According to the CDC, for children ages 10-18, the second leading cause of death is suicide. Although the suicide rate for Black people remains low, it is increasing in Black youth. The study “Black Youth Suicide: Investigation of Current Trends and Precipitating Circumstances” found that the suicide rate for Black teens, 15-17, increased 4.9% and…
September 15 – October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. Similar to other heritage and history months, it is an opportunity to lift up and share knowledge. There is a wide range of people who fall under the umbrella Hispanic and this includes Afro-Latinos. At times, they are not included as much during Hispanic Heritage Month….
Racial affinity groups have come under attack for many of the same reasons some states have banned critical race theory in K-12 schools. No matter the beliefs a person has, most people can agree that racism is wrong. The problem comes when people cannot agree upon what is considered racism. Racial affinity groups have been…
“Where are our ancestors from?” This was a question that came from one of my sons when I was on my way to drop off a clothing donation. I did not understand why I was being asked this question. After some follow up questions, I learned my sons were working on a project for school….
The Census Bureau noted an uptick in homeschooling in the U.S. Prior to the pandemic appropriately 3.3% of families were homeschooling. The Household Pulse Survey marked the number at 5.4% for spring 2020 and at 11.6% for fall 2020. In Indiana, the rate for spring 2020 was 5.4% and 10% for fall 2020. Nationally, Black…
National Grandparents Day takes place on the Sunday after Labor Day. It was designated an official day by President Jimmy Carter. Not only is this a great opportunity for students to spend time with their grandparents, it is also a time to consider how grandparents can be leveraged in education. In his proclamation declaring Grandparents…
When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, it was a blow to many Americans. Several of my relatives who were alive and old enough to remember the event have shared with me what they were doing when they found out about King’s death and how they felt in the weeks and months after he…
This is the note. This is the note. Mr. Walters, my middle school choir teacher, took his love of music and teaching music seriously. He would say those words as he hit the piano key hard in hopes that we would eventually sing on key. He wanted us to perform with excellence, and he was…
Before I graduated with my undergraduate degree, I knew I wanted to attend graduate school and at least obtain a master’s degree. One of my professors told me to get a teaching job first before investing more time in school. She also noted that I would be able to put into practice what I was…
The one constant about COVID-19 guidance is that it continues to change. The 2021-2022 school year began with school districts having to determine mask guidance since Governor Holcomb ended the mask mandate in Indiana, and it does not seem it will ever be reinstated. This left school districts to make the decision about masks keeping…