Teaching Today: COVID's Impact on Students of Color

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In this episode
Pre-existing disparities in access to adequate technology have been exacerbated by a shift to remote and blended learning environments over the past year, placing Black children at a further disadvantage. Black parents have worried about accessing resources or supplies that will help keep their children on track academically, and have voiced concerns regarding the safety of their children when returning to schools.

Two educators from the Black Education Research Collective (@berc_tc) at Teachers College, Columbia University — Sonya Douglass Horsford and Phillip Smith — join us to connect these concerns to relevant research and discuss the implications these disparities have for the future of education.

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Final thoughts
What is the smallest thing we can do to make the biggest difference?
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Sherrish Holloman

This is a golden opportunity for us to slow down, do some critical thinking, and really take stock of our values. What are the lessons from the pandemic that we'd like to keep? Throughout this challenge, there have been some practices that have emerged in schools that will actually have some staying power. 

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Sonya Douglass Horsford
Black Education Research Collective

​​We should spend more time listening. I do think that, while we focus on the amplification of voices and telling stories, we have to spend as much time emphasizing the importance of listening. Through that, we can engage in more constructive dialogue and work together to find a solution.

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Phillip Smith
Black Education Research Collective

Schools and colleges of education can better support graduate students, in particular, to become critical thinkers to become critical researchers throughout their training. When we're talking about engaging with communities, trying to address race and racism within the context of education, we also have to address how we're preparing future educators for this work. 
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TAGS: EQUITY, TEACHING TODAY