Do you need a safe way to begin discussions about racism in schools?

Many teachers cringe at initiatives that are designed to eliminate racism in schools and in the classroom. They may feel that fingers are pointed at them and that they are the blame. Instead of beginning the discussion with the problems that racism cause, begin the discussion with how to solve the problem of racism. 

This book – Promoting Positive Racial Teacher Student Classroom Relationships: Methodology – provides a safe mechanism for your teachers. Teachers will realize that the process for promoting positive racial teacher student classroom relationships will not result in embarrassment, feelings of guilt, or the need to become defensive and place a premium on protecting their jobs.

The administrator has several options for using the books as part of staff development. 

The First step is to ask your teachers to read a chapter in the book. For example, they could read this first chapter in the book. After reading this chapter, the administrator has the three options outlined below.

Option 1: Facilitate a whole group discussion on the chapter during a staff meeting.

Option 2: Rather that asking gall teachers to read a chapter, ask a small group of teachers to read the book and present their findings and facilitate a whole group discussion during a staff meeting. 

Option 3: Rather that asking all teachers to read a chapter, present the basic principles of the entire book in a staff meeting as the leader of the building.