I am sitting in an auditorium full of independent school educators listening to the Head of NAIS speak about the enduring values of his association. Equity is number 2. I am listening to words, all spoken as points of pride, as a job well done: diversity, equality, inclusion. Socioeconomics, ethnicity, race. Commitment, attention, care. Moné Davis makes it into the speech -- an independent school student -- and my cringe is complete.
All of the words I hear do no service to the work to be done. What are the words I would use?
- complexity
- misunderstandings
- lack of listening
- undetected assumptions
- fear
- helplessness
- shame
- resentment
