anti-blackness in our schools
An article was recently posted about a teacher in Arkansas who made a Black kindergarten student remove feces from a toilet bowl because the teacher "thought they used too much toilet paper." Let us be clear: the reasoning itself is outrageous, but this "teacher" would have never thought it appropriate to ask a student who looked like her to do this. The school district statement reads, "Employees across the district work hard every day to create an environment where students feel safe and protected," which is a typical non-statement by an institution that thrives off of systemic racism and anti-Blackness. The idea that an educator could force a Black child to do something so incredibly dehumanizing and your only response is a vague wording of "inclusion" is criminal. What makes this more outrageous is that it is not the first incident, "The mother of another Crystal Hill Elementary School kindergartener said the same thing happened to her daughter under a different teacher in the fall. According to her mother, the girl used too much toilet paper and was asked to pull it out with her bare hands". This parent had filed a complaint and was told there would be an "investigation." While we are aware that each school district has its own policy on teacher removals, the idea that an educator could force a Black student to do something so barbaric and still be allowed to teach students while being "investigated" in itself is outrageous, anti-Black, and alarming.
What are the implications?
We hear educators constantly bemoan parents who are "combative" or always question their recollection of events when describing an infraction by their child. While there is some validity to this concern, many Black and parents of color have had traumatic experiences in schools. For many, schools were the first place they learned that rules are more important than people. It is where they saw authority figures use their power to silence their voices and where students who struggled were sent to the "other" side, never to be heard from again.
How can we change this?
We must discard the notion that our title automatically earns us credibility, authority, or respect. Yes, we know that is hard to hear. But simply being a teacher does not mean you are honest, thoughtful, or anti-racist. We must acknowledge that many of our parents have a long line of trauma in the school system, and they are rightfully suspicious.
We intend to provide more details on how to engage parents with our online course.
Overthrowing anti-Blackness and white supremacy in our schools is going to require deliberate and conscientious shifts. Here are some suggestions offered by Educator Empowerment Center, LLC.
We ask that "Enlightened Educators" follow our three "Es"
Engage: Educators who believe in protecting colleagues over students are not helpful. It is acceptable and suggested that you hold each other accountable. Be sure to have a private conversation if you see or hear a fellow educator do or say something that is anti-Black, racist, or representative of a white supremacist belief. It is perfectly acceptable to be firm in calling them out.
Explain: Those who are participating in harmful behavior toward Black students and students of color usually do not see anything wrong with their behavior. Enlightened them by being specific. What exactly did they do or say, how did this negatively impact the student?
Enlighten: It is not productive to call a teacher a racist. While there is no obligation to do the social and emotional lifting for someone's actions, it is important for "Enlightened Educators" to provide support to their colleagues by offering the next steps. How could you guide your colleague in the right direction? What resources might be available? Ask yourself, how can I enlighten my colleague's understanding of how their behavior is detrimental or harmful to a student and their learning?
Obviously, our method does not apply to violent, harmful, or disparaging actions to students, as these actions require an immediate referral to an administrator and a notification to the parent/guardian.
Anti-Blackness and white supremacy are deeply entrenched in our school system. Arguing about whether or not racism exists is futile, disingenuous, and the highest form of gaslighting, as these "arguments" aim to discredit a serious matter in an attempt to maintain a power structure that benefits some at the expense of others. As educators, there is no room for anti-Blackness, white supremacy, or racism in schools. We are obligated to work every day to combat this epidemic consciously. We cannot be the best educators we can be if we attempt to be "color-blind." It is just as harmful to "not see race" as it is to be biased based on race.
We ask that our Enlightened Educators join our online community where you can learn more.