I mentioned previously that I don't approve of the coddling of students in college/university settings. And certainly not in H.S. the concept of "Safe Spaces" and the restrictive use of "hurtful" words, and "uncomfortable" ideas is the antithesis of a learning environment. This is just my opinion, based on my own experiences. I fully appreciate others may have the opposite view, and be just as passionate and dedicated to the protection of young folk as I am. Even though we don't agree, I'd like to say I respect others views. I truly believe we all want the best for our young people.
My views were formed by my experiences, first in a well-to-do suburban public school setting, and then at my prep-school Alma Mater. Very different cultural environments. With little to no preconceived notions of politics. I found the values and ideology at Culver to be a natural fit for my Southern instilled lifestyle. Culver is over 100 years old. And started as a Deep South boarding school before the Civil War. I'm proud of the place, and the continuing high level of education provided to young people there. It is one of those enclaves of conservative values, and for over a century, has provided a core of strong Americans. I continue to support it financially, and with good scholarship candidates. Photos are from the first garrison parade of the summer session of 2018:
I'm under the impression that people who advocate for "safe spaces" in an educational setting or on public property in general, are advocating for places where people can simply be themselves without worry of being physically harmed or verbally harassed. Which I believe is more than fair to ask of our fellow humans and fail to see how asking for compassion and safety would be to the antithesis of those places, especially in a learning environment.
If people want safe spaces for the sole reason of avoiding unavoidable topics that are important to have but uncomfortable to have, then I would agree that this is not to the benefit of humanity.
Having worked as a teacher that had to incorporate safe places, you are correct. Its just that. A place, especially for marginalized groups like lgbtq+, to take a breath and be comfortable for a second.
Apparently you have never had a child who was "different". You never had to see said child come home bloodied and bruised after being beaten by others in his school bus. You have never had to explain to your daughter why she was not allowed to defend her baby brother by the bus driver (while the bullies continued to beat her brother). You never called the police about the beating and was told there was NOTHING they could do because the offenders were under the age of nine. That was only one of the instances I've had to deal with when it came to my son. I won't even go into what I've had to deal with (along with my daughter) just because she is gay.
As @ylynn37 said, you do you and I will do me. One thing I will say is that just because you have never experienced the horrors that brought about safe-spaces does not mean it doesn't happen (and often). I would much rather give a person a safe space to decompress then to tell them that (essentially) they don't matter.
I'm very sorry you and your children have to put up with that environment. I believe all educational institutions, by definition, should be physically safe spaces. I object to the "safe space" concept being used as a way to avoid uncomfortable philosophies, thoughts, or "hard" subject matter.
MayI ask you why your child was not allowed to defend him/herself?
I was the weird kid who was sometimes beaten up, very often verbally abused, always ostracised, and I'm not entirely on board with some definitions of 'safe spaces.' The kind that's being objected to is the kind that promotes hiding from ideas that make one uncomfortable.
@JustLynnie I would say that any place is unsafe...for everybody...when there are stupid prejudicial people.
I am white, blonde and I have blue eyes...but my accent makes some people to say and do stupid thing. No, my dear, is not only "for people of color".
I don't believe in "safe spaces", or coddling anyone, either.
I also don't believe in conservatism being a reasonable position.
Same goes for liberalism, it's untenable, too.
I don't like extremes. I believe that moderation is the key in all things.
Especially politics. Too far right or too far left and people invariably get hurt.
Very good point.
Liberalism isn't an extreme. I consider myself liberal in my social views and most of my political views. From both history and the world around us today, conservatism is an out-dated viewpoint while more and more of the industrialized world is moving toward being more liberal.
@Charles1971 You are entitled to believe whatever you please. I just don't happen to agree.
You do you, I do me and let's all strive to do or cause no harm.
Again... you, sir, are a wise man.
@bigpawbullets Thank you my friend.