June 15, 2020

Considerations When Sharing Equity and Sensitive Topic Resources with School Teams

~Matthew Webbe, Principal @ Agnes Macphail PS

School administrators are attaining and receiving well-intended resources, in which to share with staff. Wanting and willing to do the “right” thing of sharing these resource items with our staff, students and school community, it is vital that we support our teaching staff with the “how” to frame and when to utilize these resources with students as part of the instructional program.

Eagerness, without thoughtful instructional planning and implementation, in response to social justice and equity issues in mainstream media – can, in effect, have adverse reactionary reactions to what was planned.

The following can serve as a simple guide, a reference as you will; about supporting equitable practices at any school. Here are some salient points to support staff in having “Equitable, Inclusive and Anti-Bias Conversations with Students” when using resources

Review thoroughly the resources you are considering using

• What is the intended purpose of the resource (inform, persuade, etc.) after I have read it?

• Have I considered the impact of using this text would be upon the class?

• Are there additional sensitive topics that could come up after sharing the text with students?

• Are there oversimplified generalizations about a particular identity group (e.g., gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, ability/disability)?

• Does the resource reinforce or counteract messages that teach children to feel inferior or superior because of their skin colour, gender, family income, able-bodiedness, religion, etc.?

Illustrations overview

• Based upon my school community and classroom, what message are the illustrations highlighting?

• If the resource shows visual diversity, does the storyline carry biases related to how it handles power relationships among people of various identities?

The Balance of Resources

• If I am using a resource connected to one racial identity/ context, do I have additional resources representative of the other identities and experiences of my other students?

Additional Professional Learning Articles

• Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves by Louise Derman-Sparks and Julie Olsen Edwards

• From Cover to Cover: Evaluating and Reviewing Children’s Books by Kathleen Horning

• Teaching/Learning Anti-Racism by Dr. Carol Brunson Day