2 — What Happens in Room D301

Yesterday, I taught my kids about themes using videos and animated short films because… why not? I also love watching short films myself so it was a great excuse for a little break.

I’m very particular about the content I use when supplementing lectures with media or other digital tools. In putting together this lesson, I was very careful and intentional about the videos I selected. In a single lesson, I wanted to maximize their knowledge space; not only did I want them to learn applicable skills, I also wanted to open doors for conversations beyond the classroom. Yesterday, I was very intentional about the short film that I chose for them to watch, knowing it may be controversial and perhaps spark a tough conversation for many of us.

I used the animated short film called “In A Heartbeat,” which is about a high school boy who has a crush on another boy (video linked below). Those who remember this short film know how significant it was when it first released last year; finally, an animated short film for kids that defies the norms of love. I definitely had an agenda when I chose this film. I wanted to expose them to a different perspective, and this was our conversation starter.

During the video, their reactions were horrendous. There were faces of disgust and I could feel their discomfort throughout the room. Some even yelled “that’s so gay!” and “Ew!” multiple times.

After the video, I asked them, “So, what was this video about?”

“Two boys…” a student said shyly.

“They’re gay!” another yelled.

“Why did you all react the way that you did?”

There was a lot of silence now.

“Your reactions imply that this is bad, that it’s a negative thing that they’re gay. Do you feel that way?”

Silence. I saw confused faces and heard murmurs of no, barely audible.

“How do you all feel about this film?”

After several minutes have passed, a student said, “It’s just weird because we’re not used to it. We grew up learning that love is supposed to be between a boy and a girl… so this is just weird because we don’t understand it.”

There was a moment of silence there that felt like forever as we all marinated in what this student said, including myself. I did not expect that response.

This opened the floor for other thoughts, and I could literally see my 6th graders thinking out loud, processing their own thoughts about what they just saw. Those who initially made disgusted noises and faces pondered their own reactions, and it was as if the room had shifted into a different space. I could feel their minds growing, an inner conflict with themselves as they battled 12 years of social norms.

As strong as my opinions are, I want to create a safe space for my students to share their thoughts and feelings about any given topic, even if it doesn’t align with my own. And there were several students who disagreed and felt “it’s not right” for two boys to love each other. Regardless, what they believe now may be true to them, as what I believe is true to me. My goal is not to convince them to share my values and beliefs, my goal is to expose them to the world, to encourage them to think about things differently and come to a conclusion on their own.

In the end, I realized that their reactions were normal for them. They’re children, growing up in a world with confining social standards and little room for creative thinking and expression. They’re still processing new thoughts, and as with many things in life, they are still learning. We all are.

At the end of our discussion, the majority of us agreed that love is love, no matter who or what. And I’m okay with that.