In an environment where racialized students (i.e. black and brown) are disproportionately disciplined from their non-racialized peers AND discipline is impulsive and capricious, the perception of injustice ensues. It’s unfortunate, however, that in most cases, this perception is ignored. First it is ignored because power holders who have positionality are those who are usually benefactors … More Discipline and Student Justice
Article excerpt… The primary reasons some people flourish and some people flounder are not in those people but in the conditions of their lives—often conditions not of their making. Wealthy white students flourish in the slack provided them because of their privilege, and poor children of color flounder in the scarcity of living under the weight of … More
Over the past year, I took up the activity of blogging. I find that it is a great way to publically personalize my work as an educator. I get a chance to write in whatever form I want (where my private style for writing takes on the form of free thought… a running narrative if you … More 2015: Lessons on Blogging, Education Reform, and Moving Forward
While promoting student empowerment, I have found that educators want to piece meal together those principles that are the easiest… those that will maintain traditional distributions of classroom power. You see, inside each principle is the location of a specific power tool and all seven of them are grouped according to three different power functions: … More Teaching Resistance
Several weeks ago, I published a piece that I had written for a public radio station, titled “Black Children Faring Poorly in Wisconsin.” But in the production of this piece, I had an epiphany that I believe is a teachable moment worth sharing across our network. After writing and then submitting the text to the … More Firm, Flat, and Fair: A Strategy of De-escalation
Updated: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 Tuesday night’s conversation was about student empowerment. The questions were based on themes from the book: Empowerment Starts Here: Seven Principles for Empowering Urban Youth. Come back soon as I will be posting Tweeted-answers to these questions soon!! Very insightful!! …. 1.How would you describe student empowerment? 2.How do you … More #ProfChat: Student Empowerment on Twitter
A week or so ago, a fellow blogger talked about her classroom discussion with students on the topic of race. Interestingly, she started her reflection by talking through her feelings… of how she felt as a race-talk facilitator. She said… “It is somewhat terrifying. Terrifying because I, a white American woman, often worry that I am … More Talking About Race
Recently I received a notification that a Meetup group had been organized for social science secondary teachers across sub-disciplines. As stated in its description, “This group is an opportunity for professional exchange that is flexible, fun and not limited by specific school or district interests or guidelines.” The idea that social studies can happen beyond … More The Empowerment Network: Social Studies without Desks!
Recently, a former student called me to vent about the rules of married life and how these rules don’t match the vision that she has for herself as a change agent. As she talked about drowning in externally imposed expectations about being a married woman (sounding like a feminist just as much as sounding like … More Follow the Power: Who Controls the Conversation Around Reform?
A year ago, someone (let’s call her Amy) told me about a conversation she had with a school reformer. In short, the conversation was about why (and ultimately how) Black children need to be controlled. It was argued that on their own, they did not have the motivation or the character necessary for achievement. It … More Stop Giving Reform a Bad Name
The Empowerment Network 