Celebrating Day of Pink at Ellengale P.S.

You’re So Gay! How many of us have heard one student say that to another?

When Pam overheard just such a comment in the months before Day of Pink 2012 she challenged the student and asked if they knew what ‘gay’ meant? That conversation got her wondering how many students in our school might be using the word gay in hurtful ways?

And so we began a discussion with the principal, the Climate Committee (which was already very active in the school) and other staff, about the importance of words like gay and homophobia being explicitly taught to students in a sensitive, age appropriate way. Together we decided to make last year’s Day of Pink a starting point, and to use picture books as a platform with our student’s right from Kindergarten to Grade 6.

We prepared the whole staff by outlining our plans at a staff meeting. Some teachers were afraid of what students might say or questions they might ask. We recognized that being afraid is not the same as being homophobic and decided to support all staff by having Pam be a guest reader in their classes on the Day of Pink.

Day of Pink 2012

We participated in last year’s Day of Pink in the following ways:

  • Students were encouraged to wear pink
  • Staff wore Day of Pink t-shirts and were photographed holding a Day of Pink book to create a poster with a message of inclusion on it
  • A team of grade 6 students went class to class explaining the original reason for having a Day of Pink
  • Pam went to each class reading “My Princess Boy” to kindergarten and grade 1′s and “King and King” to Grades 2 – 6.

Interesting Student Responses

Student responses included:

  • “I would play with a Princess boy”
  • “I can be a Princess if I want” (from a boy)
  • “There is no such thing as a girl colour, or boy games, girls and boys can do whatever they want”
  • “I like to wear boy clothes, so that’s kind of like me” (from a girl)

But when she read “King and King,” in almost every class she heard the same thing: “But two boys can’t get married.” Pam took this opportunity to show them a picture of her own family; something she had not felt comfortable sharing up until now. She explained, “I am married to a woman, and my family has two Moms.” She acknowledged that this might seem very different and surprising to them, but that her family does all the same things other families do. “We go grocery shopping, read books, eat meals together and love each other.”

One of the best responses came from a student in grade 1. His words said it all, “We are all different. No matter what, you are special.”

Even very young children were able to think critically, discuss, listen, and problem solve. It is important not to let our fears stop us from discussing sensitive issues with our young students. How can we otherwise expect to help guide them to become sensitive, empathetic middle or high

school students, and eventually, adults?

Day of Pink 2013

As a staff we felt determined to continue the momentum from the previous year. As preparation, our March staff meeting included: human rights policy, an opportunity to look at the Day of Pink picture books and discuss ways we would use the books in our classrooms and connect them with other curriculum areas, anticipated challenges and/concerns, and anticipated positive student responses.

ETFO positive space posters and brochures were made available and newly laminated posters were posted on all entry doors.

What will the Day of Pink look like at Ellengale in 2013?

  • We committed to reading a Day of Pink book to our own class
  • Laminated lesson plans created by Pam were glued in the front of the books (these are in addition to the plans enclosed in the ETFO resource Social Justice begins with Me)
  • Day of Pink books were removed from the front hall display case after March break and put into a bin on the library circulation desk for short loan, to maximize circulation through classes
  • Staff will post the chart/organizer/record of the class book discussion outside their room
  • Grade 5 and 6 students will tour the classes with a Day of Pink presentation (why it started, what homophobic bullying is)
  • Staff and students are encouraged to wear pink
  • Making our own Day of Pink posters by writing a statement on chart paper and standing underneath it with a Day of Pink book and being photographed
  • Writing our names under statements such as, “We are against homophobia”

Although Day of Pink is just one day each year, we intend to make every effort to keeping it going all year long through our actions, the words we use, and the diversity of materials we use with our students. Who knows where we can go?

Day of Pink is April 10, 2013.

Pam Strong and Siân Baker are members of the Peel Teacher Local.

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