To begin advocating for change, the first important step is to understand your school. Begin with reviewing your school handbook for relevant policies. Your school's website will be a helpful indicator of how much your school prioritizes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Review other communication materials, like marketing pamphlets, donor communication, and social media accounts. Look for language about diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, social and emotional learning, and gender ideology/sexuality. Demand transparency and learn what content is embedded in the curriculum by reviewing lesson plans and syllabi. Note the number of staff dedicated to the DEI office and read the site carefully to assess the content/emphasis. What professional development are teachers doing? What books are being assigned? Learn about student “clubs” and affinity groups.

 

It is important to ask “uncomfortable” questions of teachers and school leadership. Utilize parent conference opportunities and "back to school nights" to get a picture of what's happening in your child's classroom. Request meetings with school administration and trustees to ask about the school's policies and practices regarding viewpoint diversity. Ask other parents about their experiences and perspectives. Here are some sample questions to begin with:​

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DEI questions to consider

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• ​What are your school’s guiding principles? Are they consistent with the DEI work?

• Has the school’s mission changed? Does this plan align with the school's mission?

• Does the school have a DEI plan? If so, please read it and look for the following buzzwords: affinity groups, bias reporting, culturally competent, culturally relevant, equity, inclusion, gender, justice, belonging, grading for equity, belonging, decolonizing, "anti-racism,” courageous conversations, teaching for justice, microaggressions, etc.

• Viewport diversity and DEI are incompatible. Schools need to choose. If you are a social justice school then make sure you are very transparent about what you do and how you do it.

• ​Has the school taken the NAIS AIM survey? Ask to see the survey and the results. What happened at school that prompted you to devote so much time and resources to this DEI work?

• Who wrote the DEI plan?

• What consultants does the school use?

• How big is the school’s DEI department?

• What are the goals of this work?

• Given the priority this work is taking, what is it replacing? There are only so many hours in the school day.

• What evidence, research, or scholarship is there that this approach works? Shouldn’t it be held to the same high standards and scholarship as core subjects? Are there as robust academic/curricular plans for STEM, for example?

• Have you considered that imposing one worldview as the only worldview, which is what this plan does, divides and prevents students from developing a sense of personal agency? How does the school plan to provide balance? How does this create independent thinkers? Tolerance for different points of view? Objective truth? Intellectual humility?

• What professional development do teachers attend?

• What books are the students assigned?

• Is the school eliminating the time-tested classics, which teach about the human condition, in favor of more “recent” titles? 

• How will you measure success? Schools have been at this for a long time and seemingly have made no progress except enriching and growing a consulting class.

• "School A" is a highly selective school, so it excludes most people who wish to attend. Please explain how the incessant focus on identity, “inclusion,” and equity is consistent with the reality of the school

• Are prospective school employees required/encouraged to provide DEI statements as part of the job application process?

• Does expressing fealty to DEI provide an advantage with respect to hiring and promotions?

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