Inquiry Post #2

So, I saw this facebook advertisement 2 weeks ago about doing a research study ON research. SO I applied to do it and was immediately asked to do it today from 12-1:30pm. Basically, the research group (which apparently is part of PROQUEST), logged onto my computer via this software called USERVue and watched me as I researched for an hour and a half. Then afterwards they asked me some questions. So I decided to do the research for my inquiry project (which they thought was an awesome research idea -- I showed them the rubric for everything as well).
Anyways, the following is the research I found and the bottom of this are the questions that I came across for myself as I did this research...

Focusing on harrassment in the classroom, I've found a great resource from Teaching
Tolerance:
http://www.tolerance.org/rthas/section1_1_1.jsp

"The social strata are very, very real during adolescence. It is so difficult to change your peers' perceptions of you once you have a "reputation." -- page 2 of "Be alert to signs of student alienation."

Interesting article on racial harrassment within a white classroom - interesting dynamic to think about ... is there racism in a classroom full of all white students? Click Here for JSTOR Article

Sexual Identity in the Classroom
GLSEN - Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network has some resources/research on this topic.
2005 Research Study on Harassment of students age 13-18.

• Specific research information on the state of Michigan
• Statistics from GLSEN.org:
• More than a third (35%) of all Michigan students thought that bullying, name calling and harassment was a somewhat or serious problem in their schools.
• The most common types of bullying, name calling and harassment were based on appearance, actual or perceived sexual orientation, and gender expression. A majority (71%) of the students were harassed due to appearance, two-thirds (67%) were harassed because they were or were thought to be lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and 60% were harassed due to their gender expression.
• A vast majority (90%) of Michigan students reported hearing homophobic remarks such as, “that is so gay” to indicate bad or worthless; and derogatory terms like “faggot” were heard by 82% of students.
• When teachers or other staff heard derogatory remarks or biased language, intervention was not as common as expected. There was no correction or consequences when racist, homophobic, or sexist remarks were made as often as 30%, 27%, and 25% of the time respectively.
• A majority (67%) of students who experienced harassment or assault at school did not report it to a teacher, principal or other school staff person; More than a quarter (26%) of students said they didn’t report incidents because they believed that school staff would not care or believe them, or that it would only make the situation worse.

• Apartheid Schooling - what?!
  
• http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2005/American-Apartheid-Education1sep05.htm
• TEACHER Magazine - Some interesting viewpoints and feedback from other teachers
• Question of - why would a teacher want to even teach in an inner city school if it's "SOOO DANGEROUS?"
  

***Side note: Is anyone in my class doing anything on sexual harassment in the classroom?"
***What do schools do about online/internet harassment amongst student peers?
***How often is it that teachers are trained in dealing with harassment in general -- and then more specifically with racial harassment and sexual identity?
***How does one break down their own racial stereotypes while teaching so that it doesn't (negatively) affect his/her dynamic and diverse classroom?
***Institutionalized Racism