"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." -Nelson Mandela
We arm ourselves with knowledge to pave the way to freedom
What we're reading
01.
- Academic Research
Burris, & Welner. Closing the Achievement Gap by Detracking. Phi Delta Kappan 86 (8): 594-598. 1 Apr 2005.
In this study, a Long Island school district phased out “low-track” science and math, and offered “high-track” curricula to ALL students, and in a heterogeneous environment. “After just one year of heterogeneous grouping, the passing rate for African American and Hispanic students increased from 48% to 77%, while the passing rate for white and Asian American students increased from 85% to 94%. … To support struggling learners, the school initiated support classes called math workshops and provided after-school help four afternoons a week.” (p.596)
Ford. Segregation and the Underrepresentation of Blacks and Hispanics in Gifted Education: Social Inequality and Deficit Paradigms. Roeper Review 36 (3): 143-154. 24 Jun 2014.
This study proposes that social inequality, deficit thinking, and microaggressions contribute to the inequitable segregated Gifted and Talented programs in public education. “Underrepresentation is beyond statistical chance and is a function of attitudes and beliefs grounded in deficit paradigms among those with power or social capital.”
02.
- Reports
The Needle(s) in the Haystack of Disproportionality. Edward Fergus, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Temple University Urban Education and Policy. CECD2 x NYC D2 Integration Pilot (NYSIP) Joint Meeting. 27 Feb 2020
Chronically Absent The Exclusion of People of Color from NYC Elementary School Curricula. NYC Coalition for Educational Justice. 2019.
Making the Grade: The Path to Real Integration and Equity for NYC Public School Students. School Diversity Advisory Group. Feb 2019.
Does School Choice Work? Effects on Student Integration and Achievement. Betts, Rice, Zau, Tang, & Koedel. Public Policy Institute of California. 2006.
Segregation in NYC District Elementary Schools and What We Can Do About It: School-to-School Diversity. NewYork Appleseed. 2014.
03.
- Articles
Segregation Has Been the Story of New York City’s Schools for 50 Years. Shapiro, E. The New York Times. 26 Mar 2019.
Still Separate, Still Unequal: Teaching about School Segregation and Educational Inequality. Meatto, K. The New York Times. 2 May 2019.
Report: NYC Schools Remain Segregated Even Within Diverse Districts. Modan, N. Education Dive. 7 Jan 2020.
Deficit Narrative: Do White College Students Believe Stereotypes About Minorities? Gross, N. The Atlantic. 25 Jan 2015.
04.
- Media & Videos
A “Good” School Is a Diverse School: The Brian Lehrer Show. WNYC. 13 Feb 2019.
Talking to Your Kids About Racism. Manhattan Community Board 2. Shanna Douglas, MS896 LMCS Principal, Marisol Rosales, NYC DOE Executive Superintendent, Dr Akeela Azcuy, Clinical Psychologist. 17 Jun 2020.
The Danger of A Single Story. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. TEDGlobal. Jul 2009.
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man. Emmanual Acho. Youtube. Jun 2020.
05.
- Resources
#IndigenousReads by Indigenous Writers: A Children’s Reading List. The Conscious Kid. Medium. 1 Nov 2017.
Children’s Books To Support Conversations on Race, Racism, and Resistance. The Conscious Kid.
The Anti-Racist Reading List: 38 books for those open to changing themselves, and their world. Ibram X. Kendi. The Atlantic. 12 Feb 2019.
Seeing White. John Biewen. Scene on Radio Podcast, Center for Documentary Studies, Duke University. 15 Feb 2017-24 Aug 2017.
1619. Nikole Hannah Jones. The New York Times. 22 Aug 2019-11 Oct 2019.