1. S.E.E.D. 1 Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity
Please sign in and pick up the agenda and handouts for the meeting.
October’s Theme:
“OTHER”
Essential Question: How does our understanding of “other” impact our roles
in district #191?
Essential Vocabulary: oppression, prejudice, social power, in-group bias

2. Braided Lives Readings
Use “Discipline of the Circle” to share your thoughts from any of the 3 Braided Lives selections
Apa - pages
Theme for English B - pages
Local Sensibilities - pages

3. Working Definitions: Oppression Prejudice Social Power
In small groups, develop a definition for each of the following terms:
Oppression
Prejudice
Social Power

4. Working Definitions
Oppression – systematic subjugation of a disempowered social group by a group with access to social power
(prejudice + power)
Prejudice – set of negative beliefs, generalized about an entire group of people
Social Power – access and availability to resources needed to get what you want and influence others

5. Working Assumptions Oppression is Pervasive
we’ve all absorbed oppressive behaviors…
Oppression is Not our Fault
we may/may not benefit from these systems but we CAN challenge the system
Oppression Hurts ALL
oppressor and oppressed are hurt - hidden costs = lack of exposure to others/less learning; limited self-insight; denial of an accurate sense of history; fear of the oppressed; loss of talent, skills, and insight from other groups/cultures
Individuals and Organizations Can and Do Grow and Change
we can make the choice to support or dismantle oppression

6. Art Activity Choose the image that best fits your
taste in art. Then sit with your group.

7. In-Group/Out-Group & Attribution Theory
In-group bias: the tendency of people to favor their own group
“Ultimately, many forms of discrimination and bias develop not because out-groups are hated, but because positive emotions such as admiration, sympathy, and trust are reserved for the in-group.” (Brewer, 1999)

8. In-Group/Out-Group & Attribution Theory
Out-groups seen as more homogenous as In-groups
Attribution Theory – Internal/External
Disposition vs. Situation
Lack of in-group bias among black children partly responsible for 1954 Brown v. Board of Ed. Decision - Kenneth & Mamie Clark research found that black children preferred playing with white dolls - reversal of in-group bias

9. Break! Enjoy the food – thanks to Tara & Sarah!
Please be back and ready to go in 25 minutes

10. Jane Elliot – Blue Eyed
Best known for “Eye Color” exercise with 3rd graders in Riceville, Iowa
Elliot believes it’s important for whites to experience the emotional impact of discrimination for themselves
“A person who has been raised and socialized in America has been conditioned to be a racist… we live in two countries, one black and one white.”
This video is from 1995
93 minutes – we’ll see an excerpt of about 1 hour

11. Wheel of Oppression – Identify the “isms”

12. Wheel of Oppression Ageism Sexism Racism Classism Heterosexism Others?
Religious
Oppression
Ableism

13. Bully
Target
Bystanders
Possible
Defender
Ally

14. Unlearning Oppression
Read the paper titled, “Assumptions for Unlearning Oppression”
Take a moment to process this information…
Choose a partner and discuss 1 idea that speaks to you from this page.

15. Homework for November Next Meeting – Tuesday 11/19/13
Make a list of the ways our school system keeps the wheel of oppression turning. This will be shared in small group.
Read: White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh (pgs ) in Seeding the Process
Journal: Make a list of how white privilege has affected your life. This will be shared in the large group.
Read Chapter 1 & 2 from We Can’t Teach…by Gary Howard
Journal: What have been your own formative experiences related to race?