Student Anti-Racism, Part 2
Effectively teaching our kids about anti-racism is a thing that needs to move to the top of our practices but it’s a process. I can’t claim to have any rock-solid plans but here are a few tips I’ve been considering.
Lay out the issues in a clear, fact-based manner.
Talk to them about their views and their reflections. The discussion will not only gauge what their thinking, but may also give you a flavor of what’s going on at home.
Follow up with questions. A lot of questions. They need to be engaged in a thinking process and come to their own conclusions, potentially weeding out misconceptions. It will have more meaning for them if they articulate the process instead of being fed more views from another authority figures.
Take what they give you. Unless they are advocating violence, trying to keep them in line when they are holding racist thoughts will only cause resentment and shutting down. As much as we want them to be on the right side of history, the goal is free thinking individuals, not clones.
Keep the discussion going. The issue isn’t new and it’s heightened visibility is not going away. Bring up each new headline, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
Do not punish them for past misconceptions. Growth is important, not constantly reminding them of the ways they were wrong.
Be ready for some phone calls. No matter how delicate we try to be, there is always a possibility of push back if they repeat conflicting ideas at home. A response script is a great tool to keep responses calm. It is an unfortunate part of our jobs that we cannot push back against attacks. No good can come from further isolating parents and, by extension, the students we are trying to serve.
Document those negative responses. Tempers are high and this is a vital cover-your-tail moment.
Have a support system in place. We are already overwhelmed by stressors and the historical violence against a group of people is a whole other tier of pain. Know who your safe crew is, let them know that you’re pursuing this task, and seek their feedback and support when things go badly.
Know that it is all for the greater good. Put up sticky notes, write on the mirror, have a meditation phrase, whatever you need. Even if we can only move the dial by one point, we have made a valuable difference.
As stated, this is the best I can do at the moment. I’ll continue to talk to my colleagues for their ideas on making this a strong and safe task, and welcome any feedback. Remember: your value is not based on your successes or failures, it is about doing your utmost with what you have in-hand.