As an educator for the last 17 years, you can imagine all the things my eyes have seen. From some of the most beautiful amazing moments that remind you why you teach to some of the most dismal examples of human nature exhibited in public. In a time when cuts are so deep and times so tough, our educational system has become filled with fearful role models who should be and would be the agents of change and learning for our youth.
Specifically as this relates to Equity in schools, these circumstances make our quest for change even more elusive. Yet I am certain there are still educators, parents, people making great strides in this area.
This brings me to the purpose of this Blog. It is my hope that with the help of followers of this Blog we can begin to showcase, as exemplars, the amazing work that is taking place daily in our schools, workplaces, and in our communities. Post an act of kindness, a successful program or lesson that reduces the racial achievement gap, a teachable moment...anything that will inspire us all to continue along this path. I will continue to create main post from feedback and examples I come across in my work and life.
We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.
REMEMBER: This site is about positivity, no hate demonstration or speech will be tolerated.
Posts
I have a belief about equity versus equality. Equality is everyone being treated as an equal which is not necessarily fair. Equity in education is everyone getting the support they need to be successful.
ReplyDeleteA practice that I see operating in our school system that addresses the issue of equity is BAAM (Building African American Minds). Our data suggests that our AA students are not achieving as well as our white students. This group provides AA males with extra support and experiences aimed at improving their achievement and allowing experience more success in the classroom. The group also focuses on supporting parents to help them better understand and access school services.
ReplyDeleteAs an educator for over 25 years I have seen my share of educational pitfalls as well. However I have noticed that there has always been a quest for find out why students of color don't seem to be progressing as their white counterparts. Compassion is the key. Kids just like adults know when you care and when don't. Hopefully this discussion cause us to examine ourselves and where we are on this continuum.
ReplyDeleteI print out grade distribution for each marking for each teacher and then meet with individual staff about the practices that they are using in the classroom to help all students achieve success. They are given time to reflect. Obviously there are some teachers that need to discuss specific practices related to race, FARMS, ELL, SpecEd, etc. It is also a great tool to partner staff. We also discuss students individually ( academic progress, attendance, support system, etc.).
ReplyDeleteGiving students choices in their learning. Providing opportunities built into the school day for them to voice their thoughts and beliefs in a safe environment. Providing interventions and enrichment opportunities, but at the same time taking time each week to let them talk, complain, discuss what is on their minds. Providing outlets that are different and engaging instead of the same old thing that hasn't worked yet.
ReplyDeleteThe most recent positive act I have seen is one of our principals starting a group for AA males after school. The recognition that our students need a role model, need cultural pride, and need a risk free environment to be high achievers is a start. We should be able to provide for each of these needs in the classroom, but until we do, afterschool is a start. Go EMS!
ReplyDeleteFun is GOOD! Is a motto that we have used in our school for the last few years. Working with kids, how can this not be fun. Building relationships with our students and getting to know them, what makes them tick, what they like and dislike, how they learn....As a educator, this is the first step to educating our students! Building trust!
ReplyDeleteAt the end of each quarter, data is collected and put in reporting form. Each teacher shares and discusses with their colleagues, results from all students. Each teacher is required to discuss each child during a meeting. This ensures that every student is given attention and none are overlooked in the learning process.
ReplyDeleteWith your faculty, or with your students distribute one index card to each person. (On the index cards you will have written how long it has been since they have had a meal -One day, three days, seven days.) Once they have their cards, bring some pizzas that contain fewer slices than there are participants. Have the group decide who should get a slice, or slices of pizza and how/why they reached that decision.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that compassion is the key. I don't understand someone who goes into education who doesn't have compassion, but it happens.
ReplyDeleteBuilding relationships is so important in teaching all students. Having the students take responsibility for their learning, sharing their feelings and how they prefer to learn is a part of building those relationships. Students must feel they have ownership in their learning and that their teacher believes in them.
ReplyDeleteCompassion and relationships are key! Kids do not care how much you know until they know how much you care!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe pizza activity is designed to help participants see the difference between being equitable and being equal. If everyone is treated equally, they should each receive a slice of pizza. If we are being equitable, the participants who have the index cards indicating that they haven't eaten for the longest period of time should be given more slices of pizza.
ReplyDeleteTo ensure that students are getting what they need, equity is more important than equality.
I don't know if this speaks to equity or not, but on the Eastern Shore folks of all races and all ages will hold doors for each other. Often, waiting a bit of time, just to carry out this kindness. This courtesy is not evident in other areas or states.
ReplyDeleteIf we are able to acknowledge each other in this manner, wouldn't it be wonderful to do so in other ways as well?
