NNER Equity Study Committee Recommendations
to the NNER Governing Council PRIMARY CHARGE How do we promote a future where people with different beliefs, values, and personal identities successfully live together in a democratic society? EQUITY STUDY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The NNER Equity Study Committee has written a Statement on Equity that articulates a number of principles derived from the Agenda for Education in a Democracy, that define the concept of equity in more specificity. The Committee believes that this new level of definition is necessary for the NNER to work effectively on equity issues. The Statement on Equity is followed by a number of recommendations for action to be taken by the NNER and by each of the member settings. The Committee recommends that the NNER Governing Council formally adopt the Statement and the Action Plans and communicate them to the member settings. SECONDARY CHARGE #1 What principles of the Agenda for Education in a Democracy (reviewed in Fenstermacher’s article) should NNER encourage it members to consider when developing policy? EQUITY STUDY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The NNER Equity Study Committee recommends that the NNER Governing Council formally adopt the following Statement on Equity and communicate it to all member settings. NNER STATEMENT ON EQUITY The NNER embraces a vision of educational excellence for all. This vision, described in The Agenda for Education in a Democracy, brings to light the symbiotic relationship between educational excellence and equity. By definition, educational excellence involves knowledge, practices and structures that support the full participation of all individuals in teaching and learning opportunities, and in educational decision-making and policy setting. The NNER advocates strong legal and policy frameworks and cultural practices, in educational and other social settings, that promote the elimination of all discrimination against groups historically oppressed on the basis of traits including but not limited to age, disability, gender, language, locality, personal appearance, political ideology, race, religion, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. Moreover, given that these forms of discrimination permeate our society, including educational institutions, it is important that NNER members act in ways that are explicitly and purposefully anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-classist, anti-homophobic, etc. The NNER further recognizes that inequities surface continually as democratic institutions adapt to changing circumstances, and that consequently, constant vigilance is needed to identify obstacles and barriers to educational access, opportunity and attainment. The NNER sponsors and encourages proactive, critical inquiry at all educational levels—from the classroom to national policy arenas—into (a) conditions that limit educational access, opportunity and attainment, and (b) practices that promote educational access, opportunity and attainment. The NNER believes that democracy is strengthened by diversity. Diversity is an indispensable feature of the NNER’s commitment to using democratic processes to facilitate democratic ends. At a minimum, this commitment to diversity requires the inclusion of the historically oppressed groups mentioned above in all democratic processes, on a basis of equal respect. More broadly, it includes educating ourselves about others and demonstrating a willingness to fairly consider multiple views. Thus, the NNER supports active engagement and broad representation in forging educational and other social and political decisions. The NNER recognizes that there are many ways to ameliorate problems of inequity and lack of diversity consistent with this Statement on Equity and therefore expects that local responses will differ. Further, the NNER does not expect that any of its member settings have fully realized the ideals of equity and diversity described in this Statement, but expects, rather, that each member setting is committed to working toward these ideals. SECONDARY CHARGE #2 What is the role of the NNER in promoting opportunities for people regardless of individual differences (age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, etc.)? EQUITY STUDY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION In order to operationalize the commitments articulated in the Statement on Equity, The NNER Equity Study Committee recommends that the NNER Governing Council commit to an Equity Action Plan such as the one presented here. NNER EQUITY ACTION PLAN The NNER recognizes and applauds the work of NNER administrators, councilors and advisors who have contributed to the understanding and the realization of educational and social equity. In order to advance this work the NNER commits to take the following actions:
SECONDARY CHARGE #2 How can we encourage NNER members to regularly examine their own policies and practices so that they advance the principles of the Agenda? EQUITY STUDY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION In order to operationalize the commitments articulated in the Statement on Equity, the NNER Equity Study Committee recommends that NNER member settings commit to Equity Action Plans such as the one presented here. NNER MEMBER SETTINGS EQUITY ACTION PLAN The NNER recognizes and applauds the work of NNER member settings—including colleges of education, colleges of arts and sciences and public schools—that have contributed to the understanding and the realization of educational and social equity. In order to advance this work NNER member settings commit to take the following actions:
IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES The NNER Equity Study Committee raises the following issues that were not directly addressed at its meeting of October 9, 2003, that will need to be decided if its recommendations are to be implemented: Procedural Questions
Accountability Questions
Implementation Questions
EQUITY STUDY COMMITTEE
Equity Study Committee Consultants
Equity Study Committee Writing Team
Equity Study Committee Liaison with NNER Governing Council
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