As an educator, I’ve seen our public education system fail at effectively ensuring that students not only learn core content at equitably rigorous levels, but also fail at helping students learn about the realities of race, class, privilege, and collective responsibility.
Schools and districts should create space and opportunity for the adults and students in the system to safely
learn about issues of race and equity and partner with professional organizations that can facilitate learning that leads to tangible actions and outcomes.
Schools and districts should prioritize the social and emotional learning (SEL) and mental health needs of students and adults.
School districts should partner with psychologists, utilize school counselors, and create time and space within the daily learning experience to address the trauma students bring with them to school.
Although there are many examples of divergent teachers and leaders implementing many of these reforms in their classrooms, school buildings, and districts, our collective public education
system still needs a revolution, primarily because it has failed people of color for generations with no clear end in sight.