Each year when teachers return from summer vacation, they are afforded the opportunity to meet with the previous year's teacher to discuss student progress. They also discuss how each student learns. The new teacher then gains insight as to what works well and do not have to start from the beginning. The teachers love this time together and find this to be helpful.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed in the past few years that teachers address the achievement gap by having small group instruction. This grouping is the result of teacher observation and assessment before, during, and after instruction. This gives the teacher an opportunity to differentiate instruction according to need.
ReplyDeleteOk, let me frame this in a positive fashion Nancy. In regards to the comment that our job is fun, and how is it that we still have folks that don't see interacting with kids as fun, I see those folks too. Their loss you can say, but it is the kids loss too. In a positive framework, let's help them find a new career path. EVERY child deserves to work with teachers who love children.
ReplyDeleteI am excited that TCPS is having Courageous Conversations about race. It is a beginning!
ReplyDeleteA best practice I am familiar with is the notion of providing parent training activities and conferences somewhere other than the school building. Although we always want parents to feel welcome in our buildings, sometimes, due to other responsibilities and commitments or negative feelings about the school house, parents may not want to or be able to get to the meetings and conferences. Having them at an alternate location can bring some of those parents to the table. We actually had a parent liaison that set up conference with one of the large employers who had an assembly line and parents had difficulty leaving to come to conferences. The business allowed the conferences to be held onsite during their breaks so they could particpate in the discussions about their children. I think sometimes teachers assume a lack of caring and concern when in actually it is circumstances and personal feelings that preclude their involvement.
ReplyDeleteThere is alot to be gained from a one on one conversation that has no agenda.
ReplyDeleteI agree that all students need to feel part of the learning in the classroom and thus part of the success as well. The teacher, as the facilitator, should foster the notion of equity and equality for students and provide a postive learning environment. Success is the greatest gift!
ReplyDeleteLove the strategy of meeting with teachers to discuss their grade distribution. Having conversations between the administrator and the teacher will facilitate reflection. Pairing teachers to share best practices is an inexpensive way to provide staff development.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see equity in resources in all schools no matter the location. Also, I would like for educators,parents, students,etc. to have an open dialogue to find why some AA students,especially males,are lagging behind and think out of the box to find solutions.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see all schools in Maryland to have the resources to have the Courageous Conversations Seminars.
First of all we need to make all teachers accountable for their students failure. When children fail so do their teachers. They need to meet each student on an individual level.
ReplyDeleteIf adminstrators see if this is done teachers will work harder so all chidren wiil succeed.
In a recent National Reading Conference, one of the research projects was on building "student discourse". By building a foundation in good dialogue that is truly "engaging" student comprehension grows dynamically. It is essential that as educators we empower our students by supporting deep, meaningful conversations.
ReplyDeleteUntil America sees that we are wasting our most precious resource, our children, it will be a long wait for equity. Money or the lack thereof cannot be our excuse. We have an obligation to give our best to our children - and we have yet to do so.
ReplyDeleteIn reading these comments, I mostly agree with them. A couple of years ago we did a study group on Ruby Payne's book which deals with poverty. I too beleive that teachers should show compassion when dealing with students.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that building relationships is the critical starting point for teachers and students. When we began this school year our entire staff focused on building relationships, before getting into curriculum. The response from students and teachers was so positive. I truly believe the time we spent on relationship building will pay great dividends throughout the year.
ReplyDeleteLast year we started a mentoring group for our African-American males students. As part of the program we had a group of African-American males from the community come to the school to mentor our AA male students. After working for a semester to establish relationships with the students the mentors challenged the students to perform better on the state assessment tests. The students responded positively to the challenge and we saw a dramitic increase in their state assessment results.
ReplyDeleteDeveloping positive interpersonal relationship that are authentic greatly increases academic achievement. When student know you care, they care. Instruction should include examples of color and the contributions people of color have made to our country. Take into consideration that the majority opinion should always be open to be critiqued from another cultural point of view..
ReplyDeleteWe have engaged in some PD recently regarding differentiated assessment and more equitable grading (not averaging scores, grade flooring, not including behavior, etc. in grades) with the book Fair Is Not Always Equal.
ReplyDeleteOur school has done a great deal of work on building relationships and working with families in poverty, but we have not isolated race in this at all. That has to be a next step.
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ReplyDeleteWe have a challenge ahead of us....people "vote with their feet" (moving away from those that are different than them) which perpetuates the continuing inequities in education. How do we bring our parents & community along in understanding courageous conversations really are in our best interest as we experience a TRUE INTEREST CONVERGENCE and not simply convergence for our personal/race gain?
