IntroductionSafe space or positive space are terms used to show that an educator does not allow harassment of students on the basis of race, sex, cultural background, religion , physical or mental ability and thereby creating a safe environment for lesbians, gay, bisexuals, and transgender. This is a place where everyone feels free to freely express oneself and individuals uphold dignity and respect. On the other hand, organizations with unsafe space are those, which do not embrace diversity but rather discriminate students based on sexual orientation. This report uses the excerpt “Ronan’s Escape” a story of 14-year-old boy in Western Australia to discuss the issue of unsafe space. It is composed of the summary of the excerpt, literature summary concerning the issue of unsafe space, observation, and analysis of the excerpt, recommendations, and a conclusion. The paper seeks to demonstrate how an unsafe space can frustrate a person’s life to extend that one decides to commit suicide. Summary of the excerpt.
The excerpt is about a 14-year old boy, Ronan who is being discriminated by his own classmates. The story begins with an episode where Ronan is taking his food while his classmates are playing football. One of the boys shoots the ball to him, this makes him to fall down, and while he was lying down, they come and laugh at him. When the time for games comes nobody wants to be on his team and when he finds a team one of the boys unties his shoe laces just to make sure he does not emerge the winner (Carter, 2009:10). The untied shoelaces make him fall down and so he becomes the laughing stoke making all the students to brand him the loser. The name loser makes him to be frustrated and alienated until he decided to escape from school where he decides to hang himself. Ronan’s story makes it clear that bullying still happens in schools even today and it depicts how the Australian society is, alienating those who look unique and distinct from others. Summary of literatureInstitutions that provide safe spaces always trains the employees to ensure that they appreciate and embrace diversity. Such organizations also ensure there is a safe space in the organization’s mission, values, post safe statements in the offices, and encourage coalition. The concept safe space originated from a women’s movement that demanded for affirmative action and gender equity in terms of resource allocation and sharing employment opportunities. Programs that promote safe spaces include organizing workshops, diversity training and supporting rights of each and every individual. Unsafe spaces are institutions, whereby which do not have the freedom of autonomy where an individual has a right to make his or her own choice. The minority need not to be discriminated by the majority for instance, in most communities the heterosexuals are more than gays and lesbians and therefore, heterosexuals in safe environments respect and allow them to express their feelings publicly without discrimination. From Ronan’s story, one can clearly see that even the youngsters may also create an unsafe environment (Earley, 2003: 23). His classmates made sure that he did not enjoy his stay in the school making his life miserable. Whenever there was no teacher around or somebody to warn them against being discriminative, they always called him a loser, abusing, and isolating him from the rest of the class. During break time and games time, they made him look like a real loser. Most people in the Australian society would want to isolate those people who look different, though they have the potential to do something good in their dreams may be sheltered by those who want to force their ideas into their lives.
Observations
The observation in the film the Ronan’s film depicts a scenario of a schoolboy who is bullied by fellow students and discriminated for being different with the rests of the students. The students are discriminating. It is saddening to see that bulling. still exist land some people enjoy it , the 14 year morning is bullied by older boys for example whole he was enjoying the sandwich a boy in emotionally hit him with the ball and fellow students instead of helping him to rise to his feet they laugh at him and go to class. Ronan was let alone suffering in fact, he was called a loser.
Ronan is u undergoing some thoughtful scenarios as he was selected by woman friend to participant in the class race this happens when the older boys advice her not to choose Ronan because he is a loser. The teacher in does not even recognize this unfairness towards Rona (Mhando, 2010: 12). During the match, you realize the attitude of the other students towards Ronan was negative as he referred as a loser. The scene represents unsafe scene. In the bus, the driver facial expression expresses pity for Ronan as he sees him harassed by older boys who play with his bag that resulted to the death of the bird he had captured. However, Ronan got affected because he had taken care of the bird for long and the note stating that he was a looser written by his bully hence resolved to commit suicide.
Observation and analysis.
