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Through Big Brothers, Big Sisters, I’ve been working with a little girl from the neighborhood where I used to teach. I think very highly of this group and have only had good experiences with them. However, at a recent area-wide picnic, I noticed something disturbing. Most (not all, but the vast majority) of the children being mentored were African American or Latino. Most of the adult mentors were white or Asian. Again, this was not without exception, but was apparent.

A civil rights lawyer contemplates hate in schools.

Middle school teachers struggle to find ways to respond to bullying, teasing, name-calling and exclusionary practices among students. We tread lightly sometimes, afraid of saying the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time thus making conditions worse for a bullied student. Being heavy-handed almost never works. Students also know how to say the right thing to adults and then act in a completely contrary way towards peers.

Teaching kindness is a staple of elementary practice, but that isn’t the same as teaching justice.

How do you ensure students get the most out of black history and Black History Month? Here are some suggestions.

An Anti-Defamation League video inspires this teacher to help his students imagine—and build—a world in which everyone thrives.