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How do we root out and confront systemic racism within our education system? How do we tackle the ways in which racial injustice manifests itself in our classrooms and schools? How do teachers come to understand the political nature of our work & incorporate anti-racist teaching?
I don't have the answer to all of these questions and have been hesitant to add anything of value on this platform for a while now. But I don't want to raise a few points within the Alberta Education context.
For those of us engaged in the process of anti-racist teaching we know that black, indigenous, and all students of colour experience racism in schools.
We also know that in most contexts raising the issue of racism in schools is met with resistance.
We also know that in most contexts raising the issue of racism in schools is met with resistance.
We have to push through that resistance because the lives of our students depend on it.
We don't have the data in Ab, but anecdotally we know that students of colour are disproportionately disciplined at higher rates than their peers.
This is the school to prison pipeline.
We don't have the data in Ab, but anecdotally we know that students of colour are disproportionately disciplined at higher rates than their peers.
This is the school to prison pipeline.
Racial Justice demands that we confront and end this practice.
With the limited research we have, we know that bipoc students are disproportionately streamed to lower academic classes at higher rates than their peers.
This is a product of systemic racism.
This is a product of systemic racism.
We know that standardized testing generally privileges the already privileged and does not take into account barriers that students face such as racism and poverty, which only further inequity within our system.
As teachers, we must tell the truth about the ways in which racism manifests itself within our classrooms and schools. I know I have much more learning to do on this and have been complicit or silent too often.
I can do better.
We can do better.
We must fight for justice.
I can do better.
We can do better.
We must fight for justice.
Here are some resources that I've been reading over the last week. I've always been sharing from @RADEducators if you're looking for more.
"A Talk To Teachers" by James Baldwin
https://www.spps.org/cms/lib010/MN01910242/Centricity/Domain/125/baldwin_atalktoteachers_1_2.pdf
"A Talk To Teachers" by James Baldwin
https://www.spps.org/cms/lib010/MN01910242/Centricity/Domain/125/baldwin_atalktoteachers_1_2.pdf
Teaching for Black Lives https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/teaching-black-lives/
5 Ways White People Can Take Action in Response to White and State-Sanctioned Violence https://medium.com/@surj_action/5-ways-white-people-can-take-action-in-response-to-white-and-state-sanctioned-violence-2bb907ba5277
I am a Student of my White Identity: Negotiated Comforts, Shatterings, and an Anti-Racist Education https://agrrrleducator.wordpress.com/2020/05/30/i-am-a-student-of-my-white-identity-negotiated-comforts-shatterings-and-an-anti-racist-education/
To White Educators: We Must Remember Our Anger When Anger Feels Less Comfortable …https://crawlingoutoftheclassroom.wordpress.com/2020/05/31/to-white-educators-we-must-remember-our-anger-when-anger-feels-less-comfortable/
Finally, @RADEducators will be hosting a community dialogue session on racism in education this upcoming Thursday. If you're an educator, join our private FB group below and join us as we learn together.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2165198663702680/?ref=bookmarks
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2165198663702680/?ref=bookmarks
Oh and one last resource
Teachers must hold themselves accountable for dismantling racial oppression https://educationpost.org/teachers-must-hold-themselves-accountable-for-dismantling-racial-oppression/
Teachers must hold themselves accountable for dismantling racial oppression https://educationpost.org/teachers-must-hold-themselves-accountable-for-dismantling-racial-oppression/
