Diversity, Equity, Education Reflection
I'm taking a class about Diversity in Education and how to best serve our diverse student population. I've learned a lot through my own research. Can't say I love the textbook. It's pretty dry, however our discussion post this week was reflecting on our own experiences with inequity when we were in school.
I thought about for a few minutes, and of course my classmates responses were full of "I can't recall a time where I experienced inequity in school. I felt like I was treated fairly and so was everyone else." I was so tempted to give the same answer. Run with the same narrative of "Everyone was all good when I was in school". But I didn't.
Because this class has opened my eyes to the inequities I faced as a teenager. Hell as a young child. These are moments I ignore and consciously do not think about because it lights are raging blaze within my soul. I shared my experience this time because I realized my classmates were not actually reflecting.
I, a black teenager, was told that I had no scholarship prospects or options beyond the tech school in my town. (Which actually offers more rigorous courses than our 4-year University), and when I hoped to get quality advisement, was given the bare minimum and shoved out the door. My white friend on the other hand, also low income with in a single parent house hold, just like me, had the red carpet rolled out. He was given several advisement sessions with this counselor, recommendations, scholarship opportunities, assistance with college applications, I mean, the works. I had my two mandatory advisements, and no help thereafter. I felt, unworthy... You see, she treated us equally, but not equitably. I was not given all the extra assistance. Arguably, I was more-so in need of it as the child of an illegal immigrant, consistently worrying if today was the day that my single mother would be deported.
It wasn't until my second year in University ( a four year one, take that clotpole, canker-blossom counselor) that I realized that I had strengths that were valued by others. Valued enough to be offered multiple scholarships, be voted "Best Newcomer and Best Technician", given multiple leadership roles and represent the University. I was worthy.
Since then I've gone on to become an educator and behaviors I excused from the counselor in the past are inexcusable now. It's actually hurtful when I hear leaders in my district talk about how much of a positive impact she has made over her career. She even has a school building named after her.
When my white friend and I would walk through the hallways and she would acknowledge his presence by addressing him by name but ignore me, I passed it off as her forgetting my name, or just not remembering me. I'm a teacher now, it's hard to forget a kids name after one personal meeting with them. She intentionally ignored me. It has taken me awhile to realize how degrading that was.
I will excuse her no more.
