Decolonize The Classroom Pt. 1: School To Prison Pipeline

This piece was co-written with Felisa Concepcion, MSW

As COVID-19 has completely changed how the nation operates, educators and the public school system are trying to adapt to the new normal, distance learning. This new norm requires an endless schedule of professional development via Zoom. Recently, during a district-sponsored professional development, I listened to a presenter speak about limiting access to curriculum: disabling the audio version of the text and as well as limiting access to the online textbook. The Zoom was full of adults speaking smugly about how they can ensure students won’t cheat or that “they just haven’t learned how to cheat yet.” It always amazes me to hear how teachers constantly think the worst about our youth. All this after acknowledging that their textbook leaves out meaningful narratives and histories of BIPOC. These conversations are not rare however, I am often in staff meetings filled with teachers complaining about “these students” and how “they” can’t or won’t learn despite the fact we are not making education relevant. These negative feelings, the propensity to always see the worst in students often leads teachers to police students in carceral ways.

Education? Schools? Teachers? Oppressive? Racist? No way, those teachers, textbooks and school policies aren’t racist right? Let’s…