Student~Trans~Teacher

My journey from being a student, to becoming an English teacher.

[studenttransteacher]

Welcome

Dear Audience,

I’m Elliot and I’m a to-be English teacher. I’ve created this tumblr in order to share some of my work, share my interests with others, and to observe different perspectives which would be beneficial to my future career.

Along with teaching my interests include reading fiction, especially epic world literature. I love caring for things such as dogs, plants, and people. My second secret passion is fighting climate change.

Until next time, I bid you Adieu.

[studenttransteacher]

Colonialization is naturally dehumanizing. Let's explore how Phillip Noyce's 2002 Film "Rabbit-Proof Fence" flips traditional hegemonic standards by proving that being a colonizer is much more barbaric and animalistic than those they are colonizing.

My essay investigates Rabbit-Proof Fence's use of comparison between humans hunting animals for a food and survival resource and how the white colonizers hunt the runaway aboriginal characters.

Read my essay below:

Not Your Commodities - ENG 336 Final

Elliot Simcoe New Dimensions to World Literature Dr. Katarzyna Jakubiak May 1st, 2023 Not Your Commodities An Analysis: The Rabbit Proo

[studenttransteacher]

Elizabeth and Darcy are on the autism spectrum. Consequently, their relationship is unconventional af.

Read my essay:

https://millersvilleuniversity-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/eosimcoe_millersville_edu/EZjr6qIFE4FCs3rGkO_Ao3QBT7J7SifjniCekM0g-iWKUA?e=m6mmO4

[studenttransteacher]

Trans Students and Accessing College

Trans and gender non-conforming students face disparities in access to college due to having on-average lower socio-economic status, being at greater risk for mental health issues, discrimination, suffering unsupportive parents and guardians, power hierarchies, and other systematic problems.

On average, LGBT+ students come from households with a lower socio-economic status, and thus have to use federal loans in a higher frequency- and that likelihood was even higher for trans students. According to a study, while 23% of straight students used federal student loans, that percentage was “33 percent for cis LGBT+ students — and 51 percent for trans students,” this statistic shows one disparity that trans students face, because student loan debt can be burdening (Rummler.) According to Investopedia, a study found that 30% of LGBT+ persons reported having “unmanagable student loan debt,”  which could deter students from completing college- or even starting it at all (Flynn.)

College is difficult and confusing to pay for all students- but for LGBT+ students, that struggle can be even more intense- because many young LGBT+ people do not have support from their parents and guardians. Writer Kathryn Flynn cites a survey which found that 60% of LGBTQ+ individuals have little family support. Family support is vital for paying for college, because “on average, parental income and savings covered 45% of students’ college expenses,” a large amount of support that LGBT+ students could be deficient in, thus discouraging them or blocking them from attending college (Flynn.) Not only do LGBT+ students lack financial support from parents, but they could potentially miss out on federal aid altogether which requires parental financial information and a signature. 

The financial burden and other stressors add to an above-average level of mental health levels in trans students. Rummler cites the Williams Institute study, noting that, “That extra financial weight sits on top of additional mental and emotional burdens [trans students] are more likely to face,” which leads to lower academic standing. Other stressors that lead to mental health concerns for trans students include “physical structures to official policies to curricula to classroom practices” which exemplify “Cisnormativity and genderism,” according to Goldberg. These ostracizing aspects of student life, Goldberg notes, “… May create chronic stress for gender minorities,” which draws focus from what should be the most important task during college: receiving an education (Goldberg 4.) Mental health struggles can lead to a decline in academic performance, which can cause a school to kick a student out.

Further, trans students not only face a lower level of mental health because of institutionalized genderism, but are at greater risk for dropping out of school completely, due to discrimination. Threats such as harassment and physical assault begin in grade school, and according to the Movement Advancement Project and GLESN, 78% and 35% of trans students have experienced those forms of discrimination accordingly. This type of harassment has reportedly caused “one in six students to leave school,” which means that those students will not receive a highschool diploma and go to college (Goldberg 3.) Then, if these students do get to post-secondary education, they tend to experience “select trans environmental microaggressions” which lead to consequences such as “negative academic outcomes” and low mental health (Goldberg 6.) And, according to the U.S. Transgender Survey, “24% of respondents who were out as or perceived as trans… reported being verbally, physically, or sexually harassed… with 16% of those.. Reporting that they left college because of it,” clearly showing that discrimination leads to academic drop out (Goldberg 5.) The levels of discrimination experienced by transgender students often leads to lower academic standing, and in some cases to trans students dropping out of school.

While in school, students tend to suffer discrimination in silence in order to remain respectable in their department, which can further aid in a deteriorating mental health, which then cycles back to dissuading them from working on getting good grades and finishing a degree. According to Goldberg, participants of a study noted that they were aware of “existing power differentials”, making them “scared to address repeated instances of misgendering,” as a way to [avoid] retribution and possible jeopardy to their academic and professional futures,” forcing students to choose between being themselves and success in their career (Goldberg 8.) Additionally, Roop interviewed a transgender student who had the experience of being outed to a professor, whom they proceeded to lose standing and privileges with (Roop 61.) Currently, there is a lot of risk when it comes to being out as transgender in college. 

