As an educator…I have to own this.

I just finished my 14th year as a classrooms teacher. I’ve spent most of that time teaching either US History or US Government. As an educator I have to own what the United States is right now. I have to own what society looks like right now. As educators part of what we do after every lesson and every class period is reflect. After the murder of George Floyd and the weekend that followed; after the murder and mistreatment of enumerable black and brown people, as an educator, I need to reflect. The communities we serve are a reflection of what we do as educators. They are a reflection of the system we practice our craft in.

As I reflect on my practice, I have to ask myself did I speak out against injustice enough? Did I listen to my students of color enough? Did I stop mirco-aggression and casual racism said by students in my classroom fast enough? Did I make my classroom a safe space for all of my students? Did I make sure that the materials I used in my classroom acted as mirrors and windows so that my students saw themselves in what we read and saw and learned from others perspectives as well? Did I have hard conversations with my colleagues when they said “these students” or “you know parents like that?” In my PLC meetings did we talk about ways to help our students see the impact a history of oppression has had on our communities and our students? If I am being honest, the answer to all of those is no. In my 14 years in the classroom I didn’t do all of those soon enough, fast enough or often enough.

I believe in social and racial justice in education. Unfortunately, I’ve often couched those discussions in education funding, a topic I feel more comfortable talking about. It’s a topic of conversation that feels easier to have. I’ve fallen short and that needs to change. It shouldn’t be about what make me comfortable or what’s easier for me. We have a broken system. We have a discipline polices that target minority students. We have dress codes aimed at students of color. We have curriculum that leaves black and brown students behind. I need to own that. I need to be more vocal. I have to be willing to call racism racism. I have to be clear to point out oppression and injustice.

I am a white male educator who has the privileges that come with that. I am a leader in my local teachers’ union. I am seen as a leader in my district. I need to use that privilege and power to help empower others. I have tried to make that a part of what I do in my role but I know that I can be better at listening to educators of color. I know that I can be better at opening up opportunities for educators to lead who have a different lived experience than I do as a white male. I have to use that privilege to call out racism, injustice, and oppression.

I know I haven’t done enough. As an educator I have to own this. I have to do better.