified to come out to their friends and families because society has slapped the label of freak across homosexuals. I discuss this particular issue regularly, as I’m both an atheist and proud supporter of same-sex marriage. I actively participate in the pride parades, and advocate for equal rights for all, it just isn’t a complicated moral issue for me. I don’t believe in sin, and I don’t believe in intolerance.
But what of those classrooms across Canada and the USA that proselytize about the teachings in the bible, promote Creationism and 
undermine the importance of diversity? It’s a fair question and I am certainly not the first person who has asked the question. I’m a thirty year old woman, and in the not so distant future, I would like to start a family. But I have these fears about my child growing up in a society that is dictated by the words of a fictional book, written thousands of years ago. I want my children to be able to stand up in a classroom setting, and discuss these sorts of issues in a safe setting, without the fear of being punished or discriminated against, not by their fellow students, but by their teachers. Many parents wonder whether or not the classroom is an appropriate place to bring up issues like same-sex marriage, or human rights, and my answer has always been an enthusiastic yes!
Why do you think there are bullies roving around our elementary and secondary schools? What do you think creates bullies? Intolerance in the home for one. If you are not having those pertinent discussions at home about difference and diversity, acceptance and tolerance, than as a parent, you are contributing to a potential problem. Many parents at home lack the tools needed to conduct these discussions, so why not encourage your child in a safe setting, a setting supervised by a qualified adult, to discuss issues that we all face on a day to day basis? Education sets you free, and ignorance keeps you in chains. If you want your child to be successful later on in life, than encourage your child to ask the questions.
In 1812, less than 2% of college students were female. Women often stayed at home to care for families rather than continuing their education. Today, tables have turned and more than 65% of all students are female. In some schools odds are even higher with a ratio of about 74% female. That means that more than half of all students are female.
