This might seem drastic but similar events occur in every school system. Whether it be a school not admitting two gay men into a dance or teachers turning a deaf ear to peer taunts towards a lesbian student, the school system in America and elsewhere is perpetuating heteronormativity. Such an inaction not only discriminates towards homosexuals but fails to properly educate each student. Schools have grown tremendously in the past twenty years to meet the new standards set by society concerning race and gender, but now must confront issues of sexuality. Our problem is that we as Americans have created a myth of masculinity and femininity just as apparent in our school system as in the rest of American society. One way to battle this myth is through education, and the school system is one of the easiest routes to provide information to minds open

Nations create schools as a device to educate their children in the ways of their society and to instill topics needed for growth, both personal and career oriented. America's parents recently began to let schools teach evolution and sex education a mere decade ago; now Darwin and STD's are openly discussed, begetting a space for new controversy in the educational scope. Where previously seen as minor, sexuality and analysis of gender-roles is important. With a growing number of homosexual and bisexual individuals, currently higher that 2 percent of the population in America (Cameron '93), there is a need to recognize such a growing minority in an unbiased manner. It is essential that children must not only be taught that homosexuality and bisexuality is accepted, but that no man or woman is confined to the traditional myth of "masculine" and "feminine." Accepting the fact that there is a need for representation in the schools for this minority is a simple step, identifying and altering customary practices to fit such representation is much more difficult. Alteration must began with the educator, as they create what will be taught in the course.

Penn, Denise. "Lesbian Teacher Sues Oceanside School District." Lesbian News, Vol. 25 Issue 8. pp 22-24.

Robinson, Kerry. "'What are We Doing this For?' Dealing with Lesbian and Gay Issues in Teacher Education." British Journal of Sociology of Education, Vol. 22 Issue 1: pp. 121-134.

Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, The. "What the Numbers Say." Curriculum Review, Vol. 38 Issue 2. pp. 2-3

Ore, Tracy E. The Social Construction of Difference and Inequality. New York: pp.13- 14.

Some common words found in the essay are:
America Cameron, HIV AIDS, Sam Elaine, America Ore, Darwin STD's, Education Vol, Australia England, Lesbian Vol, Review Vol, school system, Inequality York, homosexuality bisexuality, sam elaine, sex education, parents children, sexual education, issue 1 pp, fear losing, educators fear, issue 1, homosexual practice, educators fear losing,
Approximate Word count = 1366
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)