During Kaori and Neesha’s presentation, the two things that stood out to me were “Educators actively shift the system while within it,” and “Inclusion is about creating spacing with inclusivity in mind, not just once a problem arises.” The first point about educators shifting the system while within it stuck out to me as we are in a position where we have to work under the rules of the system while being the most exposed to how those rules hinder learning and inclusivity. How can teachers simultaneously work within the system while working against it? I think starting by educating students about inclusivity, expression, acceptance, and autonomy can help move out of the exclusion and discrimination that lives within the system. By doing so, we create a future generation that will continue to push against this narrative. The second point struck me as in my public school education, inclusive spaces only seemed to be created when there were students who “needed them.” Usually, this assessment was based on a physical disability, and then an adjustment would be made. Using this approach excludes all of the students with non-physical struggles or those who are suffering in silence. If we create an environment with inclusivity as part of the foundation, we guarantee that every student will feel safe in the classroom and have a space to learn at their full potential.
A final piece I want to touch on from the presentation is not knowing what aspects of students’ identities shape who they are. Just because a student has a “distinctive factor” that we would usually assume would shape who they are, that does not mean it is something they identify by or is a crucial part of their identity. It is important to know your students and what they value about themselves, not project your assumptions and biases on them. Giving students opportunities to share about themselves and what is important to them can help you to better understand their identity.