Schools should be safe and welcoming for all children—on this point responsible adults agree. But currently, discriminatory laws and censorship policies threaten the well-being of children. LGBTQ+ young people and families are being targeted, along with Black, Indigenous and other people of color and members of historically marginalized groups, whose histories and experiences are being misrepresented and erased.
In our newest Q&A, author and educator Jamilah Pitts shares her thoughts on liberation education and recommendations from her new book, Toward Liberation. Teaching is undeniably difficult, and historically racist educational institutions make it harder. But Pitts offers a vision that leaves space for joy through a teaching practice that is liberatory rather than oppressive.
As we celebrate Pride Month, supporting LGBTQ+ young people and families is essential. Inclusivity in education plays a critical role for all children, especially in the hostile environment created by discriminatory laws and censorship policies that threaten to erase LGBTQ+ identities and roll back the gains of recent years. Our resource page shares our articles and content on supporting LGBTQ+ people, including information on inclusive education practices and allyship, and provides links to external resources.
Young people deserve to learn honest history—history that is accurate, comprehensive and inclusive of perspectives beyond traditional, dominant narratives. Our newest resource guide, Advocating for Teaching Honest History: What Educators Can Do, offers concrete tools for educators seeking to ensure the right of future generations to an accurate accounting of our nation’s history.
