BFTP: Diversity growth in Minnesota

Early in my speaking/consulting days, say mid-90s, I was accused of giving a racist presentation. Now while I have never claimed to be a particularly culturally proficient individual, I never considered myself to be racist. Ignorant, lacking in experience, and insensitive perhaps - but not racist. So I was taken aback.

"What did I say?" I asked the librarian who had confronted me.

"It's not what you said, it's what was on your slides. You only had photographs of white children throughout the presentation!" 

And on review, I had to admit I was guilty as charged.

I always illustrated my slides with photos of students from my own district's classes and libraries. I would run them through a photo filter to make the students unrecognizable and make me look artistically talented. Seeing actual HPLUKs added cred - that I was walking the talk. I had also read that in showing pictures of happy children, you were more likely to be liked as well since subconsciously the listeners would credit you with their happiness. 

Anyway, the comment was a wake up call to be more inclusive in my subjects. While the other-than-white population was then a small percentage of my rural Minnesota community, it was present and I gladly snapped photos of a wider range of ethnicities for my talks. 

I was reflecting on this experience after reading the following story: The number of majority-minority school districts in Minnesota has doubled in the last five years, Minnpost 7/23/18. The district in which I was then employed had a "majority-minority." Administration led a very purposeful cultural proficiency initiative to raise awareness and understanding what a large minority population means in a district comprised primarily of white teachers and administrators. 

As are most changes, this increase in minority students has made some people unhappy. Some families open enroll their students in districts with a larger white student population. (Personally, I see this as doing a disservice to their kids since they will be living and working in an increasingly diverse society and should experience this diversity as learners.) Teachers have had to change their mindset from having students adapt to traditional teaching practices to having to adapt teaching practices to better meet the needs of today's students. And for those of us in technology, we have now made equity and access for all students a primary factor in planning and budgeting.

Personally, I like living in a diverse community, a diverse state, a diverse country. I like walking through the halls of our schools seeing lots of skin colors and hair styles and clothing fashions, especially when the common denominator among all the kids is their smiles.  

Original post 7/26/18

BFTP: I graduated in the upper 90% of my class!

The poster above resonated with me. I volunteered my last year of my "real job" to serve as a supervisor for our large high school's graduation ceremony. About 700 students and their families gathered that night to celebrate this major milestone.

Our district, like our society, is stew of races, religions, ethnicities, and income levels. Our kids run the gamut from world-class athletes and scholars to severely physically and intellectually challenged individuals. Some families came to the event last evening wearing suits, ties, dresses, and gorgeous hijabs; others in t-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops.

But all came to honor the work and perseverance of a young person about whom they care.

Institutionally, we call out the strivers - the honor students, the student council members, the valedictorians. They get special sashes and tassels and fonts in the program. They give speeches and sing songs. Good on them. Well-deserved.

But as the poster above states, I hope we recognize the achievements of all our kids. Graduation for the "C" student who is homeless may have required ten times the effort of the "A" student who could rely on a hot meal, warm bed, and caring adults every day. Perhaps we need an "overcoming adversity" award as well. How about an award for helping a buddy through school? A kindness certificate? A perseverance tassel?

And then there are the many who happily made it through high school without just causing too many waves. I was one of those, graduating somewhere in the middle of my class. (But I always remind my grandsons that graduated in the upper 90%!) I got some recognition in college and professionally later in life, but in high school, I just made it through. Luckily, that was enough for my supportive family.

So congratulate ever kid you know who finished high school (or just the school year). Even if we aren't all world beaters, we still deserve a pat on the back.

Oh, I've been the guest speaker at two graduations. Here are the texts of those talks:

Graduation speech - 1994 

Everything I know in 15 minutes

Original post 6/9/18 

What would you do to extend your life?

The clip above appeared in this morning’s newspaper. Not exactly something you want to read while chomping on peanut butter toast and drinking coffee. Chicken brains? How many chickens does it take to even make a single serving? 

The older I become, the more intriguing the reasons people give for their longevity become as well. Quite a variety of dietary habits are given by centenarians themselves - ranging from abstinence to heavy drinking; from veganism to steaks-every-night; from low-fat, low-carb, low-salt, low-taste to lots and lots of ice cream.

I try to be somewhat careful about what I eat. But I don’t do so in order to extend my life, but to be able to enjoy the life I have. I’ve been hiking in preparation for a Boy Scout trip to Philmont this summer with my grandson. I’m now up to carrying a 25 pound pack on the 4-5 mile practice hikes I do every other day. I’ll bump that pack weight up to 30 pounds in June. Still less than what I will be expected to carry on the hike itself.

I often think about how difficult it would be to carry the equivalent of a 25 pound pack around one’s belly everyday, all the time. I’ve been lucky enough to have never had to worry a lot about my weight. Like many Americans, I would be happy to lose probably 10% of my chubbiness, but I’ve stayed pretty much the same size in my trousers since I was 45 or so. That said, I do increasingly appreciate stretch waistbands. Like “white privilege,” I have been the beneficiary of “weight privilege” as well, and recognize most people have about as much control over their weight as they do over their height.

My diet is not about extending my years, but improving the quality of the years I have. A life without hiking, bicycling, or driving may be fulfilling for some, but I cannot imagine it. And will do what it takes to make sure I can do the things I love to do for as long as possible.

Well, maybe except for eating chicken brains.