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@ValleyChristian Add a sociology elective.
@ValleyChristian Add discussion about privilege and social location to your history/social studies classes.
@ValleyChristian Incorporate multicultural literature into EVERY year of school, not just Jr. year English alongside the (1/
@ValleyChristian Add discussion about privilege and social location to your history/social studies classes.
@ValleyChristian Incorporate multicultural literature into EVERY year of school, not just Jr. year English alongside the (1/
history unit on slavery.
@ValleyChristian Your motto is “Equip and Inspire.” Upon graduation, I was equipped with biblical knowledge. But I didn’t realize racism was still a relevant issue until college. (2/
@ValleyChristian Your motto is “Equip and Inspire.” Upon graduation, I was equipped with biblical knowledge. But I didn’t realize racism was still a relevant issue until college. (2/
@ValleyChristian Call out your students when you hear them say, "If you ain't Dutch you ain't much." Dare I say, ask them where they learned that phrase. Dare I say, remind them that their parents can sometimes be wrong.
@ValleyChristian Worship in Chapel in other languages. (3/
@ValleyChristian Worship in Chapel in other languages. (3/
@ValleyChristian Seek out Black teachers for hire (not just coaches).
@ValleyChristian Acknowledge Black History Month.
@ValleyChristian Keep the Multicultural Food Fair going. (ASB, that's on YOU).
@ValleyChristian Throw out the canon of American literature. As a private (4/
@ValleyChristian Acknowledge Black History Month.
@ValleyChristian Keep the Multicultural Food Fair going. (ASB, that's on YOU).
@ValleyChristian Throw out the canon of American literature. As a private (4/
school, you actually have the freedom to be able to do that. The American canon is white male-centric because for most of American history, having the ability, freedom, and voice to write was limited to white males. Try Zora Neale Hurston, Sandra Cisneros, Maxine H. Kingston (5/
@ValleyChristian For the most part at your school, I felt safe, and seen, and loved. But there was culture shock when I first got there in 7th grade.
I was able to grow accustomed. (Maybe because my last name ended in "-sma;" maybe because my track event was predominantly (6/
I was able to grow accustomed. (Maybe because my last name ended in "-sma;" maybe because my track event was predominantly (6/
white (xc/distance, not sprints). Maybe because, as an Asian, I was one step closer to fitting in.
But not everyone had these privileges. Some of my friends felt ostracized every day.
So many of us never had a teacher that looked like us. Never read a book by someone from (/7
But not everyone had these privileges. Some of my friends felt ostracized every day.
So many of us never had a teacher that looked like us. Never read a book by someone from (/7
our culture. Only heard about people of color being oppressed, but never educated on how they were successful.
@ValleyChristian (& everyone else) The books you don't assign, the side of history you don't share, perpetuates racism and opportunity gaps (8/
@ValleyChristian (& everyone else) The books you don't assign, the side of history you don't share, perpetuates racism and opportunity gaps (8/
. I'm not white but I had privileges. But my friends who were black didn't have as many. (9/
@ValleyChristian You taught me so much. But you didn't teach me enough.
@ValleyChristian I say these things not because I hate you but because I love you. Because, as a Christian school, I know you are called to something higher. You can create a school system that breaks (10/
@ValleyChristian I say these things not because I hate you but because I love you. Because, as a Christian school, I know you are called to something higher. You can create a school system that breaks (10/
cycles. You can be a school system that doesn't just increase diversity in enrollment, but fosters RACIAL RECONCILIATION, inclusivity, and social awareness on the daily, in the classroom (Esp. English & History). You can teach on God's concern for the alien and the oppressed (11/
@ValleyChristian I know it's controversial and scary to have conversations about race instead of pushing "color blindness." Yes, God loves us regardless of race, and KEEP TEACHING THAT!! But this country doesn't present the same egalitarian love, and we are not sufficiently (12/
"EQUIPPING" (as the motto says) our students to truly see and hear and understand and defend our neighbor in the sociopolitical context of the USofA if we pretend like these issues don't exist.
I know it's scary because lots of parents would rather not see you calling out (13/
I know it's scary because lots of parents would rather not see you calling out (13/
their privilege to their children. They might threaten to cut your funding if your curriculum treads a little too closely to the side of the "lib trash" as I've heard it called.
But I will remind you of words from some posters that hung on the locker room and classroom walls (14
But I will remind you of words from some posters that hung on the locker room and classroom walls (14
of the school in my 6 years there:
"Doing what is right is not always easy
but it is always right."
"Stand up for what is right
even if you are standing alone."
"What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (15/
"Doing what is right is not always easy
but it is always right."
"Stand up for what is right
even if you are standing alone."
"What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (15/
The theme verse my eighth grade year was "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." You know what an act of trust is? Taking a leap toward greater inclusion, representation, and equality in the Kingdom of God. Even if that risks the loss (16/
