Hello all! In the coming weeks, there are two opportunities to learn more about the story of the Race Curriculum Controversy, an ongoing struggle that has, among other things, hindered teachers’ ability to challenge racism and shown that–even in a progressive city–white privilege can trump racial justice. The hope in telling the story is that such a situation never repeats.
The speaking engagements at the University of Washington and Bastyr University are free and open to the public. Please spread the word!
My profound gratitude for the community support continues, as it is due to the efforts of concerned educators that made these speaking engagements possible. Thank you specifically to Amy Hagopian and Eva Cherniavsky from the University of Washington and to Christy Hofsess and Dan Rosen, Co-Directors of the Center for Social Justice & Diversity at Bastyr University.
University of Washington
“The Seattle Race Curriculum Controversy: How Exactly Did a Well-Established, Celebrated Study of Race Get Shut Down and What Can We Do to Prevent Such a Situation from Ever Repeating?” with Jon Greenberg
| WHEN | Friday, Jan 16, 2015, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
|---|---|
| CAMPUS LOCATION | Odegaard Undergraduate Library (OUG) |
| CAMPUS ROOM | 220 |
| EVENT SPONSORS | Simpson Center for the Humanities Crossdisciplinary Research Cluster on Palestine and the Public Sphere |
| DESCRIPTION |
In 2012 the Seattle School Board passed the landmark policy, Ensuring Educational and Racial Equity, which put into ink Seattle Public Schools’ color-conscious approach to race. That same year the district supported one white family who complained and pushed for a colorblind approach to race: first, by suspending the race curriculum and then by transferring its teacher. These actions proved to be a prime display of white privilege—even in a district and city with stated commitments to equity and racial justice. What strategies were used to attack the study of race? And why was the teacher, despite positive yearly evaluations and numerous accolades, so vulnerable to this attack? Learn not just the answers to these questions, but also learn about the inspirational resistance efforts of current and former students, as well as of many in the greater Seattle community, including prominent elected officials. Though the battle reached resolution in August of 2014, the question remains: How can educators protect themselves and the classroom as a safe forum for understanding race and challenging racism? Jon Greenberg is an award-winning public high-school teacher and writer. Creator and facilitator of the celebrated curriculum Citizenship and Social Justice, he has dedicated his career to social justice and civic engagement for nearly twenty years. Greenberg gained broader recognition for standing up for racial dialogue in the classroom—with widespread support from community—while a school district attempted to stifle it. He recently joined Everyday Feminism as a contributing writer and is currently working on a project about the Race Curriculum Controversy. He has recently launched a website. Faculty contact is Eva Cherniavsky at ec22@uw.edu. |
| LINK | www.citizenshipandsocialjustice.com |
Bastyr University
THE BENEFITS AND COSTS OF BEING AN ALLY FOR RACIAL JUSTICE:
A Case Study of a Race Curriculum Controversy in Seattle Public Schools
Tuesday, January 20th from 12:00-1:00pm.
Bastyr University – Room 133
14500 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore, WA 98028
From health care to education, race-based disparities persist in our community. Learn about the efforts of teacher Jon Greenberg to address them in the public high school classroom—efforts that came with a great cost during the 2012-2013 school year.
After ten years of teaching a unit on race and racism, the district supported the complaint of a white family pushing for a colorblind approach to race, first by suspending the race curriculum and then by transferring its teacher. Learn more about these events, the curriculum, and the resistance efforts of students, the greater school and community, and prominent elected officials.
While the costs of fighting for racial justice can be great, Greenberg has found that the rewards far outweigh them.
White Privilege Conference
This is also a great time to announce that I, along with teachers Gerardine Carroll and Susan Stahl, have been chosen to present on the Race Curriculum Controversy at The White Privilege Conference (WPC)! For those unfamiliar with WPC, now in its 16th year, it is a conference that “examines challenging concepts of privilege and oppression and offers solutions and team building strategies to work toward a more equitable world.”
WPC 16: Resistance, Action, Courage, & Equity: The South Leading the Way!
Louisville, KY
March 11-14, 2015
Jon:
Please make and share any video recording, notes or webcast you are able to gather of these interesting and important presentations! Working teachers will be hard pressed to attend during school hours, but we all can learn and stand by you in the effort to host meaningful and courageous conversations on race and social justice with our students.
Thank you for your continuing efforts to teach students the value of pursuing a more meaningful education.