Reflect and Act

This makes me think of labels and classification. We have since the earliest of civilization tried to label and classify everything. We used our senses to understand that which is the same and that which is different. How we categorize things is a social construct but serves a purpose. SPED teachers have been discussing and debating the meaning and purpose of classification, categorization and labels for years. Labels can have a positive purpose, Labels can help to narrow decisions and provide opportunities for support groups. Labels can help people to identify who they are. Positive use of labels can be used to make sure we are not discriminating.

Labels can help us clarify and provide information succinctly. "I am an alcoholic" label provides a lot of information that would otherwise be difficult to explain. Labels, however, give us a broad category that doesn't always fit and we must have the flexibility and willingness to change our scheme when we meet someone that doesn't fit our label and realize that labels change and depend on context. "I am Irish" around St. Patrick's day means something different than "I am Irish in England" during a church service.

For me, it is not about finding a definitive answer it is about loving the complexity of life. This is certainly an are of complexity. Bring back the humanities!

The Trusted 10 activity is one I use in professional development that I present.  It provides concrete evidence about the affinity bias in a non-threatening way.  I even show my own trusted 10 as an example, which consistes mainly of other middle-aged, white, females of similar educational and SES background.

I chose the trusted 10 activity. This is something I have done before in my district. My trusted 10 looks different then my colleagues. I usually find that my colleagues trusted 10 are people who are the same age, gender and ethnicity. Because my husband is Nigerian and my kids are biracial, my network has been expanded to include a broader demographic.