Category: Elementary

Pride Month may be June, but the concept of pride extends to a person’s whole life. Pride Month dedicates June to supporting LGBTQ+ people and their experiences.

When it comes to discussing the acronym “LGBTQ+,” it can be hard to understand what each letter and the plus sign mean. “LGBTQ+” is one way to spell it, but other ways of writing the acronym include: GLBT, LGBTQ2+, LGBTQIA2+, and many more.

L (Lesbian)

The “L” in LGBTQ+ stands for “lesbian.” A lesbian is someone who identifies as a woman and feels attraction towards other women.

G (Gay)

The “G” in LGBTQ+ stands for “gay.” This usually refers to a person who identifies as a man and feels attraction towards other men.

Other people who have different identities under the LGBTQ+ spectrum may also call themselves gay. For example, lesbians may call themselves gay women.

B (Bisexual)

The “B” in LGBTQ+ stands for “bisexual.” Someone who is bisexual considers themselves attracted to men and women, and/or attracted to other genders.

People who are bisexual can like one gender more than the other but are still attracted to multiple. For example, a bisexual boy can prefer to have a male partner, but they are still attracted to women.

T (Transgender)

The “T” in LGBTQ+ stands for “transgender.” When people are born, they are labelled a boy or a girl, which is an assigned sex at birth.

People whose gender matches their assigned sex at birth are cisgender. People whose gender does not match their assigned sex at birth are transgender.

The transgender label also includes non-binary people: those who do not identify as either a boy or a girl.

“Transgender” relates to gender, not sexuality. Transgender people can be straight (attracted to the opposite gender), gay, bisexual, or any other orientation.

Q (Queer)

The “Q” in LGBTQ+ stands for “queer.” In the context of LGBTQ+, “queer” is a broad term that can be applied to anyone who identifies within the community.

“Queer” originated as a harmful term that was used to label people as strange. Not everyone is okay with using “queer,” or hearing people use the term. The term is a reclaimed term, meaning that the community turned its horrible meaning into something that they are proud of.

What is the “+”?

Like “queer,” the “+” symbol describes any other orientations within the community.   

This includes identities such as Intersex, Asexual and/or Aromantic, Agender, and Two-Spirit.

Intersex 

Someone who is intersex was born with a reproductive system that does not match society’s assumed definitions of male and female.

Asexual and Aromantic

Someone who is asexual does not feel sexual attraction towards others. Some asexual people still feel romantic attraction towards others, like having crushes on them or wanting to date them. Asexual people can be any romantic orientation, including straight, gay, bi, or aromantic.

Someone who does not feel romantic attraction towards others is called aromantic.

Agender

Someone who is agender does not identify with any gender. They do not have a gender.

Two-Spirit

Two-Spirit is an identity unique to Indigenous peoples. Someone who is not Indigenous cannot claim the Two-Spirit identity.

While not all LGBTQ+ Indigenous people identify as Two-Spirit, only Indigenous people can explain what “Two-Spirit” means to them. The Two-Spirit identity can have different meanings to whoever has it: it can relate to sexuality, gender, or both.

Which Acronym Should Be Used?

To make it simple: there is no one “correct” acronym. Keep in mind that the LGBTQ+ acronym has changed over the years.

It used to be “GLBT,” then “LGBT,” then “LGBTQ” before becoming “LGBTQ+.” These changes happened over the 1980’s, 1990’s, and 2000’s.

Some people may not use “LGBTQ+” at all. The acronym “GRSM” also exists and shares the same meaning. GRSM stands for Gender Romantic Sexual Minority.

Keeping all identities under a simple acronym becomes tough when new labels are created at any time. GRSM is one alternative to easily keep all the labels into one acronym, without needing to add or drop any letters.

 

Sources:

“General Definitions.” LGBT Resource Center, University of California San Francisco, https://lgbt.ucsf.edu/glossary-terms. Accessed 11 May 2022.

“GLAAD Media Reference Guide – LGBTQ Terms.” GLAAD, 24 Feb. 2022, https://www.glaad.org/reference/terms. Accessed 8 May 2022.

“Meet the Methods Series: ‘What and Who Is Two-Spirit?’ In Health Research.” Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Government of Canada, 29 Oct. 2020, https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/52214.html. Accessed 9 May 2022.

“PFLAG National Glossary of Terms.” PFLAG, Jan. 2021, https://pflag.org/glossary. Accessed 9 May 2022.

Steinmetz, Katy. “Why ‘LGBTQ’ Will Replace ‘LGBT.’” Time, 26 Oct. 2016, https://time.com/4544704/why-lgbtq-will-replace-lgbt/. Accessed 8 May 2022.

“What is Intersex?” Intersex Society of North America. https://isna.org/faq/what_is_intersex/. Accessed 8 May 2022.

Canada is quite the country, eh? With ten provinces, three territories, and over 36 million people, it is huge. That also means huge in size – Canada is the second largest country in the world. Russia is the only country bigger in physical size. Our nation has had a long history that you will continue to learn about in school. But with so many years to go through, it can be hard to cover everything. Let us take a look at some interesting facts from the long journey that our home and native land has taken.

