February was an exciting progressive month at Planting S.E.E.D.S. We continued to stay dedicated to our mission by furthering our current projects with CityBridge. This month we have several research projects that will help provide further insight on how we can better help our community. Below, take a glimpse at one of our research topics to understand why our work is necessary and important.
Research Topics
Meta-Analysis
Research Question: Does teacher empathy impact academic outcomes among Black students in K-12 education?
This research topic ties into our work with CityBridge and the Student/Educator Collective (SEC) that offers Black girls an opportunity to build community and a sense of ownership of school behavioral policies. We had the chance to interview young students on their experience with school discipline and belonging, which helps further our research. Here’s a peek into some of their responses and how they felt.
When asked about the fairness of discipline at her school, one student responded by saying, “I don't think it's fair. Because the teachers, they'll overdo it. Instead of talking to them first. Like, they'll like embarrass them in front of the class, like, make sarcastic remarks, and stuff.” She continued her statement by saying, “But sometimes like the teacher does provoke it, they can provoke it a little bit. So then you're gonna have to... stand up for yourself.” The key takeaway from her response lets us know that there’s room for empathy amongst educators and how they communicate with students.
Another perspective from a teacher lets us know not only is there an issue of disproportionality around discipline policies, but a culture gap between teachers and leadership. When one teacher was asked about her perception of teacher and leadership understanding of Black girls' lived experiences, she responded by saying, “...it has been the white leaders who have fallen short and white educators at large, who have not understood the lived experiences [of Black girls], even if they've tried. There's too much of a knowledge gap to close in order to even get them to get a point of empathy.”
We’re excited to tackle these issues throughout the month by continuing to conduct interviews and complete thorough research. If you’re interested in learning more on this topic, check out this documentary titled, “Pushout.”
Current Events
It’s essential to stay up to date with what’s occurring in the world. The following article is a reminder of the critical work we’re doing at Planting S.E.E.D.S. and is proof that there is still much more to be done.
(Click photo to learn more)
We look forward to all the great things March has in store. As always, we’re devoted to enhancing the diversity, equity, and inclusion of all people in all settings. Be sure to follow and connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn at Planting Seeds LLC. Happy Women’s History Month!
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