Living in a racially diverse state - Hawaii - I am puzzled and angered that Trump and his administration are eliminating policies and deleting words from federal websites and documents because they have identified words that are “woke.” (See article about the words that are disappearing in the new administration here.) Advocacy? At risk? Barriers? Belong? Bias? Black? Breastfeed? Clean energy? Climate crisis? Community diversity? Cultural heritage? Disabilities? These are just a fraction of the list of hundreds of words that are flagged by the present administration in federal websites and communications. As a retired educator, I am concerned and outraged. Since the end of January, the federal government is taking our country backwards with its actions to eliminate DEI including in the Department of Education. (Press Release)
It's also happening throughout the federal government. For example, last week, we learned that the U.S. Army had wiped the 100th/442nd combat units off its website due to DEI. (See article here.) These and other similar actions of the Trump Administration are attempting to rewrite history by claiming DEI. Many of us were outraged; the 100th/442nd units were among the most decorated units during World War II, made up primarily of Japanese-American citizens who volunteered to fight for our country. The bravery of these soldiers was especially significant because at the