Cover: Why NEA Members are Talking About Racism
Do we care about children? Do we care about justice, equity, and opportunity? Then we need to talk about racism in our schools. Because we’re failing—not as individuals—but as a society that operates within inherently racist systems. Our cover package examines racism in our schools and society:
- The Cancer of Institutionalized Racism
It still exists—just more invisibly than ever before. - Advocating for Racial Equity in our Schools
Facing Inequities and Racism in Education, developed by Education Minnesota, leads and organizes Minnesota educators in a movement to live equitably and practice recognizing and responding to racial inequities and injustices. - A Racist Incident Happens at School. What Now?
As racist incidents and hate crimes occur more frequently on U.S. campuses, educators are well-acquainted with the playbook of immediate responses. But in Dover, N.H., after a video of students singing about the Ku Klux Klan went viral, educators and community members are digging deeper into issues of race and bias.
Features
Coach, Mentor, Role Model, and Disciplinarian
Teachers of color are asked to fill many roles. Could their colleagues learn to share some of the load?
Teachers Tell How They Took on the Civics Gap
Low-income students of color often get the least rigorous civics education, missing important lessons on accessing the levers of government and power. Here’s how some educators are closing that gap and helping students make a difference in their communities.
Read Across America Rebrand
NEA’s popular reading program has expanded with an interactive calendar for the entire school year featuring books for all ages that reflect the diversity of our students.
A Profile in Persistence
A paraeducator from central Texas can’t afford to pay her bills. She is fighting for a living wage for herself and fellow ESPs, and she won’t give up until they win the dignity and respect they deserve.
First and Foremost
Report: Experienced Teachers Key to Students Beating the Odds
Immersion Programs Teach More than Another Language
The Growing Gap in Mental Health Treatment
Homework is Difficult Without Internet Access
Eighteen percent of U.S. students, or 3 million, have no home internet access, and 17 percent lack access to home computers, impacting their ability to complete homework assignments. (Source: U.S. census data)
Issues and Impact
The Faces of Public Service Loan Forgiveness
A federal loan forgiveness program is failing educators and—surprise—Betsy DeVos doesn’t care.
Be Brave! Start Political Conversations
People and Places
Meet Winter Marshall-Allen, NEA’s Social Justice Activist of the Year, and a Wisconsin art teacher who paints with purpose.
Teaching and Learning
Online Tools that Make Learning Fun
Note from the Editor in Chief
Let's Talk About Race
In this special-focus issue of NEA Today, we’re talking about race. We explore how we talk about it, why we need to talk about it, and how to respond to racist incidents that occur on our campuses. The discussion is long overdue.
Lily’s Blackboard
You've Got This!
It’s October. Putting aside the tricks of zombies and monsters—and D.C. politics—let’s focus on treats, and especially let’s focus on treats for the new teachers and education support professionals in our schools.
Health and Lifestyle
The Importance of Self-Care as an Educator
Extra Credit
TALKBACK
Empathy and Common Sense
I really enjoyed this. (“Inside a Trauma-Informed Classroom”) Districts say they need educators who are up on the “latest” but when you try and incorporate these sorts of things in your classroom, you are not following the “curriculum.” I wonder if some eager administrators have lost their common sense when it comes to teachers’ intuition. This past year, I know of at least one instance where students were made to take important standardized tests the day after a student from their neighborhood was killed in a gang related shooting. Empathy and good sense, I believe, has gone out of the window.
—J. Hannigan
Students Hurting Educators
It’s a multifaceted problem. (“When Work Hurts”) But one factor is that the current curriculum is not age appropriate, leading to frustration that starts in kindergarten and builds with time. Ask any elementary teacher. Kids are forced to sit too long, have less recess and read and do math when their brains aren’t fully developed. Add to it that for the first time in history, all kids are expected to eventually pass Algebra 2 and state tests that are two-five years more difficult than those in previous generations. That’s a lot of pressure.
—R. Beckley
Threatening and intimidating behavior from parents toward teachers should also be a concern that is addressed. At my school, one of our new teachers was verbally threatened, and I personally received harassing texts from a parent who was upset his student-athlete was not passing my class.
—Lisa
