Racism & Antiracism in Schools

During our 2022-2023 Community Discussions, we gathered to explore school-related topics as they have played out historically in the U.S. and then looked at the data and history in the Concord-Carlisle school district.

Note: Consider using COAR's Discussion Guidelines to ensure all participants feel safe, respected, and supported.

Meeting 1: 

Antiracism Education into Action

Overview

The first step to addressing a problem is acknowledging it exists. In our first COAR discussion meeting this year, we will share and discuss examples of racism from our school community. For those of you who are well aware of racialized incidences within our schools, this is an opportunity to share your experiences. For those of you who are not aware, this is an opportunity to become more informed. We hope to inspire everyone who attends to take action and create a community where all our children feel welcomed and valued.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this meeting, participants will have:

• A greater understanding of the variety of experiences in the school district

• Tools and ideas to be active in the school district to address racism and inequity

Pre-Discussion

Please view this resource to prepare for the session: Embrace Race: Organizing for Racial Learning and Educational Justice (59 min.)

We know that the ability of educators to draw on their expertise and engage children in conversations about accurate history, human diversity, and unequal opportunity is under threat all over the country. How do we bring people together to build campaigns supporting healthy racial learning in schools? How do we work to ensure that equity- and justice-minded folx are elected to our school boards? How do we build coalitions among parents and teachers? Watch this conversation with Zakiyah Ansari and James Haslam, organizers and community members who are in the mix, trying to figure that out in their communities and across the country.

During the Session

We listened to students speak in the Round Table Discussion: A discussion about the state of race relations, and how to support students of color from Boston, Concord, and Carlisle (July 2020).

Meeting 2: 

School Segregation, from Brown v Board of Education to Today

Overview

What are the lasting outcomes of the school integration efforts of the 1960s-80s? How has school  integration benefited all children? How well are we doing as a country with providing equal educational opportunities to children of all socio-economic backgrounds? In this meeting, we will explore the status of school segregation nationwide and locally, as well as learn more about the impact of the METCO program.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this meeting, participants will have:

• Information about the increased segregation of schools across the country

• An understanding of the educational options for Boston families (Boston Globe article)

• The opportunity to reflect on the choices we make for our own children

• Information about the METCO Family Friends program in Concord

Please read this article (pdf available via the COAR email) to prepare for the discussion:

Boston Globe: Boston schools lost 15,000 Black students in the past 20 years. Where did they go, and will they ever return?

Meeting 3:
Racialized School Discipline and the School to Prison Pipeline

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this meeting you will have greater understanding of:

• What the school to prison pipeline is and how it gets sustained

• The degree of prejudice and discrimination in school discipline

• Data about discipline in Concord and other MA schools

• Our responsibility for equitable discipline for all children

Pre-meeting Resources:

Read: New York Times “Schools’ Discipline for Girls Differs by Race and Hue”

Watch: InsideOut TV “School to Prison Pipeline”

Review: Concord School District Information on Discipline: CC School Committee Policy Manual - Discipline

Town of Concord School Resource Officer Information: School Resource Officer

Meeting 4: Racial Disparities in Advanced Placement Courses

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this meeting, you will have a greater understanding of:

• Disparities in enrollment in AP courses nationally and specifically in Concord

• Enrollment statistics in Concord

• Some of the root causes of these disparities

• Some of the strategies employed in CC to address the disparities

• Ways in which we can take action

Pre-work:

Read: The Boston Globe, “Cambridge High School Struggles with Equal Access to AP Classes”

Listen: Teaching While White podcast, Episode 25: Despite the Best Intentions