[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.79,0:00:02.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, a few years ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:02.38,0:00:06.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was beginning a new unit on race\Nwith my fourth-graders.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.04,0:00:08.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And whenever we start a new unit,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.25,0:00:11.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I like to begin by having all the students\Nlist everything they know about it,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.96,0:00:14.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then we also list questions we have.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.67,0:00:19.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I had the type of moment\Nthat every teacher has nightmares about.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.12,0:00:21.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of my students\Nhad just asked the question,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.00,0:00:24.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Why are some people racist?"
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.29,0:00:27.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And another student, let's call her Abby,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.12,0:00:29.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had just raised her hand and volunteered:
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.92,0:00:34.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Maybe some people don't like black people\Nbecause their skin is the color of poop."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.54,0:00:36.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yeah, I know.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.83,0:00:41.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, as if on cue,\Nmy entire class exploded.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.67,0:00:43.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Half of them immediately started laughing,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.71,0:00:45.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the other half started yelling at Abby
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.73,0:00:46.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and shouting things like,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.00,0:00:49.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Oh, my God, you can't say that,\Nthat's racist!"
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.38,0:00:52.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So just take a second\Nto freeze this scene in your mind.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.79,0:00:55.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a class\Nof nine- and ten-year-olds,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.08,0:00:56.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and half of them are in hysterics
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.96,0:01:00.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they think\NAbby has said something wildly funny,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.88,0:01:04.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the other half are yelling at her\Nfor saying something offensive.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.50,0:01:07.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then you have Abby,\Nsitting there completely bewildered
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.42,0:01:10.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because, in her mind, she doesn't\Nunderstand the weight of what she said
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.88,0:01:13.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and why everybody is reacting this way.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.71,0:01:15.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then you have me, the teacher,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.38,0:01:18.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,standing there in the corner,\Nlike, about to have a panic attack.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.58,0:01:20.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So as a classroom teacher,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.04,0:01:23.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have to make split-second\Ndecisions all the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.54,0:01:25.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I knew I needed to react, but how?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.88,0:01:30.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Consider your fight-or-flight instincts.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.04,0:01:35.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I could fight by raising my voice\Nand reprimanding her for her words.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.79,0:01:38.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or flight -- just change the subject
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.42,0:01:40.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and quickly start reaching\Nfor another subject,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.71,0:01:43.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like anything to get my students' minds\Noff the word "poop."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.04,0:01:49.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, as we know, the right thing to do\Nis often not the easy thing to do.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.67,0:01:52.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And as much as I wanted\Nthis moment to be over,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.58,0:01:56.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that I knew both of these options\Nwould help me escape the situation,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.88,0:02:01.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I knew that this was far too important\Nof a teachable moment to miss.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.92,0:02:05.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So after standing there\Nfor what felt like an eternity,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.29,0:02:10.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I unfroze and I turned\Nto face my class, and I said,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.29,0:02:13.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Actually, Abby makes a point."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.04,0:02:17.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And my students kind of\Nlooked at each other, all confused.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.25,0:02:18.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I continued,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.00,0:02:21.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"One reason why racism exists
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.38,0:02:25.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is because people with light skin\Nhave looked at people with dark skin
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.17,0:02:27.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and said that their skin was ugly.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.33,0:02:32.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And even use this reason\Nas an excuse to dehumanize them.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.17,0:02:35.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the reason why we're learning\Nabout race and racism in the first place
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.79,0:02:38.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is to educate ourselves to know better.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.79,0:02:41.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And to understand\Nwhy comments like this are hurtful,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.83,0:02:43.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to make sure\Nthat people with dark skin
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.92,0:02:47.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are always treated\Nwith respect and kindness."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.58,0:02:51.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, this was a truly terrifying\Nteachable moment.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.42,0:02:53.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as we moved forward\Nin the conversation,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.92,0:02:56.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I noticed that both Abby\Nand the rest of the kids