In general, trans students face difficulties navigating systems, including hardships that other groups of students do not face. As stated by Rummler, students have problems when it comes to legal names- when filling out the FAFSA and when repaying loans. Additionally, on applications like the FAFSA, students have to choose between male and female which, Rummler notes, “can sow confusion in the application process,” and will further cause invalidation and frustration for students (Rummler.)

Noting all the difficulties that trans students have with accessing and paying for college, I must acknowledge one scholarship resource. The Transgender First National Scholarship rewards a transgender student every year with $2,500. This scholarship’s goal is to help transgender students afford higher education. Its website can be found at https://www.onlinedegree.com/transgender-first-scholarship/#apply.

[studenttransteacher]

Here’s the credits:

https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Trans-Higher-Ed-Aug-2018.pdf 

(Goldberg)

https://19thnews.org/2022/08/transgender-higher-education-student-loan-debt-biden/ 

(Rummler)

https://repository.library.northeastern.edu/files/neu:rx915f59x/fulltext.pdf 

(Roop)

https://www.investopedia.com/paying-for-college-as-an-lgbtq-student-5176574 

(Flynn)

[studenttransteacher]

Trans Students and Accessing College

Trans and gender non-conforming students face disparities in access to college due to having on-average lower socio-economic status, being at greater risk for mental health issues, discrimination, suffering unsupportive parents and guardians, power hierarchies, and other systematic problems.

On average, LGBT+ students come from households with a lower socio-economic status, and thus have to use federal loans in a higher frequency- and that likelihood was even higher for trans students. According to a study, while 23% of straight students used federal student loans, that percentage was “33 percent for cis LGBT+ students — and 51 percent for trans students,” this statistic shows one disparity that trans students face, because student loan debt can be burdening (Rummler.) According to Investopedia, a study found that 30% of LGBT+ persons reported having “unmanagable student loan debt,”  which could deter students from completing college- or even starting it at all (Flynn.)

College is difficult and confusing to pay for all students- but for LGBT+ students, that struggle can be even more intense- because many young LGBT+ people do not have support from their parents and guardians. Writer Kathryn Flynn cites a survey which found that 60% of LGBTQ+ individuals have little family support. Family support is vital for paying for college, because “on average, parental income and savings covered 45% of students’ college expenses,” a large amount of support that LGBT+ students could be deficient in, thus discouraging them or blocking them from attending college (Flynn.) Not only do LGBT+ students lack financial support from parents, but they could potentially miss out on federal aid altogether which requires parental financial information and a signature. 

The financial burden and other stressors add to an above-average level of mental health levels in trans students. Rummler cites the Williams Institute study, noting that, “That extra financial weight sits on top of additional mental and emotional burdens [trans students] are more likely to face,” which leads to lower academic standing. Other stressors that lead to mental health concerns for trans students include “physical structures to official policies to curricula to classroom practices” which exemplify “Cisnormativity and genderism,” according to Goldberg. These ostracizing aspects of student life, Goldberg notes, “... May create chronic stress for gender minorities,” which draws focus from what should be the most important task during college: receiving an education (Goldberg 4.) Mental health struggles can lead to a decline in academic performance, which can cause a school to kick a student out.

Further, trans students not only face a lower level of mental health because of institutionalized genderism, but are at greater risk for dropping out of school completely, due to discrimination. Threats such as harassment and physical assault begin in grade school, and according to the Movement Advancement Project and GLESN, 78% and 35% of trans students have experienced those forms of discrimination accordingly. This type of harassment has reportedly caused “one in six students to leave school,” which means that those students will not receive a highschool diploma and go to college (Goldberg 3.) Then, if these students do get to post-secondary education, they tend to experience “select trans environmental microaggressions” which lead to consequences such as “negative academic outcomes” and low mental health (Goldberg 6.) And, according to the U.S. Transgender Survey, “24% of respondents who were out as or perceived as trans… reported being verbally, physically, or sexually harassed… with 16% of those.. Reporting that they left college because of it,” clearly showing that discrimination leads to academic drop out (Goldberg 5.) The levels of discrimination experienced by transgender students often leads to lower academic standing, and in some cases to trans students dropping out of school.

While in school, students tend to suffer discrimination in silence in order to remain respectable in their department, which can further aid in a deteriorating mental health, which then cycles back to dissuading them from working on getting good grades and finishing a degree. According to Goldberg, participants of a study noted that they were aware of “existing power differentials”, making them “scared to address repeated instances of misgendering,” as a way to [avoid] retribution and possible jeopardy to their academic and professional futures,” forcing students to choose between being themselves and success in their career (Goldberg 8.) Additionally, Roop interviewed a transgender student who had the experience of being outed to a professor, whom they proceeded to lose standing and privileges with (Roop 61.) Currently, there is a lot of risk when it comes to being out as transgender in college. 

In general, trans students face difficulties navigating systems, including hardships that other groups of students do not face. As stated by Rummler, students have problems when it comes to legal names- when filling out the FAFSA and when repaying loans. Additionally, on applications like the FAFSA, students have to choose between male and female which, Rummler notes, “can sow confusion in the application process,” and will further cause invalidation and frustration for students (Rummler.)

