I am actually very curious to know if there were any repercussions the school faced. Even though in the next line the author states that in many cases the city doesn't even know if children are getting what they need because computer systems track the interventions, I am very curious if any parent stepped up and took action, or if anything happened in general. For there to be more than 25% or nearly 50,000 students not getting the specialized instruction they need is insane. The author mentions that this instruction was legally entitled to the students, so I can’t help but wonder if any parents pushed back at the schools. For me, it seems unimaginable for that many students to not get their entitled education and have the school go without accountability. Yet, the reading does make it seems like the students were basically overlooked by the institutions.

This reminds me of the video we watched in class where the teachers looked at the Black boy more than the other students for misbehavior. There needs to be more representation of people of color when it comes to teachers because bias, especially bias from being unknowledgeable of cultural differences, negatively impacts how students are perceived. I think that if there isn’t any teacher that shares the same background of the students, stereotypes and biases go unchecked. Seeing how Black students were labeled as troublemakers after the second infraction, this conveys the stereotypical biases that influences education.

As I have never deeply thought about the lives of students of color in special education, I never would have realized this without this reading. I always presumed that the special education programs implemented in schools were truly helpful and designed to cater to the needs of the students. My high school and middle school left the impression that if the students were a part of the general classroom with everyone else, they would not succeed academically. I was completely shocked to hear that special education only benefits mild disabilities and actually creates severe consequences that receiving additional services wouldn't fix.

I feel like I have never thought about this, but it stands completely true. During both middle school and high school, not once did I ever have a class with students with different learning needs, nor did I have in-class discussions about how they were being supported. I am realizing how they were treated as if they didn't belong in the general classroom. Students with different learning needs were truly labeled as "others" and put into their very own specially tailored classrooms. I am disappointed and find it so disheartening to realize how normalized this is and that I didn't recognize it before.

I found this really interesting, and I agree with the author. My brother in 8th grade recently had a sex ed class that included conversations on transgender individuals. The parents were unaware of this new addition of information and were outraged in the community boards on Facebook. I remember a lot of the comments were saying that what the students learned were completely inappropriate, that kids were too young to learn about "men being able to be pregnant," and that the material should've been kept for the SexEd classes in high school. From seeing the comments and the discourse, what really stood out to me was the personal discomfort and misunderstanding rather than concern for the students. I agree with this statement from the author in that often what is deemed age-inappropriate is associated with parents protecting their own beliefs or avoiding conversations that they are just not ready for or do not wish to have. This also made me realize the role parents have in limiting what a kid is allowed or able to learn.

I think I can somewhat consider myself as one of those non-LGBTQ+ people who attributed "coming out" to a giant event. I associated the idea of coming out not necessarily in a single day or a giant event, but when a person comes out to their loved ones. I always thought that that was what was so significant and what the term “coming out” referred to. However, this reading and quote broadened my understanding. I don’t think I had fully considered that LGBTQ individuals have to come out again and again with different people and in different environments. I realize how exhausting that must be and the emotional toll and strength it takes.

I can’t say from any personal experience, however, I feel as though this alludes to a double-edged sword that LGBTQ individuals experience. On one hand, being out might make one become more visible and a larger target for harassment. But on the other hand, it can be empowering and freeing. This contrast really stood out to me and makes me feel disappointed by how people treat each other, but also proud by the resilience of the LGBTQ youth of their self-acceptance against all their challenges.

Beyond the classrooms and school environment, one’s home and family dynamics also play a significant role. There is fear of bullying and harassment from those at school, and also from one’s own families. From my own experience, Korean culture is traditionally very conservative. While, as a whole, the culture is moving towards greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals, acceptance of LGBTQ remains low. My parents are definitely accepting of the LGBTQ community, however the same can’t be said for my grandparents. I think it is difficult to change their perspectives when it’s so deeply rooted and ingrained in them. That is why I think this shift to a more inclusive society is important because what we accept or oppose most of the time comes from what we’ve been taught or exposed to. If the current and younger generations continue to challenge outdated norms and promote inclusivity, there is hope for change over time. Open conversations, collaboration, and education in the classrooms and in the home is what can reshape our society.