Stop # 10: Diversity Digest
The Need For DEI Instruction in the Modern Day Social Studies Classroom.
Who are you? If you are like me, this question echoes through your brain, sending shivers down your spine as you try to piece together a coherent response. I am a sister, a friend, a daughter, an athlete, a musician, a student, a teacher, a scientist...and the list goes on and on. How can I possibly sum up all that I am and all that I aspire to be in just one answer? You see, that is the beauty of our current world...you don't have to. It is my honest belief that you can be anything that you want to be...you can be a teacher and a student, strong and emotional, or cautious and outgoing. Our country's beauty stems forth from its diversity and it is when we try to classify people into small groups or force them into stifling parts of their identity that our society begins to fall apart. As a white woman with great privilege, I have learned that I am lucky enough to not have to validate every part of my existence. I can show up virtually anywhere in the world and be accepted for who I am. I do not have to worry about being pulled over by a police officer, or feeling safe within my own home, or even doing something as simple as taking a jog in a wealthy neighborhood, and for that, I am extremely privileged. It seems ridiculous to me that the world still defines an individual's worth based on something as uncontrollable as their skin color. As individuals, we have been conditioned to believe that "White is right" when our whole society was built on the backs of our Hispanic, Asian, and Black brothers and sisters. As future teachers, we hold a great responsibility in becoming part of the solution. We must work to change this natural indoctrination that society has instilled subconsciously into our youth. We must recognize our privilege, learn from other people's struggles, accept everyone's unique identities, and value their life stories as we can only begin to make progress in this country once we recognize that all people have the right to same the same privileges that white folks have monopolized for so long. Now I know that this is a tough subject for some people and that it makes many others feel uncomfortable and undervalued but it is quite honestly one of the most important conversations to have in the classroom, and as such, I decided to take a moment and step back from the traditional academic focus of this blog and instead bring my attention to the integral social-emotional component of effective education as that is something that is just as important but quite frequently overlooked.
Now, it is undeniable that America is becoming increasingly more diverse with each passing minute. In fact, according to the census bureau, it is believed that by the year 2100, the U.S. minority population will become the majority, with non-Hispanic whites making up only about 40% of the United States population. While the school population shifts, the teacher population is expected to remain overwhelmingly white and female. In fact, data obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics found that from 2011 to 2012, over 80% of classroom teachers identified as white. Now it is important to remember that as the student population changes, so does the classroom dynamic, and as such, schools must work (now more than ever) to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion both within their classrooms and the larger school culture. Although these topics may be difficult to discuss, the conversations are absolutely essential to the future success of our divided nation. From an educational perspective, the integration of DEI practices into the framework of a school system is absolutely indispensable for two primary reasons. First, teachers, who are classified as predominantly white, need to learn to educate and relate to the lives and experiences of their diverse population. As some of these individuals are lucky enough to grow up in a setting where they never have to question their privilege, it is important that they become educated regarding the life circumstances of many of their students. Secondly, it is important that they create a safe space where students all feel equally respected, valued, and heard within the four walls of their teacher's classroom. With all that is going on in the world this year: the death of George Floyd, the murder of Breonna Taylor, and the strong resurgence of the Black Lives Matter Protest that has been silenced for far too long, we have seen that it will take many years to change the world and earn back the trust of those that we have wronged repeatedly for hundreds of years. However, within our own classrooms, we can begin to work towards repairing that trust and making a difference in a very real, tangible, and attainable way.
At this point, I am sure that you are saying to yourself "Okay, this DEI thing sounds great but how can I bring this idea into my classroom, and how does it have anything to do with Social Studies Education?" Although there are many ways to bring DEI into the classroom, I would like to introduce one way that has proven to be very effective for both myself and the larger Mount Saint Mary College Community. This recommendation is as simple as starting a book club. Half the battle with the tough topics covered under the diversity, equity, and inclusion umbrella is that people are afraid to start the conversation, as they believe that they do not have the right words to say or are scared to share information extremely personal to them with a room full of complete strangers. By choosing a culturally responsive text and starting a book club... all of that struggle is removed. If you don't think that you have the right words to say in order to get the conversation going...start by reflecting on somebody else's. You can begin to discuss their story, their experiences, and their struggle, and in doing so, you will be amazed by the conversation that begins to take shape. In order to kick start this conversation and provide future teachers with a book recommendation that I feel should be a staple in all educational settings moving forward, I present "Tell Me Who You Are" by Priya Vulchi and Winona Guo. Although I could explain this book to you and all that it has meant to me as an individual, I feel that this conversation is much more powerful coming directly from the authors, who used their skills to listen to others stories and help change the world.
After being inspired by their profound words and incredible story, I hope that it is clear to see the bountiful connections that exist between this subject and social studies instruction. Out of an abundance of caution, I will share some of the connections that I have found throughout my analysis, but I also invite you to share your own perspectives and thoughts on this subject matter as we have learned that reflection is not only necessary but integral to our success as future educators. First and foremost, in a field predominantly dominated by women, we have the ability to (at the most basic level) understand the bias and inequity associated with gender inequality. Yet some individuals have likely had to spend a great deal of their lives facing much harsher bias and injustice. It is my feeling that social studies education is integral for all children, as it allows them to not only learn about their history, but from their history, and perhaps more importantly, become educated on how to tackle tough and relevant problems related to social justice. In order to effectively educate on this important topic, we must first learn to understand the concepts of justice, equity, and inclusion and how they relate to us and those that we teach. For many of us, we will have the pleasure of walking into a classroom one day that is complete with students from different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. In order to understand their learning style and develop culturally responsive pedagogy, we must first learn about their culture and identity. This book allows us the opportunity to practice stepping into another individual's shoes in order to learn from their experiences. This story also highlights the importance of giving everybody a voice and a chance to be themselves. As future teachers, this is exactly what we wish to accomplish each day. In my mind, the beauty of the story is that it unites us all by highlighting our differences. Although this idea may sound ridiculous at first, when you think about it, this idea makes perfect sense. By appealing to our shared humanity and recognizing that we all have unique identities and different stories to tell, we are welcomed into a completely immersive educational experience...one that we can only hope to emulate in our social studies classrooms one day!
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