![]() "But we also have to understand the importance of social and emotional intelligence for our students, as well as for our educators. ![]() "In our education system, we place a lot of emphasis on academic intelligence," Pettigrew said. Pitt County Early College High School teacher Meredith Southworth talks about what teachers need to know about equity on a keynote panel of educators. That attitude, coupled with an open heart, are necessary ingredients to have these vital and pivotal discussions, several presenters said. “So just agreeing to be a part of this panel was a huge learning experience for me.” "Then I realized that saying the wrong thing is a whole lot better than saying nothing at all," she said. In a brave moment of vulnerability, she said she felt scared she might say the wrong thing. While her Black and brown colleagues expressed eagerness to have a conversation about equity, she opened up about her fears. Southworth, a Pitt County Schools teacher, was the lone white voice on a keynote panel of educators. That's what panelist Meredith Southworth decided to do. Misspoke for her, actually.ĭuring the two-day virtual NC Conference on Educational Equity, hosted this week by The Friday Institute, panelists implored the more than 1,000 attendees across the state to move beyond discomfort and engage in “courageous conversation.” She didn't know whether it was appropriate. She just didn't know whether she should say anything. In reality, she was hurting after the Castile shooting, too. The teacher heard her student open up, and she also felt devastated. And to him, that meant she doesn't care about him." "'How can this teacher not feel the same way?' And so crafted this narrative in his mind that she just doesn't care. "He wondered, 'I'm hurting so bad, I'm devastated,'" Pettigrew said. He did go to school, and what he remembers was walking into his white teacher's classroom and seeing that it was business as usual. How close he was to not even attending school the next day. How emotionally devastated and traumatized he felt. One child, a Black student, spoke of how hurt he was. On a summer morning after the shooting, he put students on a panel so educators could hear their voices. Fofaria, EducationNC July 24, 2020Īfter Philando Castile was killed by a police officer in Minnesota in 2016, Tru Pettigrew saw the impact the shooting had in North Carolina schools.Īn author and consultant, Pettigrew travels the state leading discussions on topics that can cause division, dysfunction, and separation. JWhere to begin achieving equity in education? Courageous conversations.īy Rupen R. Where to begin achieving equity in education? Courageous conversations.
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