Posted for my students today:
I am a white, middle-class woman. I grew up poor, but it was never overwhelming. I've experienced sexual harassment and discrimination, but not to the point of it being a major barrier or problem (as far as I'm aware). I was raised to be kind and respectful to everyone (though I was never taught to recognize my own implicit biases). Growing up in Oregon and Southern California, I knew and was friends with many people of color. I did my student teaching in rural Mexico and felt humbled and comfortable.
But I was NEVER taught - throughout my public school education, undergraduate education, or graduate education - about systemic racism and oppression, the ignored voices in educational theory, the experiences of black and brown students in schools.
*LGBTQ folx - I see you. But now is a time to focus on Black lives.
It is only now - over 20 years after my student teaching experience and with the help of colleagues and friends - that I am even BEGINNING to understand the experiences of Black students, in particular, in American schools. It is only now that I am learning - and have seen first-hand through my extensive work in Utah public schools - the implicit fear that (particularly) white female teachers have of (particularly) black and brown (particularly) boys, resulting in significantly harsher reactions to behavior and significantly higher rates of detention, suspension, and expulsion in Utah (you can check this). And this starts in elementary school.
Students of color are consistently criticized for the way they speak, the way they dress, the way they express their identities at school. They are counseled out of STEM careers and into trades. They are put on remediation programs instead of learning HOW to program. Yet we blame them for perpetuating intergenerational poverty.
We are teachers.
We have power.
What would school be like if we knew and actively worked to overcome our biases? What would school be like if we stood against all forms of racism and oppression, if we supported and celebrated diverse identities, if we raised up diverse voices and questioned the status quo?
I am not an expert here. I admit my naivete, but I am trying. I invite each of you to learn with me. At the suggestion of Dr. Warburton, I recently listened to this podcast series: https://www.sceneonradio.org/seeing-white/. It was transformative for me. My dear friend, Belinda Talonia (principal at Orem Junior High School), posted this reading list: https://twitter.com/btalonia/status/1267610284761333761. Both of these resources are places for us to start.
I also encourage you to create projects in the second half of the semester that would engage your students in learning about these issues. Could your UDL: Representation assignment this week focus on the history of race in American public education? Could your face-to-face, hybrid, and/or online lessons that we'll be doing in the next few weeks engage them in tracing the roots of the Black Lives Matter movement? I know many of you are also in Dr. Waite's Multicultural Education class. Perhaps there is something you could do to bring together issues of digital equity, information literacy, white privilege, implicit bias, and your future as a teacher.
I know that some of you may be feeling angry or frustrated about what I have written here, and I would be more than happy to talk with you privately about that. But know that education is inherently political, and that my passionate belief is that my role as a teacher is to serve and benefit kids - ALL kids.
For those of you who are feeling overwhelmed by the emotional weight of our current contexts, please take some time. Yes, we need to finish this course by the end of the block, but it doesn't have to be done today. Do what you need to breathe, find your compass, and move forward. I am here to support you.
Dr. C
I welcome comments on this post that are constructive, sincere, questioning, and respectful.
