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(1/11) Pulling together a few resources white educators can use to start antiracist work in one specific subcategory: your school's approach to behavior management. There's plenty to do there. If you haven't already, start looking deeply at it now before the school year starts.
(2/11) If I wait to get this all organized nicely it will take too long, so this will be a bit random.
(3/11) Start by thinking how "tough on discipline" your school is. Do they have a "zero tolerance" policy for any particular behaviors? If so, then learn why this is something to get rid of: https://www.apmreports.org/story/2016/08/25/reforming-school-discipline
(4/11) Do you have police officers or SROs on your campus? This is another thing to dismantle and replace with a more holistic approach to school safety that invests in counselors, wraparound services, and other supports. Here's some background: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/06/12/schools-police-george-floyd-protests/
(5/11) Has your school started using Restorative Justice practices? Are some Ts at least talking about it, or are you in that place where you tried it but it "didn't work"?
If it didn't work, you didn't do it right. A lot of schools are getting it right. Learn from them.
If it didn't work, you didn't do it right. A lot of schools are getting it right. Learn from them.
(6/11) If it's actually going to work, your staff needs training, reflection, and support. Wherever your school is on the RJ path, push to move it further. This post lists several resources to start with, but there are many more. https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/restorative-justice-overview/
(7/11) Look at your school's data for office referrals, detention, suspension, and expulsion. How many Black students receive these compared to white students? If the numbers are in line with many other schools, do some serious reflection. https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/teachers-more-likely-to-label-black-students-as-troublemakers.html
(8/11) While you're at it, consider your dress code as well; this can be a frequent source of problems that escalate into disproportionate punishments for Black students. https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/dress-code/
(9/11) Speaking of dress codes, set aside some time to specifically look at how Black girls are treated in schools by reading Pushout by @MoniqueWMorris
https://www.amazon.com/Pushout-Criminalization-Black-Girls-Schools/dp/1620973421/
https://www.amazon.com/Pushout-Criminalization-Black-Girls-Schools/dp/1620973421/
(10/11) Finally, reflect on conversations about student behavior that you've overheard or taken part in. Have you or other teachers ever described a student's behavior with racially coded language like "thug"? Be ready next time with a plan to interrupt that and call it out.
(11/11) There's so much more on this topic, but I don't want to overwhelm. I know you want to go beyond posting statements, hashtags, and black squares, and this is one way to do it that will have significant impact.
Feel free to share resources below.
Feel free to share resources below.
