Thread by @JamesMTilton

Today, a kid in the hallway threw a rock at my window, breaking it.

Some students thought it was a gunshot. Most were just confused.

“Why do they hate you, Mr. Tilton?” they asked.

I wasn’t ready to answer that question then. I am now.

(A Thread)

It wasn’t the first time this particular group of students have targeted me.

They've banged on my door, spit on my carpet, and yelled into my classroom that I can “suck a d**k.” They’ve followed me down the hallway, calling me “Skin flute.”

They’ve opened my classroom door and screamed out “There’s only two genders.” They etched “I’m gay” into the sign on my door. They’ve called me a “f****t” and a “c**ksucker.” Most of these events have happened dozen of times.

The harassment started three years ago, when a student took offense at a video I played in class supporting gay rights. And for that, he decided to target me. I challenged his toxic concept of masculinity, and he began enlisting friends to join in the harassment.

The harassment really escalated this year when I helped lead a schoolwide campaign against sexual harassment. This group of students ripped down posters demanding female students be treated with respect. One even threatened rape when students organized a linked-arm demonstration.

He walked up and down the line of students, whispering “I support rape” over and over again. His friends stood behind him and laughed. He’d threatened dozens of female students before security finally escorted him to the front office.

This toxic masculinity isn’t specific to my school or even to a particular student. This next generation is on the right track about a lot of things, but it’s as rife with toxic masculinity as mine was. Maybe even more.

And it’s not going down without a fight.

I’m a straight adult, and they’ve harassed me for three years merely for supporting queer students. I can’t imagine how much their toxic masculinity has hurt queer teens on our campus.

I’m beginning to understand why so many queer students hang out in my room before school and during lunch. My classroom is a safe place, but shouldn’t our whole campus be one too?

And before you suggest I report these kids to administration, please know that I have. Literally dozens of times. But admin is under pressure to minimize suspensions and has limited punishment to drug possession and physical fights.

I love my students. Many of them love me back. Many of them are bright kids with bright futures and big hearts. But please don’t assume that the next generation is going to magically erase homophobia and sexism.

There are teens who hate gay people. There are teens who hate women. There are teens who hate me for supporting them.

Toxic masculinity isn’t going down without a fight. I know. I’ve got a broken window to prove it.

And if you're a queer teen or a teen girl, please know that you deserve better. You deserve a world that isn't afraid of you, and I hate that we aren't there yet.

The voices of hatred are loud, but they aren't the only ones.

I'm in Room 220 if you need a reminder.

An addendum: I super appreciate all the energy and love that I've been shown in the comments and in the quotes/RT. But two things...

First, I'm safe, and I've got support. Bring that same fierce protective energy and bit hearted love to the people, on campus and off, who don't.

And second, these kids need an alternative to toxic masculinity. They've been taught that being a man means being violent, angry, and hateful.

Let's make sure our responses challenge those three things, rather than reinforcing them.

(End thread)

PS If you need some positivity, here's some students from my school who were profiled in today's paper as future leaders. If those other kids embody the worst parts of the next generation, these kids embody the best. And they deserve a brighter spotlight.

https://twitter.com/JamesMTilton/status/1104777091449384961