BOE removes ‘cultural humility’ from goals
NEW CANAAN — The Board of Education has revised its goals to change the term “cultural humility” to “cultural understanding,” but it remains unclear how this will affect the district’s curriculum.
The change was made as part of the school board’s effort to “expand and increase educational diversity, equity, and inclusion” in the town’s schools, according
to BOE chairperson Katrina Parkhill.
It also comes during a time when discussions around how race is taught in schools has become a hot-button issue in town and statewide.
“The one-word change should in no way be viewed as a shift from the original intent of our work and our goal as a BOE,” Parkhill said Wednesday. “Furthering our understanding of cultural humility is an essential part of our DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) efforts.”
Though the term cultural humility was included in the 2020-21 goals, Board of Education member Dionna Carlson asked Superintendent Bryan Luizzi to explain the meaning of the phrase at last week’s school board meeting.
Cultural humility “is an understanding that we all live in a diverse society and understanding that everyone is valuable and important,” Luizzi explained.
Carlson urged the board to eliminate the “buzz words” that were part of last year’s revision.
“‘Cultural understanding' is simply a starting point in our work together as we learn and strengthen our understanding of the meaning and significance of 'cultural humility,” Parkhill said Wednesday.
Parkhill did not say whether the change was in response to parent concerns.
It remains unknown how the word change will impact school practices and whether this was done in response to teacher or parent concerns. No public comments about the issue were made at last week’s meeting.
Board member Penny Rashin said she does not see a difference in what the school district has been “doing for the past 20 years. We always try to foster the feeling of belonging.”
Messages for the superintendent’s office, school principals, Board of Education members and candidates for the school board were not returned.
South School Principal Matthew Kascak referred questions to Jaclyn Hoey Zhou, communications and administrative coordinator. Zhou has not responded to an email request for her comment.
The school board reviews its goals and objectives every year. Last August, the school board added language about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and added $25,000 in the budget for this awareness effort.
Prior to updating the goals last year, several former students, including Broadway star Jelani Alladin, told the board they felt the district did not adequately incorporate teachings on race. The students argued the history curriculum was incomplete, and the district needed a more diverse staff of teachers.
Board members Carl Gardiner and Bob Naughton suggested the board use its own words instead of the term cultural humility.
“There (are) a lot of loaded words that sound good,” Naughton said
Board member Sheri West argued that, as educational leaders, the school board’s responsibility is “to talk about the fact that we are committed to fostering a culture of respect and belonging.”
After reviewing the amendments, the board voted unanimously in favor of the goals.
A definition of cultural humility can be found on the state of Connecticut website, where Vannessa Dorantes, commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, defines the term as a “processoriented approach” with three main components, including a lifelong commitment to self-evaluation and self-critique, seeing the value of each person and “aspiring to develop partnerships with people and groups who advocate for others.”
Parkhill — who is leaving the board in November after not being supported at the Republican caucus — said, “the language used to describe DEI efforts and approaches is constantly evolving and highlights the importance of developing a common language to be used in our district.”
Gardiner suggested the board insert “cultural understanding.” He argued it is an important goal since the schools lack diversity comparative “to the society as a whole.”
The goal now reads: “Continue to provide professional development for faculty and staff focused on increasing awareness of issues of equity, improving cultural understanding, and increasing culturally proficient and responsive educational practices.”
Conversations over how race is taught in New Canaan schools have been raised after a Board of Education candidate broached the issue during a debate this summer leading up to the Republican caucus.
Critical race theory, a controversial academic framework through which to view systems of racism and oppression in America, has become a hot-button issue in many schools, including at St. Luke’s. However, school officials have denied it is part of their curriculum, and there has been no evidence supporting it is being taught in Connecticut classrooms.