I am not sure how the year of the teacher turned into the year of exclusion, but here we are. I have watched the arguments against DEI, and I can’t help but reflect on what brought me to education.
Five years ago, I was given the opportunity to teach resilience skills to kids in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, following Hurricane Maria. The opportunity was part of a Weber State University study abroad. Times were tough, and the school I taught at only got a few thousand dollars to rebuild following the hurricane. There were areas of the school with no roof, and we had very few resources. Despite the meager circumstances, the children thrived. The community in Yabucoa rallied around their school and their children, and resilience was cultivated.
In stark contrast, we have incredible privilege here in Utah. We have many opportunities, yet those with the most privilege feel the need to remove opportunities for those who have had more significant struggles in life. Our communities are divided, and being an educator has never been more difficult. Legislation is attempting to limit who can use particular restrooms. Our legislators want money allocated to support populations who have added barriers to graduation to be given to “all students.”
I attended Weber State University on several scholarships, including awards from the Women’s Center and the Nontraditional Student Center. I graduated with university and departmental honors and attended the Puerto Rico practicum that changed my life because of funding given to underrepresented populations. I would not have had these opportunities without those scholarships because I was a single mom. I’ve since completed a master’s degree and am working on a doctorate. Education saved me from poverty. I’m heartbroken that legislators feel that they are representing me or any of their constituents by delivering funds intended for underrepresented populations to those with privilege.
I honestly thought book banning was the worst issue we could face this season. Yet, we have seen humanity stripped away piece by piece with every piece of dehumanizing legislation. We tell people to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps,” and yet, we are destroying the very fabric of the proverbial bootstrap.
