As part of our series highlighting educator voices, we spoke to five Black teachers who teach in predominately Black or all-Black settings to ask how they approach the topic of slavery.
Banning a book can go like this: An outraged parent complains about a book to the school librarian or principal. After a noisy debate, the school administrators decide that the book should be removed from circulation. Or, banning a book can go like this: A librarian receives a new book. Perhaps it shows LGBT issues or atheism in a sympathetic light. Perhaps it portrays civil rights struggles in a way that might offend some local sensibilities. Whatever the reason, she quietly puts the book in a back room. Then she politely discourages questions about it.
With the spotlight once again on the act of kneeling during the national anthem, students will bring this conversation to the classroom. Here’s how to guide that discussion.
While Flint, Michigan, now has a contract for a clean water source, residents aren’t out of the woods yet. Keep in mind these five actions when taking a stand for Flint residents affected by the water crisis.
The first time I met Donnie (not his real name), he was wearing a green dress with gold trim, had shoulder-length hair, and wore glasses frames with no lenses. His hair was matted and he was covered in dirt. His eyes were bloodshot and filled with tears. He would not speak to me for the first 20 minutes. And then, in a flood of emotion, he began to tell me his plight.
As lawmakers across the country continue to restrict the rights of trans people—particularly trans students—educators can take this moment to start a conversation about transgender identity, justice and ways to take action.