Safe Is Not Enough: Better Schools for Lgbtq Students

by Michael Sadowski, Daniel Henning (narrator), Kevin Jennings (contributor)

Safe Is Not Enough illustrates how educators can support the positive development of LGBTQ students in a comprehensive way so as to create truly inclusive school communities.

Using examples from classrooms, schools, and districts across the country, Michael Sadowski identifies emerging practices such as creating an LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum; fostering a whole-school climate that is supportive of LGBTQ students; providing adults who can act as mentors and role models; and initiating effective family and community outreach programs.

While progress on LGBTQ issues in schools remains slow, in many parts of the country schools have begun making strides toward becoming safer, more welcoming places for LGBTQ students. Schools typically achieve this by revising antibullying policies and establishing GSAs (gay-straight student alliances). But it takes more than a deficit-based approach for schools to become places where LGBTQ students can fulfill their potential. In Safe Is Not Enough, Michael Sadowski highlights how educators can make their schools more supportive of LGBTQ students' positive development and academic success.

Genres: Education, LGBT, Nonfiction, Teaching, Queer, Book Club, Social Justice

Audio CD

Published October 26, 2021

Reviews

[Alex Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. What Sadowski advocates in this book should be obvious, but clearly the education system has a ways to go. The most illustrative part is the massive number of case studies that Sadowski uses to illuminate how LGBTQ+ students can and should be included in school culture, curriculum, and life.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing and essential for educators and families. Safe truly IS not enough, and this text outlines what it looks like to have truly inclusive schools for LGBTQ students - from the school building, to the curriculum, to silence-free schools, to real inclusiveness, to teachers and mentors, to leadership, to policy. The best part is, it paints the picture by profiling real schools - in NYC, rural Missouri, Park City UT, an Indianapolis suburb, LA, Honolulu, and more, many of which have won GLSEN's annual award for inclusive schools. Cannot wait to discuss in more depth with educators in Arkansas!

[Dan Allbery · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes to addressing LGBTQ issues, teachers and administrators often draw an imaginary line between middle and high school students, assuming either that the former are not mature enough to handle them or that their parents and guardians will object to eleven-, twelve-, and thirteen-year-olds discussing the Stonewall rebellion, transgender identity, and similar issues at school.

Sadowski provides necessary context for educators about the importance of supporting LGBTQ+ youth, why it is needed now, where to begin, and how to navigate potential barriers moving forward. It was affirming to read and learn that many of the "needs" and recommendations already exist at my current school. It is worth noting though that my school has GSAs, displays the Pride flag, and offers full staff PD about LGBTQ+ inclusion, yet we still received a petition from 100+ parents this year about concerns around inclusion--naming GSAs specifically as a concern. This work is hard, complex, and may have backlash, but we should never sacrifice one's humanity for another's comfort (Alysa Perreras). Recommended for ALL TEACHERS and ADMINISTRATORS. Read. This. Book.

[Guts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great book on this subject. It helped me tremendously when I wanted to look for ways we can improve the schools for LGBTQ+ students. The book features many case studies which you can use as examples or models to follow. It gave me a lot to think about, especially on how schools can progress beyond just being safe for LGBTQ+ students.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an educator, this has been on my list to read for many years and I’m glad I tackled it now. Having been written nearly a decade ago now, it is due for some updates, and the optimism with which it viewed LGBTQ+ issues and progress at the time is honestly heartbreaking given our current state. BUT I greatly appreciated the examples and expertise it gave, especially around supporting queer students in red states. I came away with insights and courage.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great book for 10 years ago. It is devastating to see all the laws in the last few years that have outlawed many of the programs that were working to make inclusion happen.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

A relatively short book with some good points but not much depth. I don't disagree with anything that the author says, but he does not give much specific advice. The most interesting points he made were about the nature of creating LGBTQ-inclusive elementary and middle schools. It is obviously aimed at an audience that is relatively new the subject, and for that target audience I would recommend it. It provides a nice surface overview of issues that face LGBTQ youth and those that want to make schools more inclusive.

Notably absent are a vocabulary list (which would have been good for readers new to the subject) and the voices of LGBTQ youth of color (except for one story about a school in Hawai'i that was really neat).

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Does a credible job of outlining what LGBTQIA+ students (and sometimes faculty) experience in schools (primarily in the U.S.) via a pedagogical and school-safety lens. It served me well as I was writing my dissertation and lent to my paragraphs on classroom/school environments, dangers therein, etc., from a non-curricular POV. It does touch on curriculum matters, but doesn't enter into my discipline in ample supply. Loved the way that the chapters are laid out, however, and used it as a resource for additional papers written during grad school.
Recommend for other grad students for research purposes, teachers in K-12 schools, and administration in both K-12 schools and in school-affiliated orgs.

