I want to share this photo I found on FaceBook.
As states refuse to admit Syrian refugees and anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiments surface…
To educators, I offer some perspective:
As of November 16th, news articles revealed that the killers in France were actually European citizens. My French and European friends/relatives further explain that France and Europe have historically struggled to integrate foreign immigrants and engage them in education and employment opportunities. Discrimination leads to unrest; idle hands, as they say, are the devil’s workshop…. those of us educators who have served in impoverished, crime-ridden neighborhoods know this equation far too well.
Education is an important mitigating factor in situations like these.
An article from Harvard University’s Shorenstein Center discussed France and Europe’s struggle to integrate minorities prior to the latest attacks. The article cites that education and training gaps account for 61% of Muslim unemployment in France, and implies that greater access to gainful employment may reduce societal conflict. It explains that discrimination is the factor accounting for the remaining 39% of French Muslim unemployment, leading to rates that are 80% higher among immigrants than among French-born citizens.
Terrorists events are tragic and horrific and they cannot be excused.
But they can be understood.
I believe that in understanding we discover that educators are a big part of the solution to inter-group conflicts. In public schools, we are challenged to fill societal gaps and educate a disadvantaged American population of which 51% of kids qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The work of educators has never been more important.
WE have to provide opportunities to groups of Americans whose problems will fester in the absence of education pathways and social mobility. Moreover, our current attention on school issues like achievement gaps, discriminatory discipline policies, bullying, school culture, and college/career pathways helps equalize the playing field for America’s minority groups and newcomers, enabling them to participate in civil society. This may decrease the risk of eruption into chaos and terror.
Everybody has biases, and there is always someone at the bottom. But our work, as educators, is to create mobilizing opportunities that work for even those at the very bottom. Our job, as educators, is to manage our prejudices and thoughtfully engage each individual as we build civilization–one child at a time.
Very appropriately, we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving. We will teach students about a time when immigrants were welcomed and supported in a dangerous new land, and when vastly different cultures shared a table in fellowship.
I wish you well in this important work. I wish you well in your own personal journeys. And I send my love to France… to ALL the French, and to all of humanity.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Pensarus, LLC
The word Pensarus comes from the Latin root, “to think.” Our consultants bring thoughtful approaches to educational improvement and school transformation. We build Cooperative Teaching and Learning Communities (CTLC’s) and help educator teams strategically plan effective school operations.
