Yes, we, as teachers and school leaders, have not just an opportunity, but a responsibility, to educate on social and racial justice
First of all, I write this with a bit of hesitancy.
Not because I feel these thoughts are polarizing (they aren’t). But instead because anything said today, no matter the amount of grace it’s written with, can elicit a lot of emotions.
So I write this with a lot of grace.
Know, too, that I don’t write this from a place of guilt or shame. Guilt or shame are not requirements for reconciliation or redemption, and anyone who tells you otherwise is feeding you a lie. Don’t believe this lie.
Also, I certainly don’t write it from a place of self-righteousness or pride. I am far from great, or even good, on this issue. I cannot sympathize with what so many are going through at this moment, and I won’t even try. To do so would be insulting and pretentious.
But I also recognize that I, along with every other educator, have a role to play. And I want to make sure that I’m doing what I can, no matter how small, to help.
So I put these words down.
Perhaps just for my own sake. Perhaps others will gain something from them as well.
But here they are.
As educators, we’re in a unique position to educate the next generation to be better.
That is our goal, after all. If we don’t have faith that the next generation with be better than the last, think about what that says about our views of society.
I prefer to be optimistic.
Before I get into how we can educate on topics of racial and societal equality, though, a quick story.
About 14 years ago, I was staying with my grandmother for a week before flying out of New York for Madrid. My stay happened to coincide with Halloween. And my grandmother, at the time 87 and living on her own, asked me to hand out the candy.
She set two bowls by door. One with “nice” candy, and one with little bite-sized candy bars.
You can see where this is going.
She told me that the “colored” kids were all teenagers and never dressed up, so they got the lesser of the two candies. Meanwhile, the white kids and their families got the nice candy bars.
To be clear, my Nana (as we called her) was a remarkable woman. Her husband died young, and my Nana fought to keep her four sons in school and on a path that led to success. She never believed in nor accepted a free handout, even refusing her late husband’s war pension from his time and service fighting in the Pacific. I loved her dearly.
But she wasn’t perfect.
On that night, I understood better the mindset of someone who was born in 1918 and raised with strong values that simply didn’t include an eye for racial inequality.
I’ll state that again, because I think it’s important: My Nana was raised with strong values that simply didn’t include an eye for racial inequality.
She categorized people’s motivations and character based on race.
And we simply can’t do the same.
I shared this story with others in the subsequent years, and the reaction was almost always the same:
“She’s a product of her generation.”
“It’s not worth fighting. She’s almost 90, and she won’t change her mind anyway.”
“She no longer has much influence on society. Your energy is better focused on the youth of today.”
Agree or disagree with those sentiments, it doesn’t really matter.
My Nana passed away five years ago.
She was incredible.
But, like society as a whole, she had room to grow.
And that’s where we, as educators, come in.
As K-12 educators, we have the opportunity to educate the next generation to be better.
We can educate the next generation to have an eye for social and racial inequality.
And, yes, it is a battle worth fighting.
Here’s what I believe is important for me:
Every person, no matter who or where they are, is capable of redemption
But we’re not all starting from the same place. I will fight for every student I teach, that they can be better than me and the rest of my generation, no matter their values or beliefs. As educators, we can’t give up on anyone.
Give all students voice
Students will listen to each other more than they’ll listen to teachers and educators. We need to find ways to amplify the voices of all students on this topic, especially those who are willing to share their experiences. Story is a powerful tool. We need to utilize it to help others understand where we’re all coming from.
It’s important to approach this endemic with a mindset of fighting for something (social equality), not against something (racism)
Fighting against something is naturally combative and confrontational. It also enables others to be defensive and want to protect what they have. Fighting for something invites others on board. I want people to join the fight for social and racial justice, not simply marginalize those who aren’t at a place to join yet.
Listen to where students are coming from, their stories
Because we simply don’t know. I cannot even begin to understand where my students of color are coming from, the emotions they feel or the fears they have. I also can’t understand the mindset of a white student who sees nothing wrong with what’s going on. But if I’m to help either grow, I have to listen first.
Check my privilege, but also beware of moral licensing
I’m fully aware that my life has been, and will continue to be, easier because I’m white. But as I grow in my voice for social justice, it’s important that I don’t gain license to let inherent biases come out. After the 2008 election, several studies showed that those who voted for Barack Obama were more likely to engage in racial prejudice. When you begin to fight for racial equality, beware you fall into the same trap.
Reflect often
I’m still growing. So is everyone else. It’s important that we all take time to reflect and examine the decisions we make and why we make them. And I’m bound to make mistakes, as will others. It’s not an excuse to quit, but a reason to grow.
And that’s my hope and prayer from all of this.
That we’d grow together.
And be better than we were.