Principal's Corner

Equity Detours

During our interviews for a new school counselor on Friday, an issue arose that created discomfort for the interview panel. Opinions differed across the panel, and feelings of hurt, confusion, and frustration were palpable. The team did not end in agreement, but we did all grow from the process. We sat in the discomfort, and we pushed ourselves and each other. We sat in the discomfort, and we grew because of it. Growth only comes from discomfort.

I came across an article this weekend that really resonated with me after our interviews on Fridays. The article, Avoiding Racial Equity Detours by Paul Gorski, argues that many schools claim to be committed to equity (racial equity in particular, in this article), but that many initiatives and strategies end up facing "equity detours," which "create an illusion of progress toward equity while cementing, or even exacerbating, inequity...Rather than being paths to equity, they are detours around it." (p.57). Gorski discusses four equity detours and then follows up with five principles of equity literacy. 

We, as educators, have the intent to do right by our students and our communities. If we did not share this positive intent, we would not choose to do the work we do. Sometimes our intent does not match up with our impact, however, and our impact is what really matters. We must constantly and continuously analyze the impact of our actions and ask ourselves: did I take a step in the direction of equity? Or did I further exacerbate inequity? Am I on an equity detour?

There is one thing I know for sure: this work is complex and uncomfortable. I have such deep respect for every member of the interview committee on Friday who waded into this discomfort. I certainly do not have all of the answers when it comes to building paths to equity, and I know that I make missteps all the time.  I would like to challenge all of us, however, to find opportunities to ask ourselves, "am I on an equity detour?" If so, get uncomfortable, and change something. Look to Gorski's principles of equity literacy to guide you. As Gorski shares at the end of the article, "The question for those of us who find the detours alluring is whether we have the will to align our actions with our philosophies" (p.61).  Where there's a will, there's a way.