As an official country, Canada is 156 years old. Its “birthday” is July 1, 1867, the day of Confederation when Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, all British colonies, came together as one. But Canada the country is a baby when we compare it to the history of the land. Scientists believe early humans crossed a bridge of ice from Russia into Alaska and British Columbia around 12,000 years ago. These natives have descendants who we call the Indigenous people – and they are living here to this day. It is also believed that fishermen from Japan sometimes came across the Pacific Ocean and lived with the natives. On the other side of the country, the Vikings came across the Atlantic Ocean to live in Newfoundland for a short time over 1,000 years ago. About 500 years after that, Europeans went across that same ocean and set food on this land.

The Indigenous people of Canada are grouped into at least eight groups divided by language families. The biggest group is Algonquin. Starting in the late 1400s, they were joined by people from England, Portugal, Spain, France, Russia, Scotland, and more. These explorers traded with the natives. One of the companies involved in trading was started in 1670. This was the Hudson’s Bay Company, a name you might recognize. It is the same company that runs stores across Canada to this day. Meanwhile, Europeans also came to the land below us that would become the United States of America. In the early 1800s, Americans invaded parts of Southern Ontario during the War of 1812. American soldiers attacked the area of Port Dover in Ontario. In return, soldiers from the British colonies that would become Canada went to Washington and helped burn down the White House.

The 1800s was a very eventful time. Canada became an official country in 1867. In 1871, it was agreed to connect British Columbia to Ontario. Starting in 1881, a huge railway was built between those two provinces that stretches about 22,531 kilometers. Meanwhile, the arts became a bigger part of culture as well. Our first author to sell a million copies of a book was Marshall Saunders, who published her novel Beautiful Joe in 1894. The movies came to Canada just a couple of years later in 1896, when the Lumiere brothers of France brought their cinematograph, an early type of video camera, to our country.

Canada continued to grow during the 1900s as the planet went through two World Wars and big changes in technology. This land has seen a long history of different people, events, and technologies. You might not have been around for any of that amazing history. But technology is changing faster than ever and the entire world is transforming like never before. You will get to see all the big events that will happen during the 2000s that the Canadians of the future will look back on.

Sources:

Carletti, Fabiola. “150 facts about Canada… in 150 seconds?!” CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/2017/150-facts-150-seconds-1.3878984

Oxford Univeristy Press Canada. “A History of Canadian Culture.” http://www.oupcanada.com/History_of_Canadian_Culture/facts.html

Stooke, Anna. “Four Facts about Canadian History than You Should Know.” VGC International College. https://vgc.ca/blog/2014/03/19/four-facts-about-canadian-history-that-you-should-know/

Standardized tests are a common aspect of the education system, offering a mix of benefits and drawbacks. It’s important for high school students to understand these to form their own opinions on the matter.

Advantages of Standardized Testing

1. Accountability in Education: One of the key advantages of standardized testing is that it holds educators and institutions accountable. These tests ensure that teachers impart the necessary knowledge as the results are public, bringing attention to schools and teachers who may not meet the expected standards.
2. Guidance for Teachers: Standardized tests offer a clear framework for teachers, helping them understand what and when to teach, leading to more efficient use of class time.
3. Performance Insights for Parents: These tests provide parents with a clear idea of how their children are performing compared to peers locally and nationally, offering a broader perspective on their child’s academic standing.
4. Comparative Analysis: Standardized testing enables the comparison of student performance across different schools, districts, and states, which would be challenging without a common testing system.
5. Structured Learning: They ensure a consistent learning framework, preventing overlaps in content across different grades and aiding students who transfer schools by providing a consistent curriculum.
6. Objective Assessment: These tests are generally marked impartially, often by computers or external graders, reducing subjective bias that might occur in classroom grading.
7. Identifying Needs in Sub-groups: Standardized tests can highlight performance trends in various demographic groups, aiding in the creation of targeted educational programs.

Disadvantages of Standardized Testing

1. Performance Pressure: These tests assess students’ abilities on a specific day, not taking into account external factors or test anxiety, which can affect performance.
2. Narrow Focus in Teaching: With high stakes involved, some teachers may focus solely on test preparation, potentially limiting students’ broader educational experience.
3. Lack of Emphasis on Growth: Standardized tests measure student proficiency at a specific time, not considering their academic growth over the year, which might undervalue both student effort and teacher effectiveness.
4. Stress on Educators and Students: The pressure to perform well in these tests can lead to stress and burnout among teachers and students, impacting their overall well-being.
5. Potential Bias Issues: The concern is that test questions might reflect the cultural or educational biases of their creators, which could lead to unequal performance among different student groups.
6. Pressure on Schools: Schools’ success and funding are often tied to standardized test results, leading to intense competition and possibly neglecting other important aspects of education.
7. Misconceptions About Learning Disabilities: There’s a common belief that students with learning disabilities generally underperform in these tests, which isn’t always the case, especially with the right support.
8. Impact on Other School Activities: In an effort to improve test scores, some schools have reduced time for recess and other activities, which can affect students’ social, emotional, and academic development.
9. Health and Attitude Impacts: The stress associated with these tests can lead to negative health consequences and can create a negative attitude toward school and learning.

Understanding these pros and cons is crucial for students, parents, and educators in navigating and improving the educational landscape.