Exchange Community Voices

Dear Reader,
The quote from bell hooks (who prefers that her name be written with lower case letters) is an important one for me this month—and I hope for you, too. In today’s world we are often receiving messages that encourage us to take the “safe” way, as opposed to the honorable way, which is often more difficult.

In light of the fact that so many organizations have been told to take down their diversity statements (or have chosen to do so), I’m pleased that Dimensions Foundation (the parent organization of Exchange) continues to proudly display its statement on its website. Here is how it begins: “Dimensions Educational Research Foundation staff and board members believe that cultivating a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture is essential, not only for our own community, but because we believe in modeling these principles for our professional networks and field, as well as for the future of our children.”

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The blazing August sun’s rays illuminate the native prairie flowers, highlighting their diversity and uniqueness in a manner unimaginable just a few years before. This parcel of land, once dominated by boring brome grass and damaged by years of agricultural disturbance and neglect, has been painstakingly transformed into a lush and vibrant community of native flora and fauna. Birds chirp, butterflies flutter, and insects buzz around, finding the lifelines they need to survive and thrive in this pocket of prairie. The process of restoring this land hasn’t been easy. But it has been needed. Not only for the land, but for those who inhabit and enjoy it.

In just a few weeks, the classrooms that are just a few hundred feet away from this native paradise will open their doors to a new set of students, thirsty for knowledge and social interaction. Their unique and interdependent learning styles and interests help make the school a dynamic environment to develop. Their classrooms evolve much like the land that surrounds the school grounds. New developments alter the way instruction is interpreted and implemented. Educational disturbances have dramatic impacts on how the students react and respond to this instruction. Bustling with life, schools undergo changes to continually improve the community’s resiliency to the factors that could damage and degrade its ability to succeed. Restoring a classroom and school community is also a task that can be difficult. But it is essential.

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Reggio Emilia’s conception of social formation has served as a source of inspiration for me. I understand this idea as a system that emerges from collaborative community efforts, in contrast to a traditional, hierarchical model. I believe this concept’s profound impact comes from the shared belief that all school positions are integral to a larger purpose (Giamminuti, et al.). This frame of mind unites diverse perspectives for collective positive impact, in contrast to didactic models which lead to pushback or non-compliance.

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