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Administrator William Joslyn says modeling tolerance is key for school leaders. “If we don’t walk the walk, we can’t expect others to.”

There’s a long history of U.S. schools failing Indigenous peoples, cultures and histories. In this story, Native parents and educators share examples of how educators and schools still get it wrong—and the steps they can take to fix their mistakes.

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.

Encouraging students to take an interest in the well-being of others is not indoctrination: It’s the right thing to do.