September 1996 Publication Spells Out Equity Responsibilities
Asserting that "equity is everyone's responsibility," a new Laboratory publication offers a springboard for discussion about equity issues in schools and communities. Organized around the idea of shared responsibility, The Fourth R spells out what each player and stakeholder can and must do to make sure all children reach their potential in school and in life.The school's responsibility in ensuring that children grow up in a respectful, equitable, and challenging environment is not limited to the classroom. Rather, that responsibility extends throughout the building and across the campus, into hallways, playgrounds, cafeterias, and gymnasiums. Not just the curriculum, but the entire school culture should reflect the principals of equity and respect for all students.
"The learning climate of each school is based on attitudinal and behavioral patterns of its leadership that significantly impact the level of student achievement," the publication states. "By nurturing collaborative opportunities that work to develop students into integrated human beings, academically astute individuals, and effective future workers, the school serves as a focal point of community dialogue about education in general and equity in particular."
Detailed lists elucidate the roles and responsibilities of administrators, teachers, counselors, media specialists, aides, classified staff, students, and parents, as well as the collective responsibilities that communities share. Among the responsibilities assigned to teachers are, for example:
- Teaching for different learning styles
- Working to increase inclusion of females and minorities in math, engineering, science, and other subject areas in which they are underrepresented
- Teaching students about prejudice and stereotypes and how to recognize bias in school materials
- Compensating for or replacing biased materials in the classroom with antibias curriculum and resources
- Selecting visuals that reflect diversity for use in the classroom
- Avoiding segregation of students by gender or race in lines, study groups, or other activities
- Using nonbiased language
"Most teachers are unaware that they may treat students differently based on their sex, race, national origin, or other group identification," the publication maintains. "Once teachers examine their own ideologies and participate in interactive training, they begin using alternative and equitable teaching methods."
The publication also summarizes key federal nondiscrimination laws, defines key equity terms, and lists key equity resources.
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