So you think you know?

HEATHER HANSON / Buena Vista University student journalist

People, in general, tend to assume a lot of information about pretty much everyone. Whether it is because of the pitch of a person's voice, color of their hair, skin, or anything else for that matter, we all have a stereotype to assign to various different physical attributes. It does not stop just at appearances though, many people assign stereotypes to people because of what religious group they belong to or the organizations they choose to participate in.

In every education class I have ever had at Buena Vista University (BVU), it has been drilled into my head that we have natural biases. We assume so much about someone based on what neighborhood they live in, how they dress, or even who their siblings are. In the education department, they teach us about all these biases to try to help us overcome them and create a better classroom environment for everyone.

Students don't like it when you judge them based on their appearance or who their family is. Another assumption many teachers make is if the student isn't talking, they don't understand the material. Again, this is not always true. The student may be having a bad day and therefore not have anything to say about the topic, or they are auditory learners who prefer to listen instead of talk.

The point is, in the classroom you need open your eyes and know your students well enough to know that they are all unique and you should get to know each of them to better understand them as people.

But this practice shouldn't just occur in the classroom, it should happen in the real world too. We still have plenty of biases and stereotypes that we place on people every day and that became very evident to me on Monday, Oct. 11.

The Day of Silence was meant to speak out in a different way and to be an ally for those who are homosexuals. These individuals are often ridiculed because of their sexual orientation. I heard many negative remarks and many people make fun of the signs posted around the school. People who decided this day was a waste of time are the ones who are showing their ignorance to the different types of people that we have in this world.

It takes everyone to make the world go round and if you don't agree with what people have to say that is fine, but disagree in a respectful manner. Many people assumed everyone who participated in this day was a homosexual, this is wrong. Many of the students and who participated were saying to their friends who may be homosexuals that they were there for them.

The assumptions we make about people can be detrimental to that person's life. It is possible that you might tell the wrong person that you think someone is a homosexual. The person you told might not like homosexuals and from that day forward bully this individual and in extreme cases could even due this person serious physical harm.

The lesson of the day: So you think he is gay? So you think she is a lesbian? So you think he can't read because he is Hispanic? So you think she can't catch because she is a girl? Think again. People will always surprise you.