MB Diversity Newsletter

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MOSES BROWN SCHOOL

MB: Diversity Works New Parent Diversity Committee: FOCUS on INCLUSIVITY The Parents’ Association is excited to announce the formation of a Parent Diversity Committee. The goal of this committee, open to all parents and guardians in the community, is to promote thought-provoking conversations about the ways that issues of identity and inclusivity are being explored and supported at Moses Brown. Co-clerks Heidi Gilkenson and Dawn Tripp look forward to welcoming anyone interested in joining the dialogue, at the first meeting on February 20, 2014 at 2:00pm in Middle House Conference Room.

FEBRUARY 2014

ASDC AWARDS $5,000 in GRANTS TO SEED NEW IDEAS In what is now an annual program, the All-School Diversity Committee reviewed funding proposals from faculty, staff and students for projects that would promote conversations or learning about identity. Included among the funded projects were: 1. Workshops planned by the Equal Voice student group, exploring issues of women in leadership roles; 2. Scholarships for students to attend Project RESPECT;

5. Chinese New Year party; dumpling-making, calligraphy demonstrations; and 6. Diversity-centered art show and print making workshop curated by SLAM student group.

3. Classroom visits by Afghan authors and participants in the Initiative to Educate Afghan Women; 4. Performance of When Fate Comes Knocking, a play highlighting the life and times of MLK, Jr.;

LOWER SCHOOL DIVERSITY WORKSHOPS, Fall 2013: Students in grades 1-5 participated in multi-age activities and discussions to explore the ways we are all similar and different. Workshop titles included: Are You Being Brainwashed? Looking at media messaging about gender and body image.

Viewing the World Through Different Lenses: Expert panel-guided discussion of Judaism, Islam, Quakerism.

Who You Are Is More Important Than What You Wear: Discussion of our reaction to the way people dress, the stereotypes we infer, and what we can do if someone is unkind about another’s clothing.

Physical Disabilities Through Senses Awareness: Hands-on exploration of what it is like to lose the ability to use one or more of our senses.

FACULTY AND STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL POCC/SDLC Moses Brown sent seven students and six adults to the annual NAIS People of Color/Student Diversity Leadership Conferences this past December.

Upon returning, participants shared some of their learning during an interactive meeting for faculty and staff, including an identity-exploring exercise run by the student participants.

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CLASSROOM CONVERSATIONS: nd

Lower School

2 graders addressed the identity of religion in a study of light used during holiday celebrations including Ramadan, Diwali, Las Posadas, and Hanukkah.

4th graders are exploring their ethnic and cultural backgrounds in their unit on immigration as they each identify, research, and perform the story of an immigrant from their own family tree.

Middle School 7th grade science & English classes did a collaborative unit on the wolf problem in Yellowstone National Park, analyzing the proposal to cull wolves from the cultural perspectives of ranchers and Native American communities.

8th grade history students studying the Rwandan genocide discussed the historical basis for ethnic classification as well as the real and imagined differences between groups.

Upper School Spanish 5 students examined the history of Mexican immigration and the experience of both documented and undocumented Mexican immigrants in the US. They explored how racial profiling and "probable cause" detentions of Mexicans and Mexican Americans have divided towns. They have learned about the levels of hardship and poverty that families of migrant workers endure to pick the crops we eat every day. By putting human faces on complicated issues, students were able to thoughtfully and sensitively reflect on possible reforms to our immigration policies in the US. In preparation for a May 1st visit by former US Poet Laureate, Philip Levine, 12th grade AP English students will collaborate with 9th graders in a study of his work. Mr. Levine addresses class struggle in our country by paying homage to the people who work for hourly wages in our country’s factories.

MLK DAY ACTIVITIES REFLECT ON EQUALITY AND RESPECT At a Lower School gathering honoring Dr. King, classrooms shared what they have been learning through some of his quotes: “Everyone can be great.”

DON’T READ THAT BOOK! “You are as good as Lower School students, anybody.” learning about historically “Love is the key to the banned and challenged problems of the world.” books, were shocked to find that old favorites like Winnie the Pooh,

Where the Wild Things Are, and Harry Potter were on these lists. After a lively discussion, they decided, “There are millions of books in the world. If something does not feel MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT appropriate for you or your LUNCH FORUM family, don’t read it!”

The Middle School studentled discussion group, SPEAKS, has been meeting monthly for lunch. On one occasion, they considered the theme of cell phone use in Middle School. The dialogue included important conversations about socioeconomic status and technology.

FRESHMAN STUDIES: RECOGNIZING AND MOVING BEYOND STEREOTYPES th 9 graders worked with Donna Williams to deepen their understanding of stereotypes. Using film clips, they looked at the ways preconceptions inform even the most simple events and interactions, making it important that we all be cognizant of preconceptions in order to avoid acting based on assumptions.

MB EXPO CHALLENGE PROJECTS INCLUDED IDENTITY-SPECIFIC ISSUES • How might we redesign the dress code so that it is enforceable and fair to students of all races, genders, and body shapes while still supporting the school’s values and maintaining a productive learning environment?

• How do we support the Special Olympics to make all people feel accomplished through sport? How much money can we raise for the Special Olympics in one day?