LSSD seminar teaches respect for diversity

Rainbow Resource Centre education program coordinator Reece Malone gave a powerful speech at the LSSD Respecting Diversity and Creating Inclusive Spaces seminar at the Comp last Friday. 

RECORD PHOTO BY DAVE BAXTER

By Dave Baxter

Originally published in the Selkirk Record

It was the words of one teacher that brought hope to Reece Malone’s life when it all seemed so hopeless.

Malone is the education program coordinator at Rainbow Resource Centre. The centre serves Manitoba’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community with counselling, education and other resources.

He spoke at the Lord Selkirk School Division’s (LSSD) Respecting Diversity and Creating Inclusive Spaces seminar at the Comp last Friday.  

Malone said from grade seven to grade 11 he experienced homophobia, and was bullied constantly and mercilessly.

Many of his teachers did nothing to help.

“I looked to my teachers to do something. To do anything,” said Malone.  “What they did was they looked away and they did nothing. 

“And some of them laughed too.”

He said he decided his only way out was to end his own life, and his suicidal thoughts became so prevalent that he even started giving his belongings away, because he figured he didn’t have much longer on this earth.

He said he heard a homophobic slur in his grade 10 biology class, and his teacher turned around and scolded the people who were using the word.

“The teacher turned around and said ‘I don’t tolerate that language in my classroom. I have gay friends and that offended me.’

“And then she simply turned back and continued her lesson plan.”

That single moment changed Malone’s life.

“That’s it, and that was the first time all of my suicidal feelings went away. It took the strength of one person to say 'that is inappropriate and offensive.’

“It is that action that saved my life, and those actions that will save the lives of others.”

The seminar saw all LSSD staff gather at the Comp for an entire day of training and education based around Manitoba’s new Bill 18.

There were keynote speaker and student speakers, and staff also spread out into small breakout sessions.

Under Bill 18, school divisions were required by June 30 to establish respect for human diversity policies that are consistent with the principles of the Human Rights Code, and work to create a safe and inclusive learning environment that is accepting of all students and staff. 

Bill 18 also requires school divisions to provide training for teachers and other staff about strategies for promoting respect for human diversity, and a positive learning environment.

The seminar on Friday was one of the first of what will be ongoing training for teachers and staff.

Malone said every single employee of every school division in Manitoba has to work to make kids feel safe and valued.

“All of us have a role in a young person’s life from kindergarten to grade 12,” said Malone. 

“You and I are paid to do a job that helps shape the lives of young people both socially and academically. That is such a privilege.”

He also reminded staff of how important they are in shaping kids futures even after they graduate and move on.

“They will remember you. We remember our teachers, our councillors, our bus drivers.

“I loved my bus driver. He asked me everyday when I entered the bus how I was doing and he met me with compassion and empathy. He was willing to go the extra mile and stick up for the underdog.”

It was not just teachers at Friday's seminar as every LSSD staff member from administration, to bus drivers, to janitorial staff took part.

LSSD superintendent Scott Kwasnitza said respecting diversity goes well beyond the classroom.

“If we limit it to classrooms, we limit the scope of where we want that safety and respect,” said Kwasnitza.

“There are so many places where we come in contact with kids and adults, and we all have a shared responsibility.”

He also said that Bill 18 is far more than just about respecting members of the LGBTQ community, but is a way to work towards respecting all staff and students despite their differences.

“Bill 18 is a piece of paper, but if we don’t follow those words with action and strategies we are really not living up to and protecting that safe and diverse learning environment for all of our students,” said Kwasnitza.

“We would expect that all our employees uphold the values and policies of the school division.”

Training and education surrounding the implementation of the policies in Bill 18 will continue in the LSSD and across the province.