Educational Leader and Gender Equality

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1. What insights have I gained about my role as an educational leader from these chapters?

One of the key insights that I have gained through the chapters assigned is that too often people examine discrimination in schools primarily based on race or ethnicity, and we often overlook issues that involve religion, sex and sexual orientation. Issues of religion, sexuality and gender are all areas that continue to be hot topic issues in today’s society and even more so in our schools. The chapters provide very good points to ponder and consider when dealing with these issues. As Koppelman (2014) points out, it is essential that students gain some kind of understanding of the diversity that involves religion so that they can understand what the true intention of the Bill of Rights is (p. 155). Chapter ten also provided a more in-depth look at sexism in our schools, and looking back on what Koppelman states, we have made grounds, but our schools still employ some forms of sexism even today. Girls and boys have roles that they are told or taught to follow, and too often, schools and even society glorify those roles. In regards to sexuality, Koppelman (2014) states, “One of the most important changes needed in the United States is to establish policies and practices that promote tolerance for people across the spectrum of sexual orientations” (p.283). I could not agree more. One of the key areas that schools need to begin or continue addressing is the needs of students, and even faculty and staff, who are LGBT.
2. How do I plan to promote the concept of religious freedom in my school?
The federal courts have ruled extensively on what can and cannot allow in regards to religion and its association in public schools. As Koppel...

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...gardless if you do not believe in their sexual orientation, have a different religious view or if you are of a different sex. The chapters were interesting in that they provided me with a historic overview of where we started and where we are now. To be honest, we are making changes in our society and within our school systems that are allowing diversity to flourish. As a school leader, you must realize that everyone has a story. It may not be like your story, but they have a story. Each person is a unique individual who has a set of beliefs that may or may not be like yours, but you have to find a way to work together to promote the best in that individual and in yourself. Throughout the three chapters, there was a constant resonating theme that we were country founded on freedom and the freedom for everyone to be who they are and believe as they choose.

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