Covid-19: Sensitivity Training
Teachers at schools in these strange times have had to completely change up their teaching practices to accommodate the needs of their struggling students. And while they were at it, make time to “get with the program of the WOKE” educators out there. Over the last month or so (August-September 2020) teachers have been urged to take courses to improve their readiness for the new world of school.
Below is a list of expressions that pepper many training courses, pointing to the former inadequacies of their methods and their mindsets. You want to get with the program? Then start with your language adjustment. From now on these are the words, expressions, and aphorisms (whether right, wrong, woke or asleep) that rule the world of education:
Freedom teaching
Anti-racist work, anti-racist training
There is no such thing as a passive anti-racist stance
Abolitionist’s Mindset
Confronting multiple forms of oppression
Waring against the status quo, it’s time to dismantle what is
Black bodies are not for sale
Education is Political, so, Teacher, what is your agenda?
Silencing and exclution
Perpetuation of the problem
Critical consciousness? Where do you stand? Why there?
Socio-Emotional Work
What are your principles? Especially those you must leave behind?
Are you asking the hard questions of your practice?
Reimagining educational settings
Normalcy is rooted in racism
Shifts in curriculum today are a must
Systems of oppression, patriarchy, homophobia, racial bias, hate, and denigration
Other stakeholders and partners besides students?
Intersectional Lens
Holistic/Humanistic
Activism and care
Class / Poverty / Race / Bias
Time to unpack those biases
Triggers? They are everywhere
Time to take “deliberatory action”
Stop self-harm, practice self-care
All of us are wounded healers
Racism is a pandemic that is not going away, there is no herd immunity.
Dystopian realities
Sanitized hall passes
Social distanced, masked, breezes, air purifiers, fans
Four W’s: Wash hands, wait your turn, wear a mask (or two), watch your distance
The SYSTEM is broken: Racism, sexism, ageism, fat shaming, transphobic, hazing, bullying, hate speech …
LGBTQ2S+
They/Them pronouns
My/It/Its pronouns
Trust with authenticity
Healing modalities
Continuum of care
Resilience and Beauty
Trauma, pain, stress occurring simultaneously
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Relate / Regulate/ Learn
Find your rhythm
Model healing space
BE the buffer
Teacher must be a critical cog for students
Sustainable family engagement
Negative stereotypes
Invisible
Challenge biases
Experience discomfort
Constant, vigilant self-awareness
Dominant culture
De-center whiteness, that bigoted and racist norm
Meet you where you are
Equity and inclusion
Create community
Check-in with colleagues
Acknowledge the gaps
More frequent check-ins, shorter duration
Duplicity is everywhere
Sensory overload
Respond rather than react
Dysregulation
Think more deeply about the WHY.
Get the wiggles out
Avoid sensory ambiguity
Developmentally appropriateness
Rhythm, Movement, Meditation — Mindfulness
Teachers: be predictable and be steady
What are your themes and habits to kick?
Control your energy
Model behavior at all times
Culturally responsive
Prepare for emotional safety
Design the next protocol
Question and tear down that status quo
Designated SAFE SPACES
Relationship regulation
Non-stigmatizing
Holding power, holding space, holding grace
Feel PAIN
Lean into those challenges
Micro-Aggressions against others by the dominant culture
Transparency
Mutuality
Empowerment
Gender issues
Trustworthiness is the key
Reflection, Reaction, Release
Crowd sourcing that question
Resonating with the minority
You are permitted to “Have a Moment.”
Buffer the pain, buffer to learn
Questions: Do you only have authentic relationships? What about real transactions with students?
How is this “Landing With You?”
This work is scaffolded, tested, cauterized and grounded
Intersectionality among all traumas
Time to disenfranchise grief
If you are not woke, you are not wanted
Time to honor humanity
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Post Script:
As one viewer of this post noted: “interestingly, with all this language about ‘teaching the teachers’ not one single word is mentioned about reading, writing or arithmetic. Nothing about building character and resilience. Nothing about personal responsibility. Not one word about civics and everyone’s personal responsibility to our society. Nothing is said about attendance or about showing up for class. Nothing about behaving one’s self while at school.
And, while we are talking about it where is the idea of respect for your teachers, is it any wonder why our society is in decline? It seems clear we have lost focus and all perspective of what we have left behind.”
Henry E. Hooper 