Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) at Schoolhouse
Who We Are Overview
Mission and Values
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
People
We Are Lifelong Learners
Family Participation
Leadership
Founding Story
Careers Here
DEI Defined
Diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) is commonly defined as:
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Diversity is the presence of differences that may include race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, language, (dis)ability, age, religious commitment, or political perspective.
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Equity is promoting justice, impartiality and fairness
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Inclusion is an outcome to ensure all members of the community feel welcome.
At Schoolhouse, we believe that socio-emotional learning and diversity equity and inclusion are inextricably linked. These two concepts intersect, creating a foundation where we infuse DEI throughout all aspects of the program, including developing empathy, strengthening communication skills, embracing cultural competency, and practicing perspective taking. Schoolhouse understands that these aspects are integral to a child’s social emotional growth. We nurture students to accept themselves and their peers as they are, embracing differences.
In the words of theologian Richard Shaull, from his foreword to Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, “There is no such thing as a neutral educational process. Education either functions as an instrument that is used to facilitate the integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity to it, or it becomes the ‘practice of freedom,’ the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world.”
DEI in Action for Adult Community
(Parents/Guardians/Teachers/Staff/Administrators/Trustees)
Curriculum for the students is strongest when the adult community takes part in educational experiences that complement the student program. These experiences help them engage in the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, learning alongside the students, as they realize the potential to become a truly just society for all. Below is a list of resources that reflect some of the DEI education to date.
Resources
Talking to Children about Racism: The Time is Now
Trevor Noah on Why We are Rioting
Raising Race-Conscious Children
Common Sense Media Resources about Race and Racism
If Adults Don’t Talk to Children about Race (article summary with link to full article).
Jennifer Harvey Raising White Kids
Head of School Workshop on How to Talk to Kids about Race
Bibliography to Additional Resources