Teaching about Race and Racism Across the Disciplines

Demographics

Hearne Elementary School is located in Hearne, Texas, a town with a 2020 population of roughly 4,624 residents. The interesting statistical data for the make-up of the town in comparison to the make-up of the elementary school campus is this:

The elementary school, Pre-K through 6^th Grade, had 465 students as of the 2018-2019 school year. This campus of Hearne Elementary offers 99% of its student population, free and reduced lunch. Of the 465 students, 98.7% are considered to be economically disadvantaged, and 63.6% of those students are also considered at risk of dropping out of school.

21.1% (compared to 19.7% statewide) of the students were enrolled in bilingual and English Learning (EL) programs.  With regards to special programs at the campus, gifted and talented students accounts for 1.7% of the campus (7.9% statewide) while special education (SPED) accounts for 16.6% (9.6 statewide).

The students who attend school here do not showcase much diversity, however, the same cannot be said about their idiosyncratic hairstyles and textures. Hairstyles that come in the form of their own real hair or weaves or extensions added. These hairstyles boast an array of dread locks, exotic braids with detailed patterns, beads, or hair jewelry. Some have fancy ponytails with big, bright hair bows, ribbons, or barrettes adorning those ponytails. Students sport haircuts such as bald fades with intricate patterns or designs etched in them, natural hairstyles that showcase afro puffs or afros.  Caitlyn L. Ryan and Adrienne D. Dixon agree that rethinking pedagogy to re-center race can lead teachers to thinking about their own assumptions and how forming new understandings about teaching and learning can be made possible when research models and paradigms are intertwined. They say specifically, “A common approach in multicultural teacher education is to ‘expose’ preservice teachers to perspectives different from their own. The hope is that by reading literature by and/or about ‘other’ groups, listening to speakers who are ‘other,’ visiting ‘other’ neighborhoods and communities, or playing simulation games that help preservice teachers feel what it’s like to be ‘other,’ they will finish their teacher education programs more informed and willing to embrace difference (Montecinos, 2004).”²⁷ This curriculum unit will be taught to approximately 60 third grade students in the 2020-2021 school year. It is yet to be determined if learning will take place completely in person or completely online. As was mentioned in the seminar, I can make do with whatever obstacles or challenges the pandemic presents as that had been proven with how the Yale National Initiative took place this year completely and entirely remotely and virtually with email correspondence and zoom video conference calls.