Food for Thought

Create you own Anti-Bullying Slogan!

School Violence Reality Check Worksheet

DIRECTIONS: Read the question. Circle the correct answer.

1. What percentage of homicides and suicides of school-aged kids occur during school or school-related activities?
a. Less than 1 percent.
b. About 10 percent.
c. More than 20 percent.

2. In 1993, what percentage of public- and private-school students in grades 6 through 12 said they could get a handgun if they wanted one?
a. 19 percent
b. 29 percent
c. 59 percent

3. In 1991, about 12 percent of high school students said they had taken a weapon to school. How does that figure compare to 1997?
a. More students took weapons to school in 1997.
b. Fewer students took weapons to school in 1997.
c. The number of students who took weapons to school stayed about the same.

4. Which of the following groups of students are more likely to engage in violent behavior at school?
a. Freshmen
b. Sophomores
c. Juniors
d. Seniors

5. According to a 1997 study, what percentage of students missed school each month because they felt unsafe?
a. 44 percent
b. 24 percent
c. 4 percent

Adapted from the School Violence Reality Check Quiz from the Family Education Network.

© 2000 by Education World®. Education World grants teachers permission to reproduce this work sheet for educational purposes only.

Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network

BOYS will be BOYS

What message have we been sending children over the years? When some parent's hear that their child- who is a boy- is being picked on at school most think that it will 'toughen them up' sort of speak. In a society where being gay is becoming more acceptable publicly, there are still stigmas and hate crimes committed agianst members of the LGBT community.

As a parent, What would you do if you knew that your child may be gay and is being picked on at school?

What song got you through those tough times at school?

Some resources that may come in handy...

Parents need to be aware of what a 'gay' child goes through. These books outline the lives of serveral different gay children and their experience with their family's and communities. PARENT'S CAN NOT BE AFRAID TO DEFEND, COMMUNICATE AND EDUCATE OTHERS ON THEIR CHILD'S BEHALF. These novels may give parent's the strength to do so.

Author Alex Sanchez's trilogy of GAY stories for young adults

The final installment of this trilogy is a true winner. Even though coming out publicly resulted in Virginia high school basketball star Jason Carrillo's losing his college athletic scholarship, it turned him into an important role model for gay and lesbian teens. And so, when a new GLBT high school in Los Angeles is searching for a keynote speaker for its opening ceremony, it is not surprising that Jason is given an all-expenses-paid invitation. His boyfriend, Kyle, definitely wants to be there, too. And Kyle's best friend–pink-haired, boy-hungry Nelson–has a car and thinks that this would be the perfect opportunity for a post-senior-year road trip. Virginia to L.A. by car: 3000 miles and plenty of time to gain an understanding of what being gay in America is all about. These boys are distinct personalities and genuine teens, searching for clarity and identity and acceptance, trying to make sense of themselves and a world that can be equally bright and dark. Sanchez writes with humor and compassion. Some mature romance scenes, occasional frank language, and an inclusion of transgender/transsexual/bisexual story lines translate into a tender book that will likely be appreciated and embraced by young adult readers.–Jeff Katz, Queens Borough Public Library, NY










Nelson Glassman and Kyle Meeks, best friends for many years, are gay teens at Walt Whitman High School. Kyle becomes romantically involved with basketball jock Jason Carrillo, while Nelson embarks on a strained relationship with Jeremy, who has tested positive for HIV. Jason comes out to his teammates and endures public scrutiny on television, eventually losing his athletic scholarship. On the homefront, Kyle's parents desperately want him to attend Princeton, although this would mean leaving Jason behind, and Nelson's mother insists that he end his relationship with Jeremy. Throughout these vicissitudes, the young men provide support for one another as graduation approaches. Sanchez has written a respectable sequel to the noteworthy Rainbow Boys (S & S, 2001). He has a definite feel for the thoughts, feelings, and speech patterns of contemporary high school students, and his characters are believable, although perhaps not as fully developed as one would like. The narrative flows smoothly, with plenty of soap-opera dramatics to keep readers interested and a steamy scene or two to boot. Mature YAs will identify with the problems and decisions these individuals must face.
Robert Gray, East Central Regional Library, Cambridge, MN









"An important, groundbreaking book, Rainbow Boys takes an honest look at gay teen life today. The characters are enormously appealing and the situations as contemporary as the evening news. This is a book that could change thinking--and could very well change lives."

-- James Howe
author of The Watcher

Perfect Peace

Set in the rural U.S. south, the novel follows Emma Jean Peace's decision to raise her seventh son, Perfect, as the daughter she always wanted, but never gave birth to. When Perfect is eight, someone discovers the gender secret, and it sets off a series of events that leads to multiple questions of identity, gender, biology, and religion. Imagine all that, again, in the South, perceived not to be as open as other areas of the U.S.

Gay Bullying... Who's going to stand up?

Enough is Enough

A child taking his own life is never the answer! Where is the FAITH? Please become a solution to the problem instead of a contributing factor.

Thank you

PEACE AND LOVE