A recent NPR article, "His Teacher Told Him He Wouldn't Go to College, Then He Did", highlights the dramatic statistics related to discipline and drop-out rates for African-American students with disabilities. “The National Center for Learning Disabilities analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Education and found that students with learning disabilities drop out at nearly three times the rate of students overall. And for black students, dropping out is even more likely.” We know that this is not acceptable. But what do we do to address and reverse this overwhelming societal problem?
Throughout this school year, we have engaged in conversations and activities to build our awareness and shared understanding of cultural competency, implicit bias, critical conversations, brave spaces, power and privilege. We’ve read other posts and articles shared on this blog about disproportionality in discipline and special education. Moving forward, the Academic Strand plans to continue building our awareness by doing some summer reading. We’re breaking into “book clubs”—each reading one of four selections from a list of recommended books featured on Seneca’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion blog. Consider choosing one (or more!) and reading along with us!
Throughout this school year, we have engaged in conversations and activities to build our awareness and shared understanding of cultural competency, implicit bias, critical conversations, brave spaces, power and privilege. We’ve read other posts and articles shared on this blog about disproportionality in discipline and special education. Moving forward, the Academic Strand plans to continue building our awareness by doing some summer reading. We’re breaking into “book clubs”—each reading one of four selections from a list of recommended books featured on Seneca’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion blog. Consider choosing one (or more!) and reading along with us!
- Multiplication is for White People: Raising Expectations for Other People’s Children by Lisa Delpit
- Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do by Claude M. Steele
- Blind Spot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin R. Banaji
- For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood… and the Rest of Y’all Too: Reality Pedagogy and Urban Education by Christopher Emdin
As the article states, “If teachers aren't aware of the stereotypes minorities and special ed students face… the cycle continues." We commit to breaking that cycle. Check back in with us in the fall to hear what we’ve learned!
Blog post written by:
Alli Guilfoil, Director of Academic Intervention
Alli Guilfoil, Director of Academic Intervention
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