Race

Districts Screening Teachers for Racial Biases: ‘Can you Teach Students That Don’t Look Like You?’

Published

7 months ago

December 13, 2021

Team Terrell

Photo By Sergey Novikov

Although teaching is generally a more liberal profession, it is liberals themselves who appear to have the least amount of faith in teachers if they feel compelled to ask questions such as “can you teach these students, even if they don’t look like you?”

As insulting as it may be, that is the wave of the future as districts begin “screening for racial biases during teacher job interviews” reports EdWeek.Org. In its report, EdWeek writes “teachers’ racial biases result in lowered expectations for students of color, discriminatory disciplinary practices, and curricula that don’t represent students’ cultures.”

But, “experts say that school districts are increasingly asking teacher-candidates questions about cultural competency, race, and equity during the application and interview process.” Experts also say districts’ attempts to diversity their teaching force to better “match” their students, progress is slow.

Chairwoman for the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee of the American Association of School Personnel Administrators, Karen Rice-Harris, stated:

“Ultimately, when we’re looking for people to serve our students, my key questions are: Can you teach these students, even if they don’t look like you, [even if] you’re not familiar with their culture? How are you going to teach them as if they were your child, your cousin, your brother, your sister?”

Rice-Harris also says questions about their commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, empathy, and students’ social-emotional needs must also be asked of the potential teachers by administrators.

Lauren Dachille, founder of a teacher-hiring software company that works with roughly 500 districts across the country, says after the death of George Floyd, “now that we’ve become a little more aware of the concept of anti-racism and maybe a little more woke as a culture, I do think that districts have started to emphasize these questions a little bit more.”

Dachille says many districts ask about the teachers’ past experience working with diverse groups of students, and inquire on how they will create a classroom culture for all students to feel valued. Districts also want to know whether or not teacher candidates believe all students have the capacity to learn and thrive academically, she said.

Below are some examples of the interview questions Rice-Harris believes shoud be asked of teacher-candidates to determine their commitment to diversity, equity, and empathy:

•    Sometimes, there is a belief that a commitment to diversity conflicts with a commitment to excellence. How would you describe the relationship between diversity and excellence?
•    What elements would you find in a curriculum that honors inclusion of different cultures, abilities, and perspectives?
•    An overrepresentation of students from historically marginalized populations receiving special education services continues to exist. Why do you think this occurs and how would you address this issue within your role?
•    How do you foster relationships with students who may not meet your academic or behavioral expectations?
•    What is the difference between sympathy and empathy? How can each impact your ability to teach?
•    Provide an example of how you have/could address the social and emotional needs of students to foster increased student-engagement and learning.

Dachille claims candidates appreciate and expect such questions. “I have heard districts say that candidates appreciate the screen for cultural competency, and they have had high-quality candidates give in their feedback that that is something that drew them to the district” she said.

Related Topics:Featured Racial Biases School

2 Comments

Debbie

December 17, 2021 at 11:03 am

Sounds like a candidate who wants a job would not get it if they disagree with the questions asked. No equity seen in questionnaire. Left side represented only.

Reply
William Anderson

December 21, 2021 at 7:35 am

That’s why so many r on welfare. Bussing trashed every city in America, the damage is done. The old saying, You can take the black kid out of the ghetto, but you cant take the ghetto out of the black kid. That is the parent fault. Mom teaches the child hatred towards whites, The kids resent being taught by whites. Stop bussing stop the problem, blacks teachers will teach hatred of whites, whites will teach writing reading science math and so on…

Reply

Nation

American Pediatrics to Scrutinize ‘Entire Catalog’ to Eliminate ‘Race-Based’ Medicine

Published

2 months ago

May 9, 2022

Team Terrell

The American Academy of Pediatrics is “committing to scrutinizing its ‘entire catalog,’ including guidelines, educational materials, textbooks and newsletter articles” in order to “abandon race-based guidance,” reports the Associated Press.

The AP reports that “for years” pediatricians have followed flawed guidelines “linking race to risks for urinary infections and newborn jaundice.” The Academy announced its new policy Monday, saying it will put all guidance under the microscope to eliminate “race-based” medicine and resulting health disparities.

The Academy says it is purging outdated advice and is committed to scrutinizing its “entire catalog” such as guidelines, educational materials, textbooks and newsletter articles, said Dr. Joseph Wright, lead author of the new policy and chief health equity officer at the University of Maryland’s medical system.

The AP writes the Academy’s decision began before George Floyd was killed in 2020, which intensified doctors’ concerns “that Black youngsters have been undertreated and overlooked” , said Wright.

Specifically, a revision to its newborn jaundice guidance which currently suggests certain races have higher or lower risks, is planned for this summer, said Wright. “Last year, the academy retired a guideline calculation based on the unproven idea that Black children faced lower risks that white kids for urinary infections” reports the AP. “A review had shown that the strongest risk factors were prior urinary infections and fevers lasting more than 48 hours, not race, Wright said.”

The AP reports:

In recent years, other major doctor groups including the American Medical Association have made similar pledges. They are spurred in part by civil rights and social justice movements, but also by science showing the strong roles that social conditions, genetics and other biological factors play in determining health.

Dr. Valerie Walker, a specialist in newborn care and health equity at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, called the policy “a critical step” toward reducing racial health disparities.”

Race

D.C. Elementary School Gives Children ‘Fistbooks’ to identify ‘racist family members’, identify their own ‘white privilege’

Published

2 months ago

May 7, 2022

Team Terrell

MediaNews Group via Getty Images

The obsession liberals have for infiltrating the minds of children is increasingly dangerous. A Washington, D.C. public elementary school gave children as young as 4 in Pre-Kindergarten, through 3rd grade, “Anti-Racism Fight Club Fistbook for Kids.”

The book shows white and black drawn characters; the cover is a Black figure holding a sign above the head, as if in a protest, that reads “ARFC Fistbook for kids.” Underneath the drawing reads (It’s a Fight Club. We don’t do “handbooks.”)

The purpose of the book is for children to identify their own racist tendencies, as well as identify “racist members” of their family. “As part of this work, each student has a fist book to help continue the dialogue at school and home,” a letter from the Janney Elementary School Principal Danielle Singh explained.

“We recognize that any time we engage topics such as race and equity, we may experience a variety of emotions. This is a normal part of the learning and growing process. As a school community we want to continue the dialogue with our students and understand this is just the beginning” the letter continued.

“Anti-Racism Fight Club Fistbook for Kids” explains that “white people are a part of a society that benefits them in almost every instance,” and that “it’s as if white people walk around with an invisible force field because they hold all of the power in America.”
“If you are a white person, white privilege is something you were born with and it simply means that your life is not more difficult due to the color of your skin,” the “Fistbook for Kids” explains.

“Put differently, it’s not your fault for having white privilege, but it is your fault if you choose to ignore it.” The “Fistbook for Kids” says anti-racism “isn’t a spectator sport” but requires “being loud, uncomfortable, confrontational and visible to ensure change is made.”

A series of questions in the book asks children, “Where do you see racism in yourself? This requires true soul-searching. Be real with yourself, don’t feel guilt/shame and own it. It’s the first step in becoming an anti-racist.”