The Intersection: Culture and Race in Schools
Christina Torres is an 8th Grade English Teacher at Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. She has worked with Teach For America, Hope Street Group, the Center for Teacher Quality, and Teaching Tolerance. Find her online: Teach. Run. Write. This blog is no longer being updated.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Unheard Voices: Recentering Discussions in the Classroom
There are some meaningful and important ways we can recenter power in our students' critical thinking.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
The Adult in the Room
The Covington Catholic High School students should reflect on what they did, but who were the adults there who failed them?
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
The 'Small' Moments Matter
Seemingly little actions add up to the daily sparks that can begin igniting our students to take action and make change.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
Addressing the Intersectional-Identity Phenomenon Through School Counseling
The intersectionality of students can eventually become a force for change for the individuals and the collective, once it is recognized and once actions to counterbalance injustice are created.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Riding the Wave of Change
Will we duck away from the changes coming, or move forward, powered by those changes, toward something greater than ourselves?
Teaching Profession
Opinion
The Problem With False Positivity
Students won't be empowered and emboldened by a falsely happy face insisting everything is fine. We can give them the courage to advocate, dream, and demand what they deserve.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
Haves and Have-Nots: We Must Prioritize Outside Professional Development for ALL Teachers
Many outside PD opportunities still separate the "haves" from the "have-nots" and uphold systemic oppression.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
Children Will Listen: Teachers Must Hold Each Other Accountable
If we want to work towards true inclusivity, we must show that perpetuating oppressive beliefs, intentional or not, has a consequence on something or someone other than those oppressed.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
When Broaching 'Uncomfortable' Topics, Check Your Educator Privilege
We need to have difficult conversations, and we need to make sure we consider whose voices we center on as we have them.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
The Shape of Schools
This ability to all see each other, to all stand together as partners, is what makes a school. After all, what is a school but the people who work and learn there?
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Breathe: Caring for Students and Ourselves in the Time of Kavanaugh
So, how do we manage? What do we do when consistently engaging in the difficult discussion about rape culture is hard on our hearts, but helpful for our students?
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
The Unpalatable Rage of Women: What Serena Williams' Experience Reminds Us About Schools
Serena Williams's reaction and its consequences is an unfortunate reflection of our school systems. Real life is hard. It's maddening. It's even harder and maddening when you're a young person of color growing up in a system built to watch you fail.
Education
Opinion
"An Innate Sense of Justice": Social Justice for Small Humans
Kids have a natural and innate sense of justice. They will show us where to go with these conversations.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
4 Questions to Help Create a Socially Conscious Classroom
I don't think it gets "easier," but as I gain more skills and grow more with my students, I think the capacity for joy grows exponentially the longer I am around my kids.