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.25,0:02:57.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were still willing to engage.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.92,0:03:01.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And as I watched the conversation\Nreally marinate with my students,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.62,0:03:07.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I began to wonder how many of my students\Nhave assumptions just like Abby.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.38,0:03:10.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what happens when those assumptions\Ngo unnoticed and unaddressed,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.71,0:03:12.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as they so often do?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.00,0:03:15.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But first, I think it's important\Nto take a step back
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.54,0:03:17.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even consider\Nwhat makes a topic taboo.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.46,0:03:20.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't remember receiving\Nan official list of things
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.96,0:03:22.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're not supposed to talk about.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.71,0:03:26.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I do remember hearing,\Nover and over, growing up:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.25,0:03:29.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there are two things you do not talk about\Nat family get-togethers.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.58,0:03:33.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And those two things\Nare religion and politics.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.67,0:03:37.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I always thought this was very curious
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.33,0:03:41.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because religion and politics\Noften are such huge influencing factors
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.83,0:03:44.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over so many of our\Nidentities and beliefs.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.96,0:03:46.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what makes a topic taboo
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.00,0:03:51.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that feeling of discomfort that arises\Nwhen these things come up in conversation.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.50,0:03:57.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But some people are extremely fluent\Nin the language of equity,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.54,0:04:00.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while other people fear being PC-shamed
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.21,0:04:03.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or that their ignorance will show\Nas soon as they open their mouths.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.62,0:04:07.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I believe that the first step\Ntowards holding conversations
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.54,0:04:08.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about things like equity
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.83,0:04:10.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is to begin by building a common language.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.00,0:04:13.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that actually starts\Nwith destigmatizing topics
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.42,0:04:15.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that are typically deemed taboo.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.00,0:04:19.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, conversations\Naround race, for example,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.46,0:04:21.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have their own specific language
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.46,0:04:23.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and students need\Nto be fluent in this language
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.79,0:04:26.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in order to have these conversations.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.71,0:04:29.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, schools are often the only place
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.50,0:04:31.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where students can feel\Nfree and comfortable
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.83,0:04:33.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to ask questions and make mistakes.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.92,0:04:38.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, unfortunately, not all students\Nfeel that sense of security.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.83,0:04:41.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I knew that day\Nin front of my fourth-graders
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.42,0:04:45.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that how I chose to respond\Ncould actually have life-long implications
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.58,0:04:49.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not only for Abby, but for the rest\Nof the students in my class.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.88,0:04:53.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If I had brushed her words aside,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.50,0:04:57.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the rest of the class could actually infer\Nthat this type of comment is acceptable.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.79,0:05:00.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if I had yelled at Abby
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.46,0:05:03.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and embarrassed her\Nin front of all of her friends,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.17,0:05:07.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that feeling of shame associated with one\Nof her first conversations on race
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.38,0:05:10.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could actually prevent her\Nfrom ever engaging on that topic again.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.54,0:05:18.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, teaching kids about equity in schools\Nis not teaching them what to think.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.71,0:05:21.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is about giving them the tools\Nand strategies and language
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.83,0:05:24.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and opportunities\Nto practice how to think.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.71,0:05:28.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, think about\Nhow we teach kids how to read.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.04,0:05:29.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We don't start by giving them books.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.79,0:05:32.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We start by breaking down words\Ninto letters and sounds
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.83,0:05:37.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we encourage them to practice\Ntheir fluency by reading every single day,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.50,0:05:40.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a partner or with their friends.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.21,0:05:43.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we give them\Nlots of comprehension questions
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.21,0:05:46.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to make sure that they're\Nunderstanding what they're reading.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.12,0:05:48.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I believe that teaching\Nkids about equity
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.62,0:05:52.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,should be approached\Nin the exact same way.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.33,0:05:55.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I like to start by giving my students\Na survey every year,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.88,0:05:59.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about different issues\Naround equity and inclusion.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.33,0:06:01.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is a sample survey\Nfrom one of my kids,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.96,0:06:04.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and as you can see,\Nthere's some humor in here.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.75,0:06:06.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For under the question, "What is race?"
