Teaching Ain’t Easy, but Somebody Has Gotta Do It: Education in an Age of Anti-Diversity and Civil Rights Rollbacks

In the aftermath of Supreme Court decisions and the consistent assault on public education, educators must focus on discovering the best methods and approaches for addressing diversity within the classroom and the importance of learning different perspectives as part of a solid education. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), while criticized by political operatives and demonized in the court of public opinion, the tenants of inclusion, creating space for marginalized voices, and assisting students in seeing the gift in the differences each person brings to the classroom and society at large is still valid and essential as a methodology in education while navigating difficult conversations in an anti-diversity climate. Civil and human rights rollbacks are becoming more prevalent, it is crucial to reimagine how we discuss, teach, and embody DEIB or human-focused methodology as an educational tool. Educators must explore how to develop, question, learn, and reimage relationships, community, and educational institutions as incubators for people of diverse cultural backgrounds to share dynamic learning and teaching together.