and community on many levels. Your school
community will benefit from different per-
spectives on programs and policies. In the
end your students, whatever their race or
ethnicity, will benefit from seeing a person
of color as their teacher or principal. This not
only prepares them for the real world but al-
lows them to have positive experiences with
other people outside of their own culture.
Check your bias. We all have bias whether
it’s conscious or unconscious. It’s good to re-
flect and explore how this impacts us as edu-
cators and what we can do to minimize the
negative impacts of our own prejudices in our
classrooms and schools. You’ll be surprised
how much unconscious thought impacts
your actions. There are many resources and
programs to help districts navigate this issue.
Immerse yourself in the community. Most
of our staff at Barrett Ranch do not live in
the neighborhood of our school. However,
it is important that we know and understand
our school community, so, we plan events
in the neighborhood—school meetings in
the community library, and fundraisers at
local restaurants. What if you extend that
reach even further? You can shop the local
businesses. Go to the barbershop. Go to
the grocery store. Even if you don’t see any
students or parents in the neighborhood,
you’ll already have a better understanding of
who they are by experiencing a little of their
world outside of school. And, if by chance
you meet some of your school community,
you will start to build a connection and trust
that will only add value to the work you do
in school.
Travel. Yes, pack your bags and go to
a foreign land. I don’t mean go to Cancun
and hang out by the pool for a week drink-
ing margaritas. I mean immerse yourself in
a new culture. Meet the people, eat the food,
try to negotiate the subtleties of the culture,
and learn some of the language. Experi-
ence how disorienting, scary, and frustrat-
ing it can be for an outsider. Your experience
abroad will give you empathy for your stu-
dents and families who are experiencing the
same thing in your school.
If you can’t travel the world, explore dif-
ferent cultures through art, food, and en-
tertainment. Visit an Asian or African art
museum in a large city near you. Make res-
“Prejudice takes a toll, a
psychological toll on its
victims and it impacts
all of us in schools.
Our colleagues. Our
communities. Our kids.”
ervations at a Vietnamese restaurant. Watch
a foreign movie or read an international
book. The bottom line is that you can open
yourself up to different perspectives that
will help you understand the world and your
school community much better.
What about the parents and students?
Assure the parents and kids of color that
they are valued and respected. Make it clear
to the entire community that you value di-
versity and that everyone is welcome in your
school and district. However, saying it is not
enough. Do things. Put on a World Fair to
showcase the diversity in your school. Bring
in parents of color for career day. Encourage
them to volunteer in your classrooms. En-
gage with them at pick up and drop off. Even
a smile or a welcoming handshake can make
a huge difference.
Be sensitive. Understand that parents and
kids of color may be experiencing prejudice
and intolerance in their daily lives. There is
a psychological toll that can be detrimental
if one is constantly worried about being de-
ported or constantly perceived to be a threat.
Feeling like you don’t have a place in society
or in a school can be painful. School should
always be a safe haven for all families.
Don’t make assumptions. We used to have
our English Learners parent meetings at the
same time as our Title I (Free and Reduced
Lunch) meetings. That stopped when we
realized how offensive that was. We can’t
make assumptions about our families of
color. Learn about the families and kids and
really get to know them. Everyone’s story is
different and complex and it takes effort to
really get to know our families beyond gen-
eralizations.
Teach tolerance and empathy. The great-
est gifts we can give our kids are the skills
and ability to thrive in a multicultural so-
ciety. They’ll have a better chance of being
successful if they start learning about other
perspectives from an early age. Ensure that
classrooms and school libraries have books
that reflect a diversity representative of not
only your school community but the world.
Demand that curriculum is inclusive and
that many perspectives are represented in
social studies, art and literature. Plan for
kids to work together as a community and
promote shared values such as respect, kind-
ness, and courage. Include families in this
work. Read books like Sara Ahmed’s “Being
the Change”, and work with students on les-
sons centered on social comprehension and
empathy.
Whether it is combating unconscious bias
or hate, we don’t have a chance of changing
the world for the better if we don’t address
it in our schools. In fact, doing it in schools
gives us the best chance of success. We owe
it to our communities to do a better job. We
owe it to ourselves, our colleagues, our com-
munity, and most importantly, our kids.
Don Vu is the principal of Barrett Ranch
Elementary School in the Dry Creek Joint
Elementary School District.
November | December 2018
23