We are a school that opens our doors, our minds, our hearts
Recently, I attended a conference where Dr. Cornel West called on for each of us to live a life of integrity, which resonates so much for me with what we believe here at Miquon.
We are a school that opens our doors, our minds, and our hearts to all people. We want our Miquon children to grow up with the ability to see issues from a variety of perspectives. We want them to view the world through a lens of love, not hate. We want our children to not be afraid of difference, but to embrace it.
From our most impressionable young community members to our most seasoned, we believe that it is never too early or too late to cultivate love, to learn, to teach, and to work to make the world a better place for everyone.
While this sentiment is widely known by all those who have passed through our valley, this year and last, the Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Action distributed community-wide surveys to learn what we are doing well and where we need to improve. After some survey analysis work the committee will create action items and craft a formal Diversity, Equity and Action Statement for adoption and to guide our future work as an institution.
While the committee work is happening, in the classrooms we seek to create an environment where kids feel safe.
As a Progressive school, we value civility and equal, fair treatment for all humans. We deliberately immerse our students in material about a variety of human experiences to build an understanding of a world bigger than their own. In January and February, for example, children learned about homes, migration, and refugee stories and took on “counter-stories” to understand lesser-known experiences and perspectives. Conversation about protest in its many forms have taken place — including discussions about why we have (and expect people to follow) rules in our society.
In doing so, we are careful that we are not teaching children what to think, we are teaching them how to think. We want our students to be observant and ask thoughtful questions. When other perspectives are not raised by the students themselves, teachers bring them to the conversations to help children consider current events and social issues from all sides — and always, with empathy and understanding.
Our goal is to help children to understand the issues at hand so that they can grow into people able to form their own opinions and perspectives. Our work at Miquon is to give children the skills, agency and confidence to be engaged citizens in the world, whatever their point of view.
We welcome anyone who wishes to get involved with the activities of the Diversity, Equity, and Action Committee. If you would like to do so, please get in touch with Lisa Pomerantz by emailing lisapomerantzster@gmail.com.
Miquon is a community that believes in a “we” that is made up of staff, children, families, alumni, and donors with different perspectives — all who have a stake in our community, all who must be allowed to feel safe here.
We remain grateful for your support and dedication to helping us maintain a community in which all can find their place as respected members.
Warmly,
Susannah
PS. If you want to share more refugee stories at home with your family, check this out.
