We all have biases; they are learned behaviors from our lived experiences.
For example, equity in the hiring process means attending to how positions are advertised, being mindful of our own biases and the possible biases of others, ensuring a diverse hiring committee equally focused on equity and structuring the hiring process accordingly.
Examining Our Beliefs
We all have biases; they are learned behaviors from our lived experiences. That is why diversity is so important—it adds to our experiences and exposes us to additional points of view. To understand others’ experiences and opinions, we must engage in honest, fact-based debates or courageous conversations. We must critically examine our beliefs, learned consciously and unconsciously, and debate them openly.
We can mitigate bias throughout our school systems by objectively and candidly evaluating our biases as a team. In this politically charged world, we must recognize that the extremes control the current political discourse, but they do not necessarily represent the views of the majority of our citizens.
Extreme bad actors on both sides of the political spectrum gain power by fostering distrust and demonizing their foes, but in the long term, the majority in the middle must prevail. Business officials must not capitulate to either extreme; we must maintain fidelity to the needs of all the children we serve.
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Honest Debates
We must codify goals into coherent policies by collaborating with those who may have competing points of view. Policies formed collectively will withstand the test of time; short-term, politically motivated, anger-based decisions have a short shelf life.
Canceling people has become a staple of both sides of the debate. All feelings and beliefs about issues have merit and must be respected. Every issue does not require 50/50 support to be debated. Rejecting the feelings and opinions of a person before engaging in an honest debate of facts implies a weakness in the other person’s argument and pushes factions further apart. If we believe someone has the facts wrong, we should state our factual case but listen to them so they are inclined to listen to us.
Forgotten History
Reading about history’s foibles and acknowledging disturbing facts is painful but important to prevent a recurrence of our sometimes-agonizing history. History forgotten is history that will be repeated. Denying the lifestyles of our fellow citizens because they conflict with a traditional point of view does not change our paradigm.
Education leaders who value equity respect and hear the views of all of their constituents. Removing a book about a nontraditional family from the library does not alter the fact that these families make positive contributions to our communities. Supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion does not require you to embrace a lifestyle you don’t agree with or don’t understand. It does ask that you treat those who choose that lifestyle fairly and respectfully.
It’s a civil rights issue. It is un-American to deny any group of people the same rights, protections, and acknowledgments that others receive.
Call to Action
What can we do as business officials who are stuck in the middle of these polarizing times? Act in your best interest. That means serving our communities equitably and bravely while trying to find common ground with all stakeholders. Be bold. Speak out about your beliefs; otherwise, your silence will allow others to define your views for you.
History has shown that extreme voices eventually run out of steam and end up in the scrap heap. But what of those leaders who cling to the middle of the road in timid silence? Our history favors the brave; there is a scrap heap for the leaders who fail to lead.