Fishbone Diagram: Problem Statement: Students use of social identity slurs as macro and micro aggressions have a dehumanizing effect and threaten student safety as learners.
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Disconnect between the curriculum and vision and the student experience in schools
No consistent, codified programming for students to be educated on these issues as they exist in today's society
The national climate is tolerant of social identity slurring
There are few or no teachers or adults who identify with any marginalized groups represented in the student population.
Denial of the minority experience in a system that is 87% white, mostly middle class.
School policies do not directly address "hate crimes" outside of the anti-bullying policy
Slow changing demographic has led to a reactionary instead of proactive response.
The majority controls the narrative as the overwhelming majority of the adults in the district are White including the district level administration and school board
Not looking at the long term impacts of this kind of "bullying" on kids
adults are lacking skills and knowledge to make these connections
Many deny the concept of marginalization today
most of this happens during recreational, informal settings (bus, cafe, playground)
Hate crimes have increased
Only a small percentage of classroom teachers, bus drivers, para-educators, cafeteria staff have completed significant training in diversity, equity, inclusion education beyond an initial contact during early degree/certification programs
Students are lacking the specific empathy and grasp of the impact of hateful speech that relates to a social identity
adults still respond with "shock" to experiences that many children are having daily
Students at higher grade levels do not report incidents to adults due to their perception of a lack of responsiveness
Mandated curriculum may not address social interactions and the appropriateness of words when speaking to each other even as these words and their meanings change
"Political Correctness" is no longer a standard or modeled by high profile leadership
Social media allows, encourages and provides safe haven for it
Teachers of non-majority backgrounds might not see this district as an attractive job
Students are prone to following trends and friends and not likely to think independently if it may cost them social standing or bring judgment to them
most children are not yet leaders and will not be brave for the "one different kid"
There is a disconnect between the home environment/parents and choices kids might make on school grounds
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because its hard, distracting and curriculum is mandated
parents of majority students are not aware of the experiences of minority populations and do not engage in these conversations at home or teach how to confront them
The population is changing and predicted to continue changing as technology and migration patterns make the world smaller and Western European culture, Imperialism and White superiority are challenged by formerly underrepresented groups
the American system supports this racial (etc) "unawareness" by establishing a system based on wealthy, Judeo-Christian, White, Male economic and social dominance
the district did not invest in this training for faculty, auxiliary staff or support staff because they did not see a need due to the small population of minorities
it was underestimated the frequency with which these slurs would occur and unanticipated that they would happen in recreational spaces or on transportation
there was not a perception that there was a problem to be solved
there was a perception that there was not a problem
Recruiting teachers with diverse social identities unfairly places an exceptional burden on them to be a representative and they may lack allies within the system thus, deterring them
incidents were seen as isolated and not institutional
Recruiting teachers (etc.) is difficult in general
as there is a shortage of teachers in Michigan
it takes a long time to earn a family supporting income where a teacher can fund their children's college education
wages and benefits are down
the majority of parents have the privilege of not thinking about race, socio-economic status, gender identity, ethnicity, immigration status, marital status, religion, etc. as they are members of the majority and are not faced with social identity slurs
They're children who want to be accepted and included themselves by their peers even if their peers are wrong and go against what their parents teach them
They are children and need to be empowered, boundaries, modeling and strict negative and positive consequences to shape them
They will risk their sense of belonging and maybe lose friends
kids don't follow their parents all the time
teachers are not empowered or skilled in the daily apolitical, addressing of the daily national climate as it leans toward becoming more tolerant of politically "incorrect" language and even hateful language if its not in the curriculum
There is one set of behaviors in the classroom and another on the playground, on busses, at the football stadium on Friday nights
Homes are expensive in this area
minority populations are not prone to move here because of the reputation for it being non-diverse
most kids are like them
the election of Barrack Obama may have left many believing that this was a post-racial nation
lack of awareness that racism is institutional and not necessarily always individual
This town has a reputation for being White and it deters minorities from moving in
White supremacy is present in our heritage and present day dialog
High profile leaders tolerate "political incorrectness" and even use it as a tool to dominance or ignore such behaviors in the interest of maintaining power
As there is a good economy, there is less of a willingness to recognize that money does not solve social identity bias
The economy and democracy of the United States continues to stay open to the world inviting all people to come, buy, stay.
Because they don't know how
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