by Jennifer Roberts, Founder of Conversations In the Community

We must proactively address racism in our school communities.  We must create learning environments that are safe for all students and take thoughtful and swift action when racial and cultural violations occur .

We need more effective training and accountability for teachers and staff concerning microaggressions and other forms of racisms in schools.  Accountability is not always punitive; it can also be restorative.

We need more educators to initiate and lead courageous conversations about racism in school communities.

We need more staff members of color in school buildings, mental health professionals, parent liaisons, cultural liaisons and culturally competent teachers and staff members who are paying attention to and responding to racial and cultural violations.

We need effective and ongoing cultural competency training for all students and staff members, and we need to hold individuals responsible for their actions and their learning. 

We need safe and effective ways for students and staff members to report cultural and racial violations.  We need to equip students and staff members to be advocates and upstanders.

We need ongoing observation and accountability in the classrooms, hallways and cafeterias and on school buses where racial and cultural violations are being committed.

We need educators to enforce zero tolerance policies for racist remarks and acts. 

What Can Parents and Community Members Do?

Talk with your students daily about what they are experiencing at school.  Ask them about their personal experiences in the classroom.  Ask questions like, “Does the teacher interact with you?  Do you feel like your teacher cares about you? How does your teacher show that he/she cares about you? Does your teacher provide you with feedback?  Does your teacher provide you with positive feedback?  Do you feel like a part of the classroom community? How so or why not? Does your teacher give you positive feedback?  What did you and your friends talk about at lunch today? Did anything funny happen today? Did anything odd happen today? Did anything concerning happen today?” All of these can give you a glimpse into what your child is experiencing daily at school.

Take reports of racial and cultural violations seriously.

Request meetings with your student’s teachers, vice principals and counselors to address the racial and cultural violations and work together to address them.

Join your school’s parent teacher’s student organization, principal’s advisory council or your division’s council to elevate the conversation of racism and keep it front and center. 

Share stories with other parents in your community of when your child was racially or culturally violated.  Advocate for one another.

Join local conversations about addressing  racism in your community or start and ongoing conversation about racism.

Speak at school board meetings during citizens comment time against racial and cultural violations.  Advocate for educators and school board members to take these assaults seriously and partner with you and other community members to create and enforce policies that address and minimize them.

Encourage and empower your child to run for student council or  leadership positions in which he/she can elevate conversations about racism and work with other students and staff members to advocate for conversations, accountability, and resources.

Advocate in numbers. If your child is experiencing a racially or culturally motivated violations, contact the school leadership to get them addressed as soon as possible and enlist other parents and community members to call about the same issue. When your child is not the direct target, advocate for other students who are experiencing the violation.

Keep talking.  Keep advocating.  Keep asking questions and seeking solutions until change happens.  Progress is slow but it is possible.