Learning outcomes
- To enhance awareness of social identities and how this can influence your leadership.
- To enhance awareness of the importance of different forms of diversity in teams.
- To engage in personal reflection around anti-racism.
- To reflect on your leadership role in promoting diversity and anti-racism.
Social identities
Reflection task
What identities do you think about most often?
As an EAL teacher, First Language and Ethnicity are the identities that I think most about. In the current economical climate, Socio-Economic identity are also closely considered when planning events and work.
What identities do you think about least often?
As I work with young children, sexual orientation and sex are the least considered by myself, although with resent news and laws passed across trans rights, these are becoming more widely discussed in Primary school. This can cause problems for those who work in the Catholic sector and work needs to be done to make sure that all pupils are represented and all families feel welcome in all our establishments.
What are your own identities that you would like to learn more about?
Coming from a working class background, I feel that my socio-economic indentity is the one I struggle with the most. I would have considered myself working class until I sat and reflected on this task, I chose lower-middle class as its hard to let go of the shared identify with my parents.
What are your own identities that have the strongest effect on how you perceive yourself?
Age and Religious/Spiritual Affliction have the strongest effect. With age, I have become more confident and happy within myself. As a Christian, I am guided by my faith to live a good life and treat others with kindness and respect.
What identities have the greatest effect on how others perceive you?
Within my role as an EAL teacher and International Development Officer, my Race, Ethnicity and sometimes, gender are the greatest effect on how I am perceived by colleagues and families. I hope I am an ally and use my white privilege to effect change wherever I can.
Which components of the personal identity wheel were hard to fill out?
As stated above. the socio-economic status gave me pause to think and it is uncomfortable to say I have moved from a working class background to a ‘better’ social class.
Why is it important to critically reflect on our identities?
Firstly, maintaining self-identity is important because it strengthens your character. That is, when we know who we are, have confidence in our self and are able to identify our strengths, we emerge as stronger individuals. Secondly, it keeps us unique and distinguishes us from everyone else.
What is the value in completing activities like this with your team?
As white educators, it is important that we spent time reflecting on our own identity to allow us to see were we have privilege or challenges within our society and how we can use our own place in society to support our families.
Anti Racism
‘Not seeing race does little to dismantle racist structures or improve the lives of people of colour. In order to do so, we must see race. We must see who benefits from their race, who is affected by negative stereotyping of theirs, and on whom power and privilege is bestowed – not just because of their race, but also their class and gender. Seeing race is essential to changing the system’.
Personal reflective questions
- What actions are you taking to ‘see race’?
I am working with SMT in supporting Pupil Voice to allow all to be seen and heard.
When planning work, I reflect on the purpose and resources used to ensure they are relevant and the pupils within my class can see themselves in the materials offered.
I call out unacceptable behaviour and tell the offender to stop. Try to stay low-key and try not to escalate the situation. Point out why the behaviour is offensive but make it factual – no adjectives, no attributing motives and no emotion. Provide reassurance to the victim.
- What anti-racist leadership actions are you taking?
I am part of Ed Scotland ‘Building Racial Literacy’ Cohort 3 and undertaking this course parallel with Middle Leadership Leading Change. The courses are completing each other and supporting me as an Anti-Racist teacher. To complete BRL course – an action plan will be submitted.
I also signpost my colleagues to good training and professional reading, as well as sharing my own journey to support my establishment to be Anti-Racist.
