June 8, 2020
Racism is not a series of discrete acts against any individual, but a systemic problem throughout American culture and society. We as educators have a responsibility to actively address and dismantle the system, especially those of us who are white. Over and over again, people of color are asking us to step up and make the needed changes to the system we created.
Wy’East Education Association acknowledges that members of our learning community experience racism. We have seen unintentional and intentional acts in our classrooms, hallways, and online arenas. We need support from the top-down to take a strong stance in forging a more welcoming environment for all of our students and staff, especially for the most historically marginalized. In the past, our community has been predominantly white and perhaps we didn’t always see the need to specifically address racism. These commitments are overdue and this is the moment to take action. This is best educational practice, but more importantly, it is the right thing to do. Everyone should feel safe while learning. We want a commitment to address racism now in our Oregon Trail School District.
Our commitments include:
- Opportunities to reflect on our own biases and be more aware of the experiences of our students
- Seeking professional development training for our staff
- Requesting mediation and support for our students
- Adopting a zero tolerance attitude towards prejudice actions, language, and symbols of hate
- Celebrating diversity with authenticity and action
We are requesting that the administration join us in creating a district-wide Equity Team to foster systemic change.
In solidarity,
Wy’East Education Association
Wy'East Education Association 