Noting all the difficulties that trans students have with accessing and paying for college, I must acknowledge one scholarship resource. The Transgender First National Scholarship rewards a transgender student every year with $2,500. This scholarship’s goal is to help transgender students afford higher education. Its website can be found at https://www.onlinedegree.com/transgender-first-scholarship/#apply.

[studenttransteacher]

Get To Know Students

Get To Know Students Your Story The name I want to be called in class is __________________________________ and my pronouns are ____________________________________ . The thing I'm most proud of myself is _____________________________________ __________________________________________________...

Here’s my “Get to Know Students” paper that I will have them fill out on the first day of school

[disablededucator]

As you can tell by my url, I'm disabled.

As a teen, I did horrible in every class that didn't grade primarily or exclusively on test scores. Homework is inaccessible.

I had a teacher, in 12th grade, who:

Wouldn't let you turn anything in if you missed class that day unless you had a doctor's note

Wouldn't take any late work

Graded only on assignments and no tests or quizzes

Allowed a make up day at the end of the year where any student could come and turn in anything they missed through the semester, finish it, turn it in and receive reduced credit

I was medically neglected. I didn't have proper diagnosis for most of my disabilities, I didn't have any treatment, I didn't have medication, I didn't get taken to the doctor, I didn't get doctors notes, and frankly, I didn't even get called in for absences.

Every time I missed a day for illness, I would get behind in this class bc I couldn't turn anything in. So I started skipping class, because I was tired of being screamed at for things beyond my control. By the end of the year, I was failing. It wasn't the first time I'd failed classes over an accessibility issue.

When she announced the work day, I showed up as soon as it started and began working. I had already done some of the worl before then, but not been allowed to turn it in. I had 6 hours and I knew I could do everything.

I worked for over an hour. I came up to her desk with a few assignments to turn in.

She told me, "This day isn't for you. There's no way you can get all this done."

I said, "I can complete enough work to bring my grade up to passing. I might be able to do all of it. There's time."

She said, "You won't have time. You can't stay."

I said, "I will try."

She said, "You can't stay. You won't be able to improve your grade even if you turn in every assignment, which you won't. You need to leave."

And she made me leave. She did not grade any of the work I turned in. She gave me an F in the class. I retook it in summer school, I got a 99% because summer school was accessible to me.

There's two things I want you to takeaway from this post:

Disabled students are left behind for simply existing and being disabled

Teachers have the ultimate power to create or destroy someone's future, and they don't consider how monumentally they are changing lives when they do it

[studenttransteacher]

Classroom Playlist

I have many ideas for my future classroom, and one is a playlist that students can contribute to, that I will play as they walk in or have free time. It will help them feel more welcome because it’s their special creation!

[studenttransteacher]

Mental Health and Teaching

As an educator one of my tenets will be to be transparent, which means I will be ultimately lead to being a relatable force in a school environment. 

Currently I suffer with a couple mental health problems, and likely, by the time I start teaching, I will still be fighting some of the same, and maybe some different mh problems. I want to be open about my mental health to accomplish the following: 

Show that educators are humans, too

To show kids that struggling mentally doesn’t mean one is weak, but proves that one is strong

Be a save haven and resource for students who are struggling with similar issues

[studenttransteacher]

"All Life Seemed to Live in Harmony" for tumblr

“All Life Seemed to Live in Harmony” Once ambassador and leader of the Duwamish and Suquamish peoples, Chief Seattle is often quoted on the sentiment that “All things connect.” One of his quotes is as follows: “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever...

Here’s my essay “All Life Seemed to Live in Harmony”. It’s about humanity’s shared experience of living on Earth, and a lesson we can learn from that. 

The thesis of this essay is also my philosophy of life. This essay compares two works Snow Falling on Cedars and the poem “Thanatopsis”.

I hope you like it.

[mephistopheles]

[studenttransteacher]

Shakespearean Insults

A sling of insults in Shakespeare’s King Lear

“Kent: A knave; a rascal; an eater of broken meats; a base, proud shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy, worsted stocking knave; a whoreson glass-gazing, superserviceable, finical rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that wouldst be a bawd in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, pandar, and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch; one whom I will beat into clamorous whining, if thou deniest the least syllable of thy addition.”

~Act II scene II~

[mjwalker-writing]

hey, writers. reblog this with your opinions on:

(using parentheses)

using em-dashes—more or less liberally

using italics

DIALOGUE IN ALL CAPS TO IMPLY YELLING

the semicolon; or, how to properly use it

capitalizing Important words

using. repetitive. punctuation. for. emphasis.

[studenttransteacher]

These stylistic choices are fun. My favorite is capitalization of important words because it makes them grow a personality. 

Think about the famous capitalization of Death- when a writer uses this version of Death, they mean the Grim Reaper- the guy that chills your skin merely from the eerie fog that precedes him.

[studenttransteacher]

Credit for my cover photo:

 "View from Vapramägi, Estonia" by j_silla is licensed under CC BY 2.0