The scene during the break time is unsafe since Ronan is harassed hence not good for him, also the field had biasness as the boy racing with him unties his shoelace hence stumbling him leading to his failure, and the woman friend gets disappointed too as it confirmed the fears of her friend being a loser. The scene is also unsafe for Ronan. The scene that is about safe is the class as Ronan was picked thought the bullyboy discourages her from selecting Ronan. The instruction in itself is unsafe for the students as there exists biasness for example Ronan is bullied may be because of his size and age , he is only fourteen years old and undergoes a lot of trauma and discrimination . The film depicts the essence of harshness that students inflict to other students. The literature review used analysis the plot and flow of the film is explaining the issue of bullying in schools, as it still exists and the side effects of the issue is not addressed within a short time (Mhando, 2010:22). Bulling creates unsafe environment for learning the institution itself will fail to reach up to standard of learning in an effort of instilling knowledge and discipline into the students. the unsafe space is the situation were biasness and discrimination exists and one is discriminated on the basis of ethnic, race , culture age , level of education and among other factors .
Literature review used in taking and making comparisons to ensure certain themes or characters are visible so that the work of literature wills be enhanced. Observations made also in the scene were Ranon felt he would not bear it anymore as he was in solitude and rejection. We are shown scenes that are more arbitrary (Australia, 2006: 67). The Australian setting depicts the life of an individual who undergoes extreme bullying and the repercussions that exists. The setting is good as the film is presented in arbitrary than being traditional which will make the audience feel and be able to interpret and remember their experiences, actually it engages a conversation and discussions.
Recommendation
The recommendation concerning to curb bullying, since it is a controversial issuer and affects the academic work and social life of an individual. policies should be put in place to ensure that the culprits are punished effectively in fact the school should spell them from school or suspend them this will help in the aid of ensuring the freshmen and women joining institutions are not affected by the psychological issues and fear for harassment. (Shapiro,1976:33).
Another recommendation is to open an office that will listen to students issues in more personalized aspect for example, the students hat are being harassed would get protection from the office either in reporting the incidences of bullying or listening to students complains. Teachers in the films for example should have ensured a safe space for all students.
Mixture of older students with the younger ones should be abolished they may mingle later though. In order to create culturally safe spaces (Yamashita, 2004:54). .But at initial stages they seclude the since the students will get enough time to learn a new environment. Implementing strategies that will prevent any future happenings in the culture that are safe, the culture that need to be demolished of bullying others due to superiority, it is actually uncivilized , to find students being in such manner. The students ensure they report any incidence of such embarrassing moments.
Conclusion.In conclusion, safe and unsafe spaces are two very important resources that should worry anyone. The Australians must accept the reality that right within the institution and especially in schools unsafe spaces whereby students are discriminated based on their age, gender, class, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity or religion exists. There is a need for the society accepts and seeks to solve the problem through social responsibility approach, which ensures that every individual puts an effort in curbing this problem. Ronan’s story confirms that this impunity continues to perpetuate in the Australian society. There is no single individual, organization, or government that can solve the problem on its own; rather it needs a collective effort. The first step towards solving the problem is accepting that it is there and then now going ahead to solve it but involving all the stakeholders. From history, education has also proved to be the best approach because it teaches people to embrace diversity. Therefore, safe space is important for the efficiency of any organization.
Reference
Earley, P. C., & Ang, S. (2003). Cultural intelligence: Individual interactions across cultures. Stanford, Calif: Stanford University Press
International Conference on Artificial Intelligence: Methodology, Systems, Applications, Ramsay, A., & Agre, G. (2012). Artificial intelligence: Methodology, systems, and applications: 15th International Conference, AIMSA 2012, Varna, Bulgaria, September 12-15, 2012. Proceedings. Berlin: Springer
Carter, A. J., Major, B., Separovich, K., Mhando, M., Martin, L. W., Lazarus, D., & Smooth Motion Films. (2009). Ronan's escape. Perth, WA?: Smooth Motion Films
Mhando, M., & Carter, A.J. (2010). Ronan's escape [Short Film]
Shapiro, S. A., & Ryglewicz, H. (1976). Feeling safe: Making space for the self. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice-Hall
Yamashita, H. (2004). Humanitarian space and international politics: The creation of safe areas. Aldershot, Hants, England: Ashgate
Smith, G. (2013). Working with trauma: Systematic approaches. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Linds, W., Goulet, L., & Sammel, A. (2010). Emancipatory practices: Adult/youth engagement for social and environmental justice. Rotterdam: Sense.Rigby, K., & Australian Council for Educational Research. (2010). Bullying interventions in schools: Six basic approaches. Camberwell, Vic: ACER Press
Australia., Workplace English Language and Literacy Program., & WestOne Services. (2006). Caring in harmony: Banishing bullying. Perth, WA: WestOne Services.
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