Belonging Through A Culture of Dignity by Vanessa Terry

pg 60

vanessa_terry — 2023-12-14 19:54:53 UTC

"Might you believe, even on a subconscious level, that some students are worthy of belonging, while others are not? In what ways are you participating in a tradition designed to exclude students who do not achieve normative social and academic standards?

vanessa_terry — 2023-12-14 19:56:00 UTC

It is so easy to fall back into the mindset that we must achieve before we can belong. This makes me think about compliance culture and how I have an image of what a typical student looks like at school. How are those subconscious thoughts and beliefs infiltrating my work.

pg 51 "Yet instead of creating school communities where unconditional belonging facilitates achievement, we continue traditions of schooling that promise 'belonging' to students only if they first socially conform and/or academically achieve. But that promise is a lie. At best, students are able to 'fit in' through achievement. For the only requirement of true belonging is that we be ourselves, as is."

2023-12-14 23:45:21 UTC

"For the only requirement of true belonging is that we be ourselves, as is." What a beautiful world it would be if everyone felt that could be themselves and belong. I feel like we see this in middle and high school for some students who "find their people" once they are in a bigger pond and meet others they connect with and feel they can be their unique beautiful selves with. Most young children seem capable to accept everyone and feel confident in themselves, but lose that self assuredness somewhere along the way and hide away who we are so as not to be judged and criticized.

2023-12-15 04:28:07 UTC

I’ve considered this idea a lot and how I am subconsciously supporting the academic achievement ideal. It’s how I grew up but it isn’t what I want for our future success. How can I “see” and adjust to support the future?