We are so thankful for our school community. During this past year, we saw a school strike and remote learning, but as a collective unit we pulled through. More recently, we have been hit with harsh realities of how this country has continuously ignored racial injustices that require us to reflect and truly examine ourselves as an institution aimed at developing minds and creating active and constructive participants in our society. This is work we are committed to and seek to always partner with our families on.
To see how we are addressing issues of race and equity, please visit http://www.skinnernorth.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion.html. At this site, you can also access our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plan, view our past work in this area, review school data and areas of growth as well as learn more about SEED.
In order to best support students in talking about issues of race, we need to first be self reflective on our own perceptions. Based on this, the Skinner North Diversity Committee is starting a new series to support our families in conversations about racial equity. Once a month we will share an activity, prompt, or resources you can use to engage in discussions around racial equity. The goal of this effort is to build a more inclusive culture at Skinner North. Recognizing that everyone is starting from a different place in their understanding and journey toward racial equity, resources provided will include an array of topics. This is just one other way we can show #whatisyourimpact.
Diversity Discussions: Our Impact at HomeSelf-reflection on your own perceptions of race
Before starting a conversation with your children, take the time to reflect on the following questions. If you have a co-parent, it is useful to discuss these topics together:
- When did you first realize you were [background] and that other people were not?
- Growing up, did your family ever talk about race? What explicit and implicit messages did you receive about race from your family? Your school? The media? What messages did you receive about police officers?
- What was the racial makeup of your neighborhood? Teams and organizations you were a part of? Your faith community? What about now?
- Who were your friends growing up? Who are your friends now? If you are friends with people of color, do you talk about race, racism, or oppression?
- What are the racial identities of your colleagues and mentors? What are the racial identities of key professionals you interact with (doctor, dentist, childcare providers, etc.)?
- How have the messages you received in childhood impacted your adult life and the decisions you make now? What kinds of messages would you like your children to receive?