Books by & about POC weren& #39;t *banned* in the school where I taught.

BUT when I pushed for the 6th grade #ELA curriculum to include at least ONE author & protagonist of color, the response was, "It& #39;s a v. long process to change required curriculum." https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😐" title="Neutral face" aria-label="Emoji: Neutral face">

#educolor thread 1/9

This was 2013, I think?

Student body at this school: >50% POC

Required 6th grade #ELA curriculum at the time:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👉🏼" title="Right pointing backhand index (medium light skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Right pointing backhand index (medium light skin tone)">The Giver by Lois Lowry
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👉🏼" title="Right pointing backhand index (medium light skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Right pointing backhand index (medium light skin tone)">Tangerine by Edward Bloor
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👉🏼" title="Right pointing backhand index (medium light skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Right pointing backhand index (medium light skin tone)">Woodsong by Gary Paulsen
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👉🏼" title="Right pointing backhand index (medium light skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Right pointing backhand index (medium light skin tone)">They Cage the Animals at Night by Jennings Michael Burch

2/9

All 4 of these books are by white authors.

All 4 of these books feature a straight white boy as the main protagonist.

These were the ONLY full-length books required of 6th grade Humanities students at the time.

#educolor #WATeachLead 3/9

So what did I do?

I supplemented my curriculum w/poems, essays, articles, podcasts by & about people whose voices are underrepresented not just in our schools, but in the media, in advertising, in the world.

Voices like the voices of my students. #educolor 4/9

I welcomed POC & queer community leaders as guest presenters at our school.

With the support of @TED_ED and my #TIECohort3 fam, I launched #RollCallProject. 5/9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_KWNm-0kTU&feature=emb_logo">https://www.youtube.com/watch...

And I& #39;m not a unicorn!

Teachers everywhere spend weekends/late nights/summers developing lessons to make up where scripted curriculum lacks, trying to figure out how to reach kids our edu system ignores. #educolor #wateachlead

6/9

There are SO MANY tireless Ts doing this work. Here& #39;s a few: @a_p_johnson @askatechnogirl @inquiryfive @timleistikow @jalvarezcjusd @JeromeHunter3 @WillGourley @LowesClass @mrnavas @alantamayose @MandyRheaWrites @LlamaLovesK @LynneOlmos @KieseLaymon @PrincipalTam @tmertelt

7/9

My point is, support teachers.

Teachers are often blamed for systemic edu problems that they are *quietly* but *relentlessly* fighting to undo despite endless deflections & bureaucracy.

Teachers of color & LGBTQ teachers are often doing A LOT of this work. #educolor

8/9

There& #39;s a thread now @KUOWengage about banned books that changed the way you see the world.

We& #39;d love to hear from more teachers about the books that are not only *actually banned* in your schools, but also about ones that are simply left out & should be taught.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚡" title="High voltage sign" aria-label="Emoji: High voltage sign">9/9