Ian Eagleton, an author and former teacher, discusses the challenges and opportunities in creating inclusive and diverse educational environments. Ian explores the importance of addressing toxic masculinity and gender stereotypes in schools, as well as the need for a curriculum that includes diverse and marginalised voices. He also shares his experiences as both a teacher and author, highlighting the significance of safety in classrooms where students can openly discuss gender and sexuality. The conversation also touches on the practical aspects of implementing inclusive education, such as funding, time management and the availability of diverse resources. Throughout the episode, the conversation highlights the need for more diverse and engaging books in classrooms and calls for empowering teachers to shape the curriculum to reflect the diverse experiences of all students better.
About our guests
Ian Eagleton is the director of The Reading Realm and a resource writer for various educational organisations, including The Literacy Shed and Authorfy. Ian has taught in primary schools for thirteen years. He especially enjoys sharing picture books, poetry and creative writing activities with the children he teaches. His books include the award-winning Nen and the Lonely Fisherman, Violet's Tempest, The Woodcutter and the Snow Prince, Glitter Boy, and The Boy Who Cried Ghost. You can follow Ian on X at @MrEagletonIan
Key takeaways
Quotes
"I often talk to students and children and say to them, whose histories and whose stories are told and why is that? Why did I never hear these stories? And how does it make groups of people feel when they're excluded from the curriculum, when they're excluded from books?" - Ian Eagleton
"Schools that are doing well are really trying to include, in a natural way, the LGBTQ+ community in their curriculum." — Ian Eagleton
"I think when you talk to a lot of gay men, who grew up under that long shadow of Section 28, the most frequent word that comes up that everyone says, the word is shame." — Ian Eagleton
Resource recommendations
Eagleton, I. and Mayhew. J. (2021) Nen and the Lonely Fisherman. Owlet Press.
Eagleton, I. (2023) Glitter Boy. Scholastic Fiction
Eagleton, I. (2024) The Boy Who Cried Ghost. Scholastic Fiction
The Reading Realm. Resources, book reviews and more created by Ian Eagleton.
Stonewall. Best practices, toolkits and resources created by education professionals.
What will you take away?
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