Last week, educators in Rochester, New York, officially joined the resistance against bigotry, hatred, ignorance, and basically everything that is the Trump agenda by declaring Feb. 17 as a district-wide day that Black Lives Matter will be observed in schools. Officially titled “Black Lives Matter at School: A Day of Understanding and Affirmation,” the purpose of the day is to highlight the value of black lives and acknowledge the impact of historical experiences of black people in the U.S. who have consistently been denied freedom and human rights.
Resolutions were passed by the Rochester Board of Education, Rochester Teachers Association and Association of Supervisors and Administrators of Rochester stating that schools, “should be places for the practice of equity, for the building of understanding, and for the active engagement of all in creating pathways to freedom and justice for all people.”
The day is not mandatory for those teachers who don’t wish to participate and was created through collaboration between parents, school staff, and the community. It is also not officially affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement.
In the letter, the District explains that teachers have a choice of whether or not to participate "in a way that makes sense for students." They detail different ways that teachers can participate, including designing lesson plants and facilitating conversations among students and colleagues about race. Another way the District proposes teachers become involved is by inviting local activists and experts in as guest speakers.
There is a long history of public school teachers functioning as change agents, although many have come under fire recently for teaching about social justice.
And now it’s unclear just how much schools will be places for fostering understanding, equity, and inclusion under the tenure of newly confirmed Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. After all, we know that Betsy isn’t a big fan of public schools—with her never having attended one, never having sent her children to one, and never having taught anywhere.
Then there is her gross record of actively trying to defund public schools under the guise of “school choice,” which essentially means funneling more money into private and charter schools rather than working to improve public ones. With no degree of any kind in education and no real qualifications to speak of (except large donations to the Republican party), it would seem that the new secretary of education is not actually a fan of education at all.
In light of all of the challenges public education is about to face, its encouraging to see acts of this kind happening at local levels. Declaring a Black Lives Matter Day for students to engage in conversations about race and learn about the racial history of this country, particularly in light of what is currently happening, is a great start.