By nature I'm not a person who laments on the past. I see hope in today, tomorrow and the future; realizing there is zero hope for change in what has already occurred. While considering and learning from the past, recent events in our country have prompted me reflect on what action we can take as school leaders.
Listen to Understand:
Our listening must be proactive listening and not when issues arise. Throughout time, we fall into a pattern of putting out fires and troubleshooting as issues come and go. To truly lead change we must understand the stress and anxieties of all students and parents in our school buildings. Our ultimate goal of inclusion should be an ongoing conversation with open dialogue. Let's embrace the uncomfortable conversations that lead to positive change. The first step is to understand and not just "listen to respond."
Get Educated:
I will be the first to admit; I need to be better educated about many "blind spots" that I know exist. My exposure and understanding of social injustice has been surface level at best. I personally need to better equip myself with an understanding of the struggles, challenges and hurdles many minorities are facing. Personally, I will commit to reading literature about social injustice and reaching out to minorities in my community to better educate myself. This is an individual choice that we all should make.
Think Globally:
A great way to reach students and adults is through literature. School and classroom libraries are full of books with characters that come from diverse backgrounds. Let's take the time to dig deeper and develop a better understanding of these races, cultures, and differences. Although your community might not be diverse, our students deserve opportunities to develop empathy for those outside of our towns, state lines, and country.
Begin with our Youth:
It is so easy to say, "they are too young, they don't understand yet." Research shows that babies, as early as 3 months, begin to look at faces that match those of their caregivers. By Kindergarten children may show the same racial attitudes that adults in our culture hold. Our earliest exposures and conversations can have the most dramatic impact on our youth's perceptions of others.
These are four basic steps that will provide the beginnings of our foundation as we begin to lead meaningful change.
Begin with our Youth:
It is so easy to say, "they are too young, they don't understand yet." Research shows that babies, as early as 3 months, begin to look at faces that match those of their caregivers. By Kindergarten children may show the same racial attitudes that adults in our culture hold. Our earliest exposures and conversations can have the most dramatic impact on our youth's perceptions of others.
These are four basic steps that will provide the beginnings of our foundation as we begin to lead meaningful change.
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