[Caroline Lampinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book begged to be written! It lends important credibility, ease of access, and attention to a topic which desperately needs to be addressed across all schools.
This is a very easy to read book, set up as a series of straight forward, general case studies of people doing the work right now.

My criticism is the flip side of the good: that its surface and straight forward. If you are already doing this work, you know the contents of this book... But give it to all your educator friends who need an extra push.

[Ray Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful and informative read for those who want to educate or "re-parent" themself about the support systems in place to support the LGBTQIA+ community. I remember being in elementary school when my parents first talked to me about gay marriage and the "harm" it would do our community if they received rights and then later on I was in high school once gay marriage was legailzed. My parents portrayed gay marriage being legalized as such a terrible thing, but I truly never felt that way as it never harmed me in anyway. I wholeheartedly agree with beginning conversations about sexual orientation and LGBTQIA+ family representation in elementary school. I think a lot of children, not all, but a large majority experience their first "crush" during that time and would benefit from learning consent and various types of sexual orientation from the beginning. Why not offer support for those who are ready to receive it? Many of the examples of harassment and bullying used in the book were very prevalent during my school years and I wish there would've been even just one teacher from my elementary-middle school years that spoke up and created a safe space for LGBTQIA+ children/ children that come from LGBTQIA+ families! I was lucky enough to go to a high school where the Vice Principal was a transgender man along with a large group of LGBTQIA+ students. Having this type of representation was helpful for me as it was my "first" experience being around people who were proud to be out!

I was left with feelings of being unsettled after finishing this book. Simply because I don't understand how offering safe spaces for those who are being oppressed could be offensive to another group of people? Is it not in the collective's best interest for everyone to be liberated? It was sad to hear the history of how slow the progress has been for LGBTQIA+ people to be welcomed in society, but at least there's been progress at all! I hope to participate more in my local inclusive LGBTQIA+ groups to connect with people I support and love. 🫶🌈

[BookChampions · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wholeheartedly believe in this author's vision for schools, but the book felt more geared toward administrators than teachers. I will probably, eventually, pass on my copy of the book to some administrator I could potentially team up with.

Near the end of the book, Sadowski mentions another of his books, In a Queer Voice: Journeys of Resilience from Adolescence to Adulthood. I'm going to add this one to my TBR.

[John Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.

It's a case study on several schools and how they are making a difference in the lives of students ... not just making the school a safe space ... but also ensuring students take a more active role in their school and lives.

It charts how some schools have navigated their way through conservative issues and has lots of great ideas. Well worth a read

Available in Irish Libraries.

[JTGlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 for me because after being in the classroom for decades, this read like a book a professor put together for his teacher training course. The two best pages were 24 where a teacher reviewed the texts they used and 154 where the reading for a syllabus was included. Overall, it's more like case studies and the impact public policy has had on schools in different parts of the countries.

[Tricia Friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent evidence-backed text for schools hoping to do more than ask for “tolerance.” The author provides more than anecdotal access to pathways forward-the book comes with specific guidance for the entire school.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very well written. It was very informative and it really showed me how far we have come with making schools safe for LGBTQ students. It also showed me how much work still needs to be done. Worth the read.

[Jamie Schnarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for educators and allies

This is a great and quick read for all the busy educators and allies out there who are looking for what it really means to have not just safe schools for LGBTQI+ students but inclusive and welcoming schools. Would recommend to anyone!!!

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Required reading for all educators - a great introductory text.

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

There wasn't anything wrong with this; I just felt it wasn't anything I didn't already know

[Christina St. Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much! I really took my time. I read it in chunks to digest and think of application ideas for my own life.

[Emma Schaedel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading about approaches at other schools, but was hoping for more examples of practical strategies.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

While some of the research here is dated, this is a great background for research on how to develop programs for LGBTQIA students. What works and what doesn't?

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick and important read.

[clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful engaging beautifully written

[Mills College Library]

371.8266 S1268 2016

[willowdog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an argument that LGBT safe schools must go beyond GSA by changing the curriculum, the building signs, engages activism and the community, respecting transgender students, employing counseling, book discussions and mentoring and starting early in elementary schools. Artifacts of practice were given that are real practices illustrated throughout the book.