GVS and Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Children

How can parents of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender children (GLBT) provide their kids with an education that is safe, relevant, and encourages them to create a better world for themselves and others? Global Village School can help.

Global Village School is an international K-12 homeschool diploma program that empowers students to cultivate their gifts and passions by engaging them in a creative, flexible educational process grounded in the principles of peace, justice, diversity, and sustainability. We partner with schools, groups, and individual families to provide the kind of education that prepares students to be wise and capable stewards of the planet and each other. Part of the impetus behind the founding of Global Village School in 1999 was to provide an alternative learning environment for LGBT students experiencing school bullying.

GLBT students are welcome to enroll in Global Village School. Global Village will be the official “school of record,” maintaining student files, providing written evaluations, issuing official transcripts, and providing diplomas upon graduation. We will provide curriculum (regular or customized) and individualized teacher support. Families can also choose to purchase curriculum only, or to work with Global Village teachers on selected courses. Other families may wish to have us develop a customized curriculum for them, and then work with it on their own. Families can also use our learning styles profile, whether or not they wish to enroll.

Some of the ways Global Village School is compatible with the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students:

We understand that certain basic needs must be met before students can really absorb themselves in learning - it's hard to focus on school when students are being bullied for being GLBT. We believe that school should be interesting, fun, relevant to each student's life, and respectful of who they are in their heart and soul. We also feel that it should provide them with the skills and information they need to become responsible and compassionate human beings and caretakers of our planet.

We know that children want to learn and will do so on their own, provided they are in a safe environment and have the appropriate materials from which to choose. Global Village students work at their own pace and are encouraged to collaborate with their teachers to customize the curriculum to match their unique interests and needs. By providing a nurturing environment, we can cultivate a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

We believe it is vitally important to recognize and respect the individual personality of each student. If our curriculum is not working for a particular student, we do not blame the child, but work with the family to come up with a solution. Global Village has several courses with themes that are relevant to the gay youth, including Coming of Age, Literature of Diversity and Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Literature.

We offer the A Self-Portrait learning style assessment, which helps the student (and their teachers and parents) to understand the student’s own individual learning style. The profile provides detailed information about their disposition, modality (tactile-kinesthetic, visual picture learner, etc.), interests, and talents, along with detailed suggestions for working with the various dispositions.

We believe in engaging students in studies that inspire inquiry, encourage communication, and foster cooperation. Global Village endeavors to support the development of thoughtful, compassionate and aware people who will provide a constructive and hopeful foundation for future generations.

“Global Village School has been such a blessing for our family. The main reason why we homeschool our daughter is because we don’t feel that the environment in most public schools is consistent with the way we raise our kids. We put a lot of effort into creating a loving and supportive atmosphere, and feel sending Luna to public school would only work against us in that respect...We want her to always be curious. To always strive to learn more about the things that are important to us and most importantly, to her. To be the kind of person that stands up for what she thinks is right. And above all, to live her life in a way that honors what is in her heart.”
Kacey, 6th grade parent, Missouri

 

How our program works:

Global Village families choose between structured text and online curriculum; fully customized curriculum based on their individual interests, needs, and learning styles; or – for those who are already experienced homeschoolers – using their own curriculum. We offer a wide variety of classes. Core subjects such as english, history, math, and science often contain peace, diversity, and environmental themes. We also offer specialized courses such as The Buddhist Path to Peace, Planetary Stewardship, Reflections on Peacemaking, Peace & Diversity Studies Seminar, The History of Civil Rights in the U.S., and a variety of other classes that address current issues in the world and provide students with role models and examples of peaceful social change. GVS teachers assist each student individually and provide feedback, support, and documentation.

Students can earn elective credit for many different kinds of life experiences, such as travel, participating in cultural events, performing in community theater productions, pursuing a career in athletics or the film industry, or starting their own business. Global Village youth engage in a wide range of activities, including: studying anatomy, massage, Reiki, and alternative medicine, working on political campaigns, studying science at local national parks and wilderness areas, volunteering at a botanical garden, writing novels and screenplays, publishing an alternative newspaper, learning their tribal language and traditions, and operating a home recording studio. In addition, many Global Village students get a head start on college by enrolling in community college courses while they continue working towards their high school diplomas.

 

To learn more:

Please take your time and explore our site. Feel free to contact us with any questions or ideas that may come to mind. We look forward to partnering with you as we continue in our mission of educating for a better world, one person at a time.