No Man is an Island
If ‘no man is an island, no man stands alone’, then the same is probably true of schools. A school is not an island, separate from the community it supports. As we look for ways to close ‘learning gaps’ and combat ‘learning loss’, let’s first remember that until the 70s, this country was still legally legally non-White student access to the same education it provided White students. That means that 50-something Gen Xers–especially in the south– were just beginning to go to integrated schools. It also means that many teachers had to teach children they grew up believing were inferior.
Separate was never equal, but integration came with its own problems. The educational gaps we talk about began when it was illegal for my forebears to learn to read. And the great-grandmother who helped raise me was born only one generation out of slavery, so that was not so long ago.The disparities were always there, COVID has not unearthed something new. However, how can we acknowledge what the pandemic has highlighted and use that knowledge to make our educational system better for all students?
I See, I Wonder…
This week, start with a little research. Archie Bunker, famed protagonist of Norman Lear’s All in the Family, thought the playing field was level and that “Spics and Spooks” were just too lazy to get their piece of the American Dream. Let’s see if that holds true, or if there is inequity baked into the systems. Do some research on redlining, redistricting and gentrification. Oh, and here is a recent article about redistricting in my home state of Texas. As you read, make a few notes. What do you notice? What do you wonder? How is what you read related to ‘learning gaps’?Feel free to reach out to me on Twitter or IG and let me know your thoughts. Knowledge is power, and learning about the roots of educational gaps will help us become real change makers.
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