For some teenagers, high school can be a very memorable time but for some, it can be a time they would like to forget.
Teens go through a lot as they transition between child and adulthood and this can manifest itself in their behaviour.
Some can gain confidence, leading to an outgoing attitude while some can be reserved and somewhat introverted and some begin testing the limits of what is acceptable and unacceptable.
People in high school experience physical, mental and biological changes as well and that can affect their thoughts and their appearance and that can lead some to feel awkward and if that wasn’t enough, being bullied and teased on top of that can lead some to feel miserable.
Currently School District 51 (SD51), like 54 other school districts across the province, doesn’t have a policy regarding treatment of people who consider themselves part of the LGBT group, which includes lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals or the transgendered, as opposed to 14 districts that do have policies.
Under its current policy, SD51 addresses issues of bullying but there is nothing that specifically addresses treatment of students of the LGBT community and the board is working towards a sexual orientation policy, which is a good thing.
There have been numerous reports of teens committing suicide over the years because they have been bullied and taunted for being gay.
Back in October, Jamie Hubley of Ottawa, Ont., a figure skater, committed suicide due to homophobic taunts – he had come out of the proverbial closet in high school.
In September, Jamey Rodemeyer, 14, from Williamsville, N.Y. committed suicide and had been blogging about the torment he felt because people were bullying him at school – he even posted a video on YouTube.
The bullies started attacking him online wishing he would die and saying that no one would care if he did die.
They aren’t the only ones being bullied.
The SD51 policy committee is currently working on the sexual orientation policy and will bring it back to the school board for discussion later in the year.
Students have enough to worry about in high school and don’t need the stress of being targeted for their sexuality.