Readings 3/22/2012 - Loyola University School of Education -Gorski Lecture.

 Title of Lecture: 'Good Intentions aren't Enough: Education for Equity and Social Justice"

The Loyola School of Education welcomed  Paul C. Gorski, Ph.D., founder of EdChange and assistant professor of integrative studies at George Mason University, for a lecture on Thursday, March 22, at 6:30 – 8 p.m. in the school's McGuire Hall.

The lecture was based on why movements for educational justice often seem to be stalled by what the lecturer refers to as “well-intentioned do-gooders more concerned with celebrating diversity than with crafting an equitable and just educational system,” and what alternatives are needed for a truly transformative approach to education for equity and social justice.

Dr. Gorski opened the lecture by expressing his views about the need to accept the fact that the idea of diversity is being approached in the wrong way. That it is not diversity that we should be addressing but rather diversity. 

He then expresses that practicing authentic equity requires shifts in consciousness which inform shifts in practice and that many common equity practices result in more inequity, however he points out that there is something we can do about it.

The lecture was interesting and thought provoking, but no way eyeopening. The great inequities that exist in our society and our school, - gender, race were discussed as well as the

fictions 'culture of poverty' - difference between people at the top and those at the bottom that exist within our schools. He expressed tho sin terms of the fact that people with the most power frame problems in terms of human relations which does not solve the problem at all.

He then went to discuss what we can do as teachers:

What can we do? - be more authentic

• As teachers- being a champion of justice in our own sphere of influence
• No set of values thatbeveryonenwho is poor shares- based on research
• Cultural competence/ proficiency- culture is not the issue- inequity is
• Competence is a pretty low bar.
• Research shows how learning styles are inconsistent and non-existent
• Research shows that teaching to a specific learning style is not effective

I totally get the gap  and the problem and I think I have a fair understanding of some of the solutions. The lecture discussed most of what I already know and a few things that I was not aware of. A lot of what was said I agreed with and there was other ideas that was put forth that I did not agree with. 

I agree that the problems we have in schools related to segregation is more related to diversity rather than equity and that we need t address the, however I do not agree with the lack of need for cultural competency. We live in a society where diversity is an issue and if I as a teacher cannot understand my students as individuals as well as within the cultural context with which they identify themselves then I will have problems reaching them. As someone who identifies greatly with trying to preserve a cultural identity I know what it's like to be lumped, but greatly appreciate when someone can relate to who I am and my upbringing on even a general level. We will not be able to solve the equity issue if we are not culturally aware. We need to celebrate cultures and we need to have cultural awareness and competencies as teachers and educational leaders. We just need to do it on a deeper level.

Another point made by Dr. Gorski with which I disagree was the point he made about parents getting to conferences, and as teachers we fail to realize what percentage of our parents do not have cars. Its not that they don't care. They just can't afford to be there. We get it as teachers, we just want to see some effort. The problem is not the teachers, like he blatantly said, it's also the parents, collectively.

I work at a school where we have conferences form 7 am to 7pm so parents can make it, we meet parents anywhere within reason of their home or jobs and parents still show no interest in their children's education.  That is not a reflection of me or of any other teacher, it is a reflection of that parent and their lack of interest. 

We all want a world where equity is a non-issue, but we all live in a world where it is an issue. With this in mind, our role as educators is to deal with this in the best way we know how, while learning the most authentic ways to. We also need to teach our students to survive in this world until it changes.