Alright – so, Minnesota Department of Human Rights recently warned 43 Minnesota school districts for explicit discipline disparities. First, let’s explain what disparity is.
Disparity is such an ugly word that allows the privileged to discriminate against those they consider inferior or less. This is a country were equality should prevail and should be the model, right? This is a country of immigrants where everyone came from somewhere, except native Americans and sadly African Americans who had no choice. Nevertheless, many school districts still practice discriminatory practices in how they discipline students of color which adds to the huge education gap between white students and students of color.
Minnesota has some of the worst disparities in education, health and employment. As a person of color – quite frankly, I am soooo tired of being told by the privileged, “we know, we understand, we are working on it, we can’t find someone of color to hire, we are trying, blah blah and yada, yada. Oh and my favorite, “no one with the right qualifications applied”. Gee – I wonder where I heard that before. People who are doing and contributing to these disparities are not going to change their behaviors if there are no consequences or incentives. In other words, if a school such as Bloomington school district suspends children of color more than they do white children, but they don’t lose any funding, suspend the teacher whose record shows the disparity, etc. then why would they change their behavior. Think about it. By the same token, districts who are equal and fair to all of their students, but there is no incentive or recognition then why should they do good? what is in it for them. Think about that. For example, when a white student does something that is suspension worthy, the school is most likely to get a behavior analyst to help the child by finding out the function of the behavior and developing a behavior plan. Another example, if a white student does something that is suspension worthy, the school is most likely to contact his/her parents and collaborate with them in finding a solution.
By the same token, if a minority student especially black or brown does something that is suspension worthy, the school will just suspend that child then cite the law/policy that allows them to do it. If a black or brown student does something that is suspension worthy, the school will most likely not contact the parents because they know minority parents are less likely to sue or complain about the school district. Can you see the differences that can contribute to disparities in the education system. I do, and it pisses me to my core. We can not accept bias and discriminatory treatment for our children. I know it is tiring, exhausting and frustrating but try to take those feelings and change them into energy, tenacity and persistence.
Minnesota Department of Human Rights made a deal with Bloomington School District about their bias and discriminatory treatment towards students of color and students with disabilities that was signed by the chair of the school district board, the commissioner of the human rights department and the superintendent of the school district, who is a person of color but has not addressed disparity thoughtfully thus far – in my humble little opinion. Did Bloomington learn anything over this, heck to the no. In fact, they have suspended more students with autism who clearly did not understand nor comprehend what suspension is. My advice to this district would be to fire the special education director Ms. McIntyre and the principal of Jefferson high school. Suspending a child is extremely subjective and depends on who is doing it and how they see that child.
Remember when the previous superintendent of the Minneapolis school district was outraged by the high rate of suspension for black children specially boys and created this policy, well we need every district to create their own suspension/expulsion prevention committee who would oversee what the school is doing and how fair they are. And, if that committee which must be diverse enough to reflect that district finds subliminal bias behaviors then firing must be next. Hence, why I highly recommend firing and/or at least suspending without pay the Bloomington school district special education director and Jefferson high school principal as well as any others who blatantly violate students of color and students with disabilities’ right to get free and appropriate public education.
Above words do not represent any committee, agency or candidate.
Idil – Autism Mom who is determined to fight inequality from every river, valley and mountain.