November 17, 2020

Celebrating Transgender Awareness Week

November 13–19 is Transgender Awareness Week, followed by Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20. This week, as you celebrate the diverse experiences of the transgender community, use these resources to advocate for trans students and fellow educators, whether you’re teaching in person or remotely.

School as Sanctuary // Cory Collins

History Moves With Us // Charles E. Cobb Jr. and Hasan Kwame Jeffries

And the Winners Are... // Anya Malley
The Burden of Critical Active Conscience 
In her latest article, Dr. Shantá R. Robinson writes that “critical active conscience is an inner voice that immediately filters the rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior through the lens of social and historical structures of power and oppression.” Read her call for educators to commit to making schools at all levels critical active conscience spaces that center people long denied space, voice and freedom.

Active Listening Must Be the Norm for Tough Discussions

After a chance encounter with a parent, fifth-grade teacher Christopher Howell stopped to consider all of the context his students bring into his classroom—and recommends ways educators can build communities where students can bring their whole selves to their work and to one another.

Madam Vice President Is a Woman of Color

The election of a biracial, Black, South Asian daughter of immigrant parents to the vice presidency is a historic moment for all of us—especially girls and women of color. TT Associate Editor Crystal L. Keels writes that educators should “acknowledge that the intersection of Harris’ multiple identities reflects the realities of many students across the country. This representation is historic and worthy of celebration.” 

The Weaponization of Whiteness in Schools

In the Fall 2020 issue of our magazine, Senior Writer Coshandra Dillard refers to research showing that “as early as preschool, educators tend to police Black students’ responses to their authority.” Read why Dillard says it’s time to recognize the pattern of educators weaponizing their whiteness in schools and put a stop to it.

Check Out What We’re Reading

“Frustrated because their main avenue for influencing elected officials was limited to making public comments at school board meetings, the Oakland students wanted a way to directly hold their representatives accountable after years of budget cuts, slashed student support programs and services, and school closures.” — Teen Vogue

“When you become an ally of transgender people, your actions will help change the culture, making society a better, safer place for transgender people and for all people (trans or not) who do not conform to conventional gender expectations.” — GLAAD

“Weight stigma kick-starts what for many will become lifelong cycles of shame. And it sends a clear, heartbreaking message to fat children: The world would be a better place without you in it.” — The New York Times
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