How can you help new teachers address equity and social justice issues in the classroom?

When considering on how to support new teachers on equity and social justice issues, we first have to look at ourselves and make that decision on what our belief system is. We can first start asking ourselves questions and answer them honestly. Afterwards, we evaluate if our answers truly will bring the assets we need to bring to the classroom that supports equity and social justice. These were the questions I asked myself: How do I view people that of different ethnic groups viewed by the society as inferior? Have I made that journey in my endeavors for getting to meet different ethnic groups to get to know them on a personal basis?

Some ways to cultivate a positive culture is to get your classroom involved. This means showing up curious with the intent to learn more about each student/participant. Creating opportunities for students to learn about one another and their unique experiences, cultures and perspectives. The key is to take it slow and not force things. When you take it slow and provide one moment a day, it’s usually a great start to open conversations outside of the classrooms as well. Good luck!

In my view, it is crucial that we actively address systemic barriers and biases that result in unequal opportunities & outcomes for individuals or groups based on factors such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, etc.. The objective is to foster a society where everyone enjoys equal access to resources, opportunities, and rights. This requires reshaping systemic structures and practices to eliminate discrimination and ensure justice for all. Such efforts may involve advocating for policies that rectify historical and current injustices, promote diversity and inclusion, and contribute to the creation of a more equitable and just society. I firmly believe that implementing these practices can truly transform the entire landscape.

Be honest and keep an open mindset! Let your students know that you are new to the environment and it will take some time for you to learn and adjust. During the first few weeks, conduct student surveys and collect feedbacks to know where you are in the game before pursuing a set of actions to address equity and social justices. For equity, I often make sure that information is equally distributed to all the students and that all students will receive the same amount of support and access to materials by using official communication channels to send ALL or making public announcements). For social justices you will need to handle them gently and discreetly, seek organizational support to provide workshops or assistance if need be.

Having an open mind is key to navigating any new environment. Remembering similar past events and the role you played or would have played to make a success story is another key. I will never forget the agricultural teacher I had, who made us love the practical aspects first, because he made us start a school garden. Playing and learning while getting our hands dirty. Or the music teacher who made us sing until we loved music. Or the English literature teacher who made us act scenes from our text books. Eventually the theory became as cheap as ABC. Teachers who know and love themselves, will share knowledge from the heart. That's the greatest key to navigating a new classroom.

Make interventions: social and academic. If a student is in crisis, having a conflict with others, tell someone: the counselor, other teachers, the parents. Don’t let it pass, do something so the student can talk about it. Academic interventions is what teachers should do. Instead of using the same methods constantly, use different methods to teach the same content because different students learn in different ways. Some or many students need individual attention, help, so help them.