Meeting date: Tuesday June 30, 2020

 

WHY YOU, WHY NOW

 

Evolution 

Learn 

Grow 

Timely

School, community, society and beyond

Anti-racist

Creating independent learners

Band-aid solutions versus getting to the root

 

Accountability for reading and recognizing (implicit) bias *** 

Self-reflection 

Understanding what you think/create can impact others 

Believe in students’ abilities 

 

Working together 

Finding action steps

So that all children can get quality education 

 

Supportive practices for schools and other staff *

Individual responsibilities

 

Be a better and more supportive ally 

 

“We don’t make changes until we’re uncomfortable” 

 

Public schools are a microcosm of communities 

 

“This should be mandatory” 

 

It was not part of my college training/education — more than a tool for temporary engagement 

 

More culturally aware and aware to work through implicit bias 

 

Unlearning “students don’t come here to learn they come to eat and socialize” 

 

Differences between poverty and culture 

 

Better relationships with children and encourage deeper level thinking

 

Greater understanding of the science in any of us 

 

Art allows growth beyond limitations

 

“Before the world shifted” 

 

Focus on what I can do and control to not become overwhelmed

 

A worthwhile journey 

 

—————-

 

WHY IS EXAMINING ONE’S ON IMPLICIT BIAS NOT ENOUGH 

 

You also have to understand the history of place (Charleston, South Carolina) — race & place

 

“Is God white?” — Why would a black child think that God would be white? 

 

We have to understand what has created the problem. How systematic racism was injected into education system 

 

Structural racialization 

 

Social/political policies contributing to the problem

 

White-washed education 

 

Implicit bias is not just overt racism hidden on purpose 

 

Society has been reinforcing dependent learners

 

“Children know us better than anybody”

 

“The more we practice these difficult conversations the more we train our brain to stay calm and think clearly rather than get defensive” 

 

ACTION STEPS FOR CREATING INDEPENDENT LEARNERS

 

Offer higher level thinking questions and adequate time to solve problems 

Be aware of sending students out of the classroom 

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES/RESEARCH

Jane Elliot experiment 

“The Lost Cause”

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs