Seeing our own biases can be a difficult and uncomfortable experience. When talking
about biases we mean beliefs, ideologies, social patterns, and social structures th
have been directly or indirectly institutionalized as part of who “we” are and how we
behave in society.
The construction of individuals in society has long been determined by institutions
which have developed laws to maintain order and create a uniform historical narrative.
These laws have been socially constructed under patriarchal and racist ideas that have
perpetuated inhumane acts of violence and have desensitized our capacities for
reflecting on the imbalances of social dynamics. Learning about our biases and how
they operate in our social environment is the first step that will lead us to the
construction of a much more self-aware and compassionate community.
At Hilltop Montessori School, one of the ways we are working to understand and reflect
on our biases is by deconstructing racist and colonial narratives of history. To support
this, we are furthering our important connection with Judy Dow, an Abenaki indigenous
woman, storyteller, artist, teacher, and scholar. She has been working with our Middle
School students for a few years. We are thrilled to be able to further her engagement
with us by having her also work with our Lower and Upper Elementary students and
teachers. She has wonderful things planned, and has sent ahead artifacts and supplies
to facilitate Zoom meetings with the programs. This will be an opportunity for us to
deepen our accounts from the voices of indigenous peoples.
Judy’s schedule is to meet with:
Lower Elementary
Wednesday, November 4th
Upper Elementary
Wednesday, October, 28th and Wednesday, November 11th
Middle School
Wednesday, November 18th
(All students may want to be sure to attend in-person on these Wednesdays, despite
the ½ day)
I would like to share with you an article Deconstructing the Myths of “The First
Thanksgiving” that Judy has kindly shared with us. Teachers and administrators have
been reading it as part of our equity, justice, and inclusion bi-weekly meetings. It has
been an interesting reframing of the traditional Thanksgiving story for many of our
staff.
Yupaichani / Gracias / Thank you!
Marco Yunga Tacuri