On Monday, December 13th, Senator Kennedy hosted a community forum discussing An Act relative to Anti-Racism, Equity and Justice in Education. The event was co-sponsored by Senator Kennedy’s office and the Lowell Democratic City Committee. Representative Nika Elugardo, a primary sponsor of the legislation, spoke about the background and function of House Bill 584, as well as strategies for advocates. Recent events such as the murder of George Floyd and January 6th insurrection have made evident the social, economic, and health disparities caused by racial inequity in our society, and the immediate danger disinformation and white supremacy pose to our Democracy. House Bill 584 and Senate Bill 365 establish a Commission for Anti-Racism in Education which would work with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in identifying, analyzing, and making recommendations to:
- Develop curriculum materials with a social justice perspective of dismantling racism and to advise the department on improving the history and social sciences framework.
- Ensure that ethnic studies, racial justice, decolonizing history, and unlearning racism is taught at all grade levels using a critical approach and pedagogy that is age appropriate.
- Advise the department on ways to ensure equity in the Massachusetts Test for Education Licensure; and
- Ensure that teachers and school counselors have access to professional development that fosters equitable, inclusive curriculum and pedagogy and practices that support racial justice.
Also in attendance were students from Lowell Public Schools who bravely shared their personal experiences with racism in school. Special thanks to Zoe Dzineku for moderating the forum. You can watch the full forum on the Lowell Telemedia Center’s Facebook page: https://fb.watch/9VQHNK04CD/.