Common Read Event: George by Alex Gino

 

       The Saint Michael's College Education Department's common read this year was a young adult novel titled George, written by Alex Gino. The book describes the story of Melissa, a fourth grader who thinks of herself as a girl, while those around her still view her as a male named George. The book tackles the ideas of struggling with one's gender identity, which includes moments of bullying and acceptance from one's family, and Melissa's desire to play Charlotte in her class' production of Charlotte's Web. I was lucky enough to be able to attend an author talk given by Alex Gino, and hear them answer questions from the audience and describe the process of writing Melissa's story. 

      The author talk led by Alex Gino was really fascinating and informative! I had little background knowledge of the process of writing a novel, and hearing Alex Gino describe their learning process throughout the writing and publishing periods was great to hear. Gino answered questions which had been in my mind since reading the story, such as why was the book titled George when the story is meant to represent Melissa's struggle to have others come to know her as Melissa. Gino was incredibly patient with the audience's questions, and their answers demonstrated how much time they had spent reflecting and learning. One moment of the discussion which stood out to me was when Gino urged teachers to avoid having students identify their pronouns in front of the class as an icebreaker. I have experienced this pronoun icebreaker in multiple classes since beginning my undergraduate education at SMC, and had thought that it was a progressive way to have students become aware and comfortable with how their peers identified. However, Gino noted that these kinds of situations can often be uncomfortable for gender-fluid and gender-nonconforming students, as declaring one's pronouns can cause them to feel "locked in" and unable to change their pronouns. Gino also reminded us that some students may still be struggling to determine their gender identity, and so asking them to declare pronouns in front of their peers may be challenging for them since they are still in the process of identifying themselves. Alex Gino encouraged educators, current and future, to find a more private and personal way for students to make their gender identity and pronouns known.

       The SMC Education Department Mission Statement says that "Our graduates are change agents committed to social justice and sustainability." As gender identity continues to be a topic of discussion in this current progressive-leaning world, educators are learning how to approach these sensitive topics to make all students feel included, welcome, and safe in their classroom environment. Events such as the author talk given by Alex Gino provide opportunities for us future educators to grow our understanding of these sensitive topics, and allow us to reflect on how we can best create a respectful and safe environment for students to develop and grow in over time. 

      The process of reading George and listening to Alex Gino were very informative and eye opening for me. I previously had little knowledge of what members of the LGBTQ+ community truly experience, and Melissa's story described bullying, coming out to one's family and friends, and looking for acceptance not only from peers but from themselves. I now feel that I have a greater understanding of the LGBTQ+ community, and realize that implementing inclusive practices means more than just hanging up posters. It means fostering a classroom community of respect and understanding, where students can feel free to express themselves and share. The common read made me more conscious of how I use gendered terms in the classroom, including "guys", "men and women", and "boys and girls", since these terms could isolate a particular student and cause them to feel "different" from their peers. I also believe that establishing class norms at the start of the term is beneficial, so that students can understand what is expected of them and what would not be acceptable in the classroom, such as discrimination or other hateful practices. 

      I am thankful for the opportunity to hear Alex Gino speak about George and inform me even further on how to create an inclusive classroom environment. This opportunity has provided me with a lot to reflect on.