Dismantling Inequity in Education in a Predominantly White Learning Environment: Developing skills for sustained engagement, self-reflection and inclusive curriculum, Akin, Summer 2020

Note: Course payment of $995 by check or purchase order, payable to Castleton University, is due at the time of registration. A purchase order number can be entered into the online registration form and the purchase order can be uploaded to the registration form. If paying by check, please mail the check to: Financial & Registration Services, Castleton University, 62 Alumni Drive, Castleton, VT 05735. To help us ensure that your payment is applied to the correct course, PLEASE WRITE “CFS” IN THE CHECK MEMO LINE. Thank you.

Course Description

Educating students to be Global Citizens in a predominantly white teaching and learning environment requires a specific lens with an inclusive curriculum, specific vocabulary, specific humility and specific skills.  It is important to have a non-colonized, fact-based understanding of how American History influences the words, opinions, biases and pedagogy we present in our classrooms each day.   Inclusive and honoring teachers have the ability to engage in learning conversations in a nuanced and respectful manner. Teaching about race and marginalized populations is a challenging proposition when conversations become explosive, quickly.  Educators, students and families raised in a predominantly white community benefit from engagement skills which allow access to learning opportunities regarding charged and important conversations about race, gender, religion, ability, citizen status, native heritage and LGBTQI identity. This course will address skills necessary to maintain engagement, avoid unintentional yet harmful impact, improve cultural humility and support ongoing equity work. Teachers need to be prepared to engage in these conversations by studying a body of literature prepared to create awareness.

Audience: Pre K-12 educators/school staff teaching in a predominantly white community who want to understand Inequity in Education and provide information to support Global Citizenship learning goals.  When teachers/school staff raised and educated in predominantly white communities address issues of inequity, racial or otherwise, they need to become aware of predictable mistakes and oversights which cause unintended harm to all students, albeit quite differently. There is a body of research to support excellent pedagogy but educators must do both personal and curriculum work to create safe, positive and inclusive classrooms. 

Course Goals & Objectives

1) Participants will develop knowledge relevant to understanding the roots of inequity for marginalized populations in the USA and how that history is relevant to the participant’s identity

2) Participants will develop the skills necessary to identify biases in self and curriculum related to inequity in education.

3) Participants will assess pedagogy and curriculum related to colonized content and the historical and systemic inequity commonly embedded in curriculums and language.

4) Participants will develop the skills necessary to provide a full spectrum of representation of all populations in all content areas

5) Participants will identify and practice skills necessary to effectively engage in educational work when impact of pedagogy is unintentionally harmful

6) Participants will develop networks of support for the purpose of ongoing Equity work

7) Participants will identify resources from marginalized populations and world majority populations to support ongoing Equity growth in education

8) Participants will identify resources for accessing information related to Equity and Inclusion in Public Schools

Required Readings/Texts:

Students will need to purchase Dr. Jennifer L. Eberhardt’s book; Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do. Students will need to be able to listen to podcasts which are at no cost to download. 

 https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/557462/biased-by-jennifer-l-eberhardt-phd/

On Being White 1 -14 podcast https://www.sceneonradio.org/seeing-white/

For additional course information

Madison Akin
(802) 353-1729

For additional registration information

Bethany Sprague
(802) 468-1325

Register online now!