Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy’s Post

#representationmatters "Children need literature in their classrooms to provide mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors (Bishop, 1990). Mirror literature reflects students’ lives and cultures. Providing children’s literature in the classroom that reflects students affirms their cultures and experiences, helps them understand that their stories matter, shows them positive examples of what they can be and celebrates the importance of their cultural heritage. Literature that allows students to gain a view into the lives, cultures and experiences of people that they identify as different than themselves provides a 'window' into another part of their world. Window books can help foster positive intercultural experiences, increase empathy towards others, reduce prejudice and provide a platform for underrepresented voices and experiences to be celebrated. These windows help children get a glimpse of other cultures and build an understanding and appreciation for other ways of life in order to develop a multidimensional understanding of others (Yoo-Lee et al., 2014). Children’s understanding of the world should also be facilitated by utilizing diverse literature that acts as 'sliding glass doors' allowing students to meaningfully connect with lives, cultures and experiences other than their own (Bishop, 1990). These opportunities for learning can help children become more open-minded, inclusive in their worldview and confront ideas related to equity and social justice (Riley, 2016). Unfortunately, children’s literature has historically done a poor job reflecting the diversity of our country."

Building truly inclusive schools starts by listening to students. This Education Week article written by Ileana Najarro highlights the transformative power of students' voices and how they want to be taught inclusive history in diverse educational environments. Read more from students' perspectives here: https://bit.ly/3CwNPDo #flashbackfriday

In nearly 20 years - I’ve personally worked in schools in Pittsburgh, Chicago (city and suburbs), San Francisco, and the North Bay of San Francisco. One thing is consistently true - our schools are systemically and historically segregated - racially and socio-economically. Overwhelmingly, Black and Latino/a students attend schools that abhorrently under-resourced in every aspect - staffing, educational resources, enrichment opportunities, safety, and basic best practices. Meanwhile, their predominantly white peers at neighboring school districts benefit, learn, and grow with ample opportunities and resources (and of course funding from various sources including active parent associations filling the gaps). I’ve dedicated the majority of my work to bridging access to the arts and creativity for systemically marginalized communities — here is the part where I tell you all the data that points to the arts as a catalyst for increasing student opportunity and potential —— I believe that AND it’s not enough. Our SYSTEMS need significant and sweeping change. 70 years since #BrownvsBoardofEducation…but our education and socioeconomic policies continue to uphold systems that are hurting families and students. This OpEd resonated with my tired arts advocate heart. Our work helps - but we are swimming against currents and tides that need more sweeping change in direction. If you’re out there - and work in this space - let’s keep working toward sweeping change. I believe it can happen. #education #hope #artseducation

Education is a core mission of the White House Historical Association, and as millions of students head back to a new school year, I believe learning about our shared history is more important than ever. Did you know many of our presidents were teachers and tutors, including John Adams, Millard Fillmore, James Garfield, Chester Arthur, and LBJ? And at least ten First Ladies were teachers, including Pat Nixon, Laura Bush and Jill Biden? President Lyndon Johnson once said, “As a son of a tenant farmer, I know that education is the only valid passport from poverty.” Not only is education key to our national success but learning civics is necessary to create good citizens, and there is nothing partisan about good citizenship. In my latest column for USA Today, I outline what steps we must take in order to create the citizen history-makers we need to lead us into the future as well as many resources available to us all - including students and educators - to help make this possible. You can read the full article here.

Discover the powerful insights in this The Associated Press piece, delving into the crucial link between education and civil rights for black and Latino students. A call to action for a more equitable and inclusive educational landscape. Read more here: https://ow.ly/hIXa50QeIee

Two weeks from yesterday we will be in person for the Association of Independent Schools in New England's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference. So grateful to have Elizabeth Carroll, Program Director, and David Rhodes, Program Associate, from Facing History & Ourselves, presenting the following session: Standing Up Against Contemporary Antisemitism Jews make up less than 1% of the global population. And yet, Jews and Jewish communities have been stereotyped and discriminated against, exiled, and violently attacked based on a wide range of false and dangerous accusations for millennia. This is, in part, why scholars have dubbed antisemitism an old and “convenient” hatred—and why questions remain about how it functions in society. This workshop will prepare educators to teach students the relevance and importance of recognizing and addressing antisemitism. We will also look at the history and evolution of this hateful ideology, consider some of its contemporary manifestations, and present steps to help students stand up against this form of hatred and bigotry. https://lnkd.in/dWrG-eRk

It has been 50 years since Julius Chambers' successful argument in Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg, one of the last major moves toward desegregation after the Brown v. Board of Education decision. While much has changed since these landmark cases, far too many disparities remain for students. In less than three months, we will bring together leaders, scholars, educators, students, and other allies to build a new agenda for addressing the South’s most important issues in education — inequitable resources for students, increasing racial segregation, the need for expanded early childhood education, and more. Join us for SEF's 2023 Issues Forum, Miles to Go: Fulfilling the Promise of Racial Equity in Education, Nov. 14-17, 2023, in Charlotte, NC. Register now at https://lnkd.in/ghYapqEd. #EducationJustice #EducationEquity #MilesToGo23 #EducationResearch #EquityInEducation

Embracing Diversity and Inclusion: The Episcopal School Perspective Imana Sherrill| May 1, 2024 At the heart of the Episcopal approach to education is a commitment to teaching history accurately and creating a sense of belonging for all students. This means acknowledging and learning from the past, even when it is uncomfortable, and actively working to create a more inclusive future. By embracing DEI principles, Episcopal schools strive to create learning environments where every student feels valued and supported. https://lnkd.in/eKetzuT2

Yesterday, I posted about reteaching at home to make sure my kids learn true U.S. history this year. Our family practice goes back at least to fourth grade, when we had many discussions about the "Missions Project" that has been standard in California curriculum for that year. (Fortunately, it's starting to disappear. Article in the comments.) We also did a corrective home unit on Pocahontas. Etc. Yesterday's post focused on the history of crimes against humanity in the United States. You might wonder why I've always made sure my children know these facts. I teach them because I am certain that they can't understand the United States they see with their own eyes unless they understand not only these facts, but the explanatory narrative that ties them together and makes their presence in systems and structures plain. That narrative is Critical Race Theory. And the deep insights of this theory help us understand homophobia, transphobia, and misogyny too. The history I described yesterday is painful. No doubt about it. But it is also deeply illuminating. As Leonard Cohen wrote: There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in. Heather McGhee's book The Sum Of Us is the best example I know of the hope that accompanies this kind of illumination. If you haven't read it, please put it on your list. I promise you'll be glad you did. The illustration for this post is Critical Race Theory Summer School, presented by the African-American Policy Forum, because it's one of the places that I've most deeply experienced the combination of pain and joy that true history brings. The joy comes from understanding the past and present of resistance, and the community that it builds. In resistance we find hope, joy, love--and FREEDOM. I want that for me; I want it for my children. Resistance is the secret of joy--Alice Walker #TeachTruth

Hispanic-serving institutions (#HSIs) play an essential role in preparing Latino students to succeed through & beyond college. In a joint blog by Gina Garcia, professor of education at the University of California, Berkeley, and Jessie Hernandez-Reyes, EdTrust’s senior policy analyst for higher education, they discuss how #HSIs can improve equitable outcomes for Latino students. https://edtru.st/3rbuCp3