I CAN'T BREATHE (Henry Emoni): As educators, equity should be our first and most important mission
I CAN’T BREATHE
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe
Please Sir
Please
Please
Please, I can’t breathe.
Those were George Floyd’s last words.
We have all witnessed the horrific murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. We also have all watched videos of how Amy Cooper weaponized the police against a black man. Our hearts grieve for their families and the Black community. We acknowledge that for people of colour not just in the US but right here in the UK, this violence is not new, but ongoing.
I’ve heard educators say “I don’t see colour, I teach all pupils the same”. No matter how well-intentioned, when we say we don’t see colour, we construct racism as individual and intentional. However, racism is institutional; racism is structural; it is historical and enduring. You need not look further than the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on black folks in the UK and the US.
At this time, we must strengthen our commitment to fight for a more just society. To me, high-quality teaching that is inclusive of all students, with high expectations for all, is central to an equity-focused teaching approach.
Moving forward, I commit that I will:
- Highlight the work of black mathematicians and educators throughout the world
- Share activities and teaching practices built on culturally sustaining pedagogies
- Continue to fight for education legislation that disrupts the systemic oppression of black and low-income people
All educators have the power to make a tremendous impact in the pursuit of equity. Here are some actions you can take moving forward:
- Mixed-ability teaching - offering high-level content to all students to help end the racial and class disparities we currently see in society.
- A more specific action that is important for tackling racism in the classroom is teaching students to value each other’s ideas and to respect each other.
- Decolonise your curriculum.
I mention these ideas to remind us all that we can make a difference through our teaching and leading practices.
As educators, equity should be our first and most important mission.
Love and solidarity!
Henry
Thank you for sharing this Henry.
ReplyDeleteThese are some of the most important points that have been raised not just in education, but society. Thank you so much Henry for your honesty and candour.
ReplyDeleteI am fortunate in that cultural bias, ethnocentrism and cultural relativism are a part of the Y13 A-level Psychology specification. Within that there is some exploration of scientific racism and BAME representation with psychology and science more broadly. When I cover this in the autumn, I am now personally committed to not just seeing this as part of an exam specification but one of the most vital things I will teach.
I totally agree with you Henry. Thank you for taking time to write this.
ReplyDeleteIn GCSE Drama, out of the 4 main exam boards set texts - out of 27 set texts, only 1 is by a BAME playwright.
I think when looking at our curriculum the points you raise need to be in the forefront of our minds. I am committed to promoting equality & an open dialogue in my classroom and will endeavour to reflect this in a more culturally diverse curriculum in the pursuit of this equity.