CEA Advisor_April 2022

CONNECTING

SECTION HEADER APRIL 2022 CEA ADVISOR 11

Clockwise from top, Katelyn Cummings; Kimberly Phillips; Herman Whitter, Mark Janick, Elaine Gencarelli, and Nancy Andrews at CEA’s Member Benefits table; educators listening to Kate Dias deliver her welcome speech; Jim Buchta.

with colleagues in Lily Lung-Grant’s workshop on creating an anti-racist classroom. “I’m open to questions from my students, and I encourage them to ask me anything.” Lung-Grant, a Chinese American music teacher in a majority white town—Glastonbury—applauded that approach and noted that it’s a two- way conversation, particularly when students represent minority groups. An anti-racist classroom, she said, is

freefrom racism, sexism, ableism, youth oppression, heteronormativity, gender binarism, and all systems of oppression; that involves close and constant scrutiny of the texts, images, and words we use. “If you’re stuck, ask your students questions. Even if you’re not stuck, ask your students questions. Invite challenges and admit you’re fallible but doing your best. We’re all learning. I’m still

working on everything.” She added, “Don’t feel like you don’t have the right to teach about race or racism because you’re white. Learn and empower yourself. It’s brave work.” She also discussed the progression of language that’s been used in the move toward anti- racism. “We used to say ‘tolerance,’ but I don’t like that term. You tolerate a bad smell. I don’t want to be a bad smell. ‘Acceptance’ has also

been used, but it comes from above. When you accept someone, you’re often doing so from a position of authority or superiority. ‘Celebration’ whomever you’re celebrating. I like ‘solidarity.’ When I stand together in solidarity with you, I am an ally, and there is not necessarily a hierarchy.” is better, but it can suggest a separation between you and

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