If you are unfamiliar with the educational sector, allow me to let you in on a widely-known fact: Educators LOVE acronyms.
Seriously!
Talk to anyone about their role in education and you’ll suddenly find yourself swimming through a sea of acronyms:
SAT. ACT. GPA.
ELL. SPED. IEP.
FERPA. NCLB. PBIS.
DEI.
DOE.
SEL.
For the non-educator reading this post, your head may be swirling, trying to figure out what each of those acronyms represents. Some, like the first set of three, may ring a bell in your memories as a student, as you worked your way through the K-12 educational system to set the path of where you are today. Others, such as the second set of three, may only make sense because you – or someone you know – have been directly impacted by those terms.
Today I want to share a story with you about the last three acronyms on the list. It’s been a wild week, both in world-wide news and local social media and it’s left my mind perplexed as to the blatant ignorance of people in our country, our state, and our local vicinities.
DEI
This week our school district celebrated World Down Syndrome Day (March 21) by encouraging students and staff to wear mismatched or crazy socks to raise awareness of Down syndrome. For those who may not be aware, the shape of socks resembles a karyotype, a set of chromosomes, and the date of 3/21 is chosen because individuals who have Down syndrome have three (3) copies of the twenty-first (21) chromosome.
Our school district did not create World Down Syndrome Day, the date it is celebrated, nor the symbol of socks, but it did share a post on social media to remind students and staff who wanted to participate.
Those are the facts.
Now for the opinions.
Several people replied to this post with comments of appreciation and celebration. One resident of our local community, however, felt the need to share her thoughts with these words:
“Isn’t this DEI programming? Not allowed. Focus on reading and math.”
For. The. Love. Of. All. Things. Sane.
Ma’am, I don’t know who you are, but I am shocked by your ignorance, and your willingness to put that ignorance on full blast for the world to see. I was actually embarrassed on your behalf because it’s clear you have absolutely no clue what DEI truly means in an educational setting.
So… let’s go there.
D – Diversity. This means we are aware that not everyone in a classroom looks the same, acts the same, or has the same abilities. I am PROUD of the diverse community of students we see each day in our schools. I am GRATEFUL that we can talk about our differences without shame or ridicule. I am HONORED to share the strengths of others while encouraging those who are honing their skills in other areas.
E – Equity. This is NOT the same as equality. Equity means when your kid misses a day for being sick, we allow them to make up that quiz without penalty. It means your student who learns best by writing or drawing pictures can take notes their own way while others are typing on their laptops (this is me, by the way, as a student AND an educator). Equity means we provide the scaffolds YOUR child needs to succeed because, at the end of the day, that’s what we were HIRED to do.
I – Inclusion. This is a pretty straightforward term. Your child should be included, not shunned. Your child should have the same opportunities as their classmates. Your child should not have to sit alone at a lunch table simply because they brought an apple instead of applesauce. All kids are allowed to play on the playground. All kids are provided time in their school day to learn about music, art, and physical education. And, prior to this year, all students were allowed to check out books in the library. (More on that in another post.)
DEI in the educational setting is NOT about human resources hiring practices. It’s not about mental “programming” and it most definitely does NOT take away from the instruction of reading and math.
But, because of this divisive climate now in place throughout our country, you – and others – seem intent on taking your misunderstandings and sewing them into knots of chaos, causing unprovoked mayhem from a simple acronym.
Did we wear socks on March 21 to raise awareness for World Down Syndrome Day?
You better believe we did.
DOE
In the twenty-eight years of my educational career, never did I ever imagine a time when there would be no Department of Education (DOE) at the federal level. While I am not employed directly by the DOE, their programs have had a direct impact on my life.
I went to college with loans and grants from this federal department. If it were not for these programs, I would have never achieved my dream of being an elementary school teacher. This fact alone makes me forever grateful to the DOE (even if I really hated the years it took to repay those loans with such high interest rates!)
In every school district I’ve served, I’ve worked with schools receiving Title I federal funding, to provide for the needs of those whose families can’t meet the needs themselves. From counselors to crayons and everything in between, I’ve seen students soar at school because they had what they needed to be successful.
I have been the proud recipient of Title II federal funding to support my own professional learning so that, every five (now ten) years, I can earn enough recertification points to renew my teaching license and stay current with instructional practices that directly contribute to student and staff success. Without Title II funding, I might still be teaching the way I was taught back in the 80’s, a time when technology integration was something you could only see in Tomorrowland at Disney World.
All three of my children have benefited from individualized education plans (IEPs – another acronym!); my youngest child might still be mute if it were not for the skilled practitioners who worked with him as a toddler with federal funding support.
My daughter benefitted from Title IX when she wanted to play tennis in high school, and then later in college when she wanted to be a Business major. She is now a SHRM-SCP HR & Business Operations Manager with an aerospace company – a position she earned for her skills, not her gender. (And yes, I am aware of the irony that other industries love their acronyms, too, which is why I hyperlinked part of her title in case you wanted to learn more about that certification!)
I am an avid supporter of accountability and I believe in making sure resources are used wisely to benefit others with original intent. I am NOT a supporter of drastic dissolution of people and programs that make a direct, positive impact on those with whom they serve. If a program has fulfilled its purpose, its timeline met to full potential, then yes. It’s appropriate to shift gears and reallocate those resources. But a mass elimination of an entire department that serves EVERY CHILD IN THE UNITED STATES?
You have GOT to be kidding me.
(And don’t even try to interject your defense that the states will get that funding and everything will be better. There’s a solid reason why that department was created at the federal level in 1979 and has remained for more than forty years.)
SEL
In 2019, I wrote a book about my passion for kindness. I was on a personal journey of being a kindness cultivator and saw an aching need to share my story with the world. While the book showcases my stories – both in and out of the classroom – it also shares the many stories of others who saw the need to be the good in this world.
Woven through the pages was a reminder that you have a responsibility: to yourself and others. You can’t live in a self-serving bubble your entire life – at some point, you have to develop your skills of introspection to determine your value so you can then positively impact others around you.
About the same time that I was baring my soul with my book, there was a rising call from others who saw this need, too. School districts were taking notice that open conversations about feelings, emotions, and behaviors were beneficial to children (and adults, too).
SEL, or social-emotional learning, boils down to this: Understanding your own emotions, thoughts, and values and how those things directly impact your behavior and the behavior of others. It provides insight into the “why” people may do the things they do and offer suggestions on how you can navigate through the highs and lows.
It’s not “fluff.”
It’s not “just being nice.”
It is a way to shine a light on topics that make this world better.
But, guess what?
It’s not “allowed” anymore.
Excuse me… what?
I am still grappling with my own emotions about the way education is shifting, both as a parent and as an educator. I feel a bit like I’m riding the Time Shaft at Kings Dominion, my back pressed against a steel wall waiting for the walls to spin and the floor to drop out below me. I am already nauseous in the anticipation of what’s to come.
If you are reading this post today and feel the need to argue against the points I’ve shared, you can save your time and energy. This post is a reflection of my thoughts and feelings, a way to document the current educational climate and how it’s directly impacting my life. It’s not an invitation for negative engagement.
It’s personal.
If, however, you are reading this post today and share even a smidge of my angst, please know you are not alone.
Your. Work. Matters.
Your. Children. Matter.
This country deserves better.
