From the Heart

Kennedi Barnett: Schools should not

ignore race as though it doesn't exist.

This week’s blog comes to us from members of the Black Student Union.  It is in response to a simple question: If you had the opportunity, what would you want the adults  to know about your experiences as a student in all of your schools?

Below is their list:

From the Black Student Union: Soul Food for Thought

The Black Student Union would like to present to you a few topics straight from the hearts of some black students who have gone to various schools, both inside and outside of Hamilton Southeastern Schools.  We hope you will take a quick look and then decide to continue reading more deeply.

Soul Food for Thought

Jaylen Booth: I have experienced
negative interactions with adults in school.

• We want you to understand that black students appreciate faculty members who take a genuine interest in us.  We thrive with individuals who truly want to learn more about our views of the world and want to know where we are coming from. If you want to get to know us, ask more questions.  Ask for our opinions, and show a genuine interest. Each student has unique needs, and when you begin taking a genuine interest in us, you will see us react to your interest. 
• We want you to understand that not every black student comes from a broken home or struggling background.  Certainly, there are poor students of every color, including black students, but poverty isn’t exclusive to black people. Please don’t act surprised to see me with a MacBook or an Apple Watch, and please don’t ask me how my parents could afford these things. Questions like these are hurtful.

  

  Tailynn Downing: A tignon is part
  of my cultural heritage.

• We want you to understand that the use of tignons or dhukus (also known as head wraps or head scarves) to adorn black hair is a part of our culture and is deeply rooted in our history.  At one point in America's history, it was the only way we were allowed to wear our hair. If there are rules against wearing hats, please remember that tignons and dhukus are not the same as a hat. 
• We want you to understand that, unfortunately, all black students we know have had at least one negative experiences with adults in school. These experiences can make us wary and distrustful.  Understanding that we have had these experiences may help you understand us.

  

  De'Auni Gipson: I've known students
  who like a teacher so much they want
  to fail classes to stay with that teacher.

• We want you to understand that black students want faculty members who are on our side, rooting for us, wanting the best for us, and actively trying to help us. Black students excel in environments with teachers and faculty who want us to succeed and want more from us than we may even want for ourselves. Black students (or any student, for that matter) who are in these types of environments will exceed all expectations. 
• We want you to understand that when more is expected from your black students, more will be received. Many of us operate at the level expected of us. If we are constantly made to feel that we are not capable, we not only begin to believe that this is what is expected from us, but we also believe that is what we are. We would like counselors and teachers to make sure they talk to us about the more challenging academic courses and encourage us to take them.

  

  Farida Dauda: I want adults to
   see past my color.

• Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we want the adults in HSE Schools to understand that black students often feel uncomfortable in their classes when the opportunity to discuss race arises, especially when the opportunity is not taken.  We wish HSE teachers would discuss race and race relations with their students, not just with other faculty members.  Ignoring race only worsens problems because it does not allow for positive change.

We understand that talking about race is difficult.  We understand that you may not talk about race out of fear. Perhaps you fear that your views or ideas may offend us, or you may fear saying the wrong thing.  You may even fear having difficult discussions of any kind.

If this fear leads to silence, then fear wins and little will change.  Silence allows prejudices and stereotypes to live on. Nothing will change if the topic is not openly and skillfully discussed. 

For us, not talking about race makes a loud statement.

Respond to the author/editor of this week's entry, Tailynn Dowing, and to the other members of the Black Student Union through their sponsor, Jagga Rent, at jrent@hse.k12.in.us

If you want to know more about the BSU, about having the difficult discussions about race, or any other equity issue, we have people and resources in our district to help.  Contact any of us on the Teaching and Learning Team, and we can make connections to the people with resources and expertise to help.

Thanks for reading this week’s entry and for taking the time to listen to our students speaking from the heart.  Thanks for taking to heart the words of these students, and thanks for all you do to help all students learn at high levels.

Your HSE Teaching and Learning Team

• Jan Combs, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning
• Stephanie Loane, Director of Elementary Education
• Tom Bell, Director of Special Education
• Jeff Harrison, Director of Educational Technology
• Phil Lederach, Director of Secondary Education