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comment that students do not care, until we as educators, show that we honestly and sincerely care about the student's needs, opinions, reactions, and well-being. It is one thing to say that we care and another to act upon what we hear.
ReplyDeleteHow do we celebrate difference in LPS? I mean, the MLK Day Celebration can't be it. Is it?
ReplyDeleteKids have an innate "crap detector" that is accurate much more often than not. Adults need to be honest in their interactions with students in order to create an effective learning environment. Saying "I don't know" or "Tell me more" is okay; in fact, it can build credibility.
ReplyDeleteOur school has a Boys and Girls Club Program that serves about two thirds of our students. This afterschool program provides academic support for students as well as programs that promote self esteem and making good life choices. We credit this program as one factor that has allowed our students to be sucessful at school. If you don't have a Boys and Girls Club Program, search one out.
ReplyDeleteOur district is investigating how and why minority students are self-selecting lower level courses particularly in math and science. It would seem as though accessibility were not an issue, however through more critical investigation, we learn that accessibility is relative to the viewer. It is not enough that we allow students access to all levels of courses, we must go further and investigate the reasons why a student chose the way they did. Have we stopped to ask those questions? Do guidance counselors engage in these conversations with students and their families?
ReplyDeleteCounselors? How about our school leaders. What role they are playing in this. Keeping it real means kids need to see leaders taking an active role in their learning.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how different things would be if suppressed/controled whites as Tim described woke up to this and said "no". His comments make me realize racism is even more explicit than I would have thought.
ReplyDeleteS Lewins
How insidious! That people actually take the time and energy to plan for dividing and conquering a specific group of people.
ReplyDeleteWise spoke about the decisions made by rich white men to maintain their position by making race the issue. On the one hand it sounds almost like a conspiracy theory. On the other hand it makes perfect sense. It seems like most people of color making such statements would be considered crazy.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a common thread in some of these posts that "compassion" is the way to change things, close the gap, etc. Compassion can be passive, compassion can be form a quasi relationship where one still holds the power over the other. It's time for action. It's time to stop talking and start looking critically at our own practice, our own educational system and our own attitude, assumptions, perspectives. It's time to open our own eyes and help our students to open theirs. The conversations have to START NOW and have to continue!!
ReplyDeleteThe Tim Wise video incites (in me) a need to examine just what the white person really understands about his/her history and truth about racism. To be really honest, I need to remind myself of what I am responsible for doing, what the effect is I have on people of color, and what I can do to help break down the barriers others may feel along with the barriers I have placed.
ReplyDeleteTwo days after the hurricane people were streaming into the dome. I sat watching the news and cried. My husband asked me what was wrong and I said, "They think these mostly poor, mostly Black folks are throw-away people."
ReplyDeleteWhen mostly White and mostly affluent folks had been burned out of their hillside California homes just weeks before there was a rush to help them rebuild their multi-million dollar mansions.
Actions speak louder than words.
Tim Wise is a passionate speaker with incredible content. What does he charge? I wonder if he has thought of inviting a person of color to co present.
ReplyDeleteElaine
interesting thoughts
ReplyDeleteIs whiteness as property defined as the rich white people in government who have the power ?
ReplyDeleteThis is still an example of how white privilege is pervasive in our culture. It is not economics that bind us, but being dominant.
ReplyDeleteTim directly addresses "whiteness as property" and "interest convergence" tenants. In education we have the responsibilty to provide equitable access to learning opportunities by first recognizing when and where these tenants are in existance in our schools.
ReplyDeletewish for a world with no blame...
ReplyDeleteHow do we recognize and mitigate the dividing of people with similar issues from being co-opted by groups that have more to gain from division?
ReplyDeleteAs I listen to Mr. Tim Wise, I try to make sure I listen to myself in thought. I've been in training where using a 'courageous conversation' with other people can be powerful. As the topic of whiteness and equity are becoming more apparent in my awareness, I realize one of the first places where I need to have a courageous conversation is with myself.
ReplyDeleteOften when I read or hear people who are bouncing around denial or defensive stances, I often wonder what conversations they are having with themselves.
It takes courage. As educators, we have a responsibility to all children. To ignore such issues of equity or justify why it does not apply to your world, is turning your back on your responsibility as an educator.
(jz)
This topic is far from a 9 minute video clip but I feel opening up the conversations that Wise is talking about and forcing people out of their comfort zone to realise that this is an issue everywhere and to get rid of the, "that doesn't happen in my town mentality'.
ReplyDeleteTim Wise's commentary puts a whole new light on accountability. If I am "aware" then I have an obligation to do what I can to change how I might perceive other people.
ReplyDelete