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.79,0:06:09.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she has written, "When two or more\Ncars, people and animals
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.58,0:06:13.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,run to see who is fastest and who wins."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.08,0:06:16.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, if you look\Nat her question, "What is racism?"
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.79,0:06:20.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it says, "When somebody says or calls\Nsomeone dark-skinned a mean name."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.58,0:06:24.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, she's young, but she's showing\Nthat she's beginning to understand.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.25,0:06:25.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when we act
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.54,0:06:29.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like our students aren't capable\Nof having these conversations,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.58,0:06:33.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we actually do them such a disservice.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.08,0:06:38.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I also know\Nthat these types of conversations
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.29,0:06:41.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can seem really, really intimidating\Nwith our students,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.17,0:06:43.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,especially with young learners.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.12,0:06:45.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I have taught\Nfirst through fifth grades,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:45.83,0:06:47.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I can tell you, for example,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:47.71,0:06:50.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I'm not going to walk\Ninto a first-grade classroom
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.33,0:06:53.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and start talking about things\Nlike mass incarceration.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.79,0:06:58.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But even a six-year-old first-grader\Ncan understand the difference
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.38,0:07:03.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between what is fair --\Npeople getting what they need.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.83,0:07:07.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We identified a lot\Nof these things in class together.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.12,0:07:10.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the difference\Nbetween fair and equal --
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.33,0:07:12.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when everybody gets the same thing,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.58,0:07:14.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,especially goody bags at birthday parties.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.79,0:07:18.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, first-graders can also\Nunderstand the difference
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.83,0:07:22.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between a punishment and a consequence.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.04,0:07:24.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And all of these things\Nare foundational concepts
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.50,0:07:26.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that anyone needs to understand
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.38,0:07:27.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before having a conversation
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.79,0:07:30.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about mass incarceration\Nin the United States.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.88,0:07:33.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some people might think\Nthat kindergarteners or first-graders
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.79,0:07:36.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are too young to have\Nconversations around racism,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.46,0:07:38.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but also tell you that young kids
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.58,0:07:40.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,understand that there are\Nmany different components
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.00,0:07:42.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that make up our identities
Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.33,0:07:44.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how people are similar and different,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.92,0:07:49.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what it means to have power\Nwhen other people don't.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.04,0:07:51.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we have these conversations\Nwith students at a young age,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.00,0:07:54.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it actually takes away\Nsome of that taboo feeling
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.38,0:07:56.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when those topics come up at a later age.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.83,0:08:00.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I also know that teaching\Nabout these things in schools
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.46,0:08:03.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can feel like navigating a minefield.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.42,0:08:06.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, what happens\Nif parents or families
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.50,0:08:09.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,aren't on board with having\Nthese conversations in schools?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.00,0:08:11.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But to these people, I can say:
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.54,0:08:15.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these are some examples of things\Nthat students have said to me
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.71,0:08:17.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and brought to my attention.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.67,0:08:21.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, I had a student come in\Nand whisper to me,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.33,0:08:24.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I've heard all these people\Nuse the term LGBTQ,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.83,0:08:28.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I don't know what it means\Nand I'm too embarrassed to admit it."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.75,0:08:32.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had a student come in over a weekend\Nand come up to me and say,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.88,0:08:35.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"You know, I just watched\Nthis movie about Australia,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.46,0:08:38.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it made me wonder\Nif they have racism there, too."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.00,0:08:43.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I always want my students to be\Ncomfortable having these conversations
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.42,0:08:47.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because when they're comfortable\Ntalking about it and asking questions,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.12,0:08:50.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they also build comfort in bringing in\Ntheir own lives and experiences
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.46,0:08:53.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in how they relate to these big topics.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.25,0:08:56.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, some teachers might be\Nkind of nervous
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.67,0:08:59.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if a student brings up a topic\Nor asks a question
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.33,0:09:01.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they don't know the answer to it.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.62,0:09:04.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if a student ever brings\Nsomething to my attention
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.83,0:09:06.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I don't know the answer,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.50,0:09:08.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I will always admit it and own it
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.42,0:09:11.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I'm not going to pretend\Nto be an expert in something
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.33,0:09:14.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I don't have experience in\Nor I'm not an authority on.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.54,0:09:16.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That same year, I had a student come in
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.54,0:09:19.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and ask a question\Nabout the LGBTQ community.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.58,0:09:23.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I just didn't know enough\Nto give them an appropriate answer.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.38,0:09:25.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So instead, I encouraged that student
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.38,0:09:28.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to reach out and ask that question\Nto a representative of a nonprofit
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.83,0:09:32.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who had come to speak to our class\Nabout that very same issue.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.50,0:09:35.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we admit to our students\Nthat we don't have all the answers,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.79,0:09:38.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not only does it humanize us to them,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.29,0:09:41.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it also shows them that adults\Nhave a long way to go, too,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.08,0:09:43.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when it comes to learning\Nabout issues of equity.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.71,0:09:48.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, a little while back,\NI wrote a lesson about consent.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.00,0:09:51.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, to some people,\Nthis was very exciting
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.04,0:09:54.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I took this topic\Nthat seemed very taboo and scary
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.58,0:09:58.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I broke it down into a way\Nthat was accessible for young learners.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.58,0:10:00.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, to other people,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.38,0:10:03.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the idea of consent\Nis so strongly tied to sex,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.58,0:10:06.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and sex is often considered\Na taboo subject,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:06.12,0:10:08.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it made them very uncomfortable.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.62,0:10:10.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But my students are third-graders,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.75,0:10:13.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we're not talking about sex in class.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.42,0:10:15.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Rather, I wanted them to understand
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.21,0:10:17.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that everybody has different\Nphysical boundaries
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.58,0:10:19.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that make them feel comfortable.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.50,0:10:22.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the social and emotional\Nintelligence it takes
Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.17,0:10:25.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to read somebody's words\Nand tone and body language
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.08,0:10:27.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are skills that often need\Nto be explicitly taught,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.54,0:10:30.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the same way we teach things\Nlike reading and math.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.88,0:10:35.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this lesson is not reserved\Nfor students of one single demographic.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.12,0:10:37.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Things like questioning\Nand making observations
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.34,0:10:38.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and critical thinking
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.62,0:10:41.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are things that any student\Nof any race or ethnicity
Dialogue: 0,0:10:41.17,0:10:46.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or background or language or income\Nor zip code should be learning in schools.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.25,0:10:51.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, deliberate avoidance\Nof these conversations
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.54,0:10:53.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,speaks volumes to our students
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.92,0:10:58.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because kids notice when their teachers,\Nwhen their textbooks
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.62,0:11:03.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,leave out the voices and experiences\Nof people like women or people of color.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.21,0:11:05.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Silence speaks volumes.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.62,0:11:09.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I recently asked my class of third-graders
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.04,0:11:11.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what they would say to adults\Nwho think they're too young
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.75,0:11:14.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to learn about issues of equity.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.38,0:11:19.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And while this is a small sample\Nof my 25 students,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:19.33,0:11:20.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all of them agreed
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.62,0:11:23.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that not only are they capable\Nof having these conversations,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.92,0:11:29.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they view it, the right to learn it,\Nas a right and not as a privilege.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.58,0:11:31.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, in their words:
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.92,0:11:34.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"We're big enough\Nto know about these things
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.08,0:11:36.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because these problems\Nare happening where we live.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.96,0:11:39.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we have the right to talk about them
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.08,0:11:42.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it will be our life\Nin the future."
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.42,0:11:43.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.71,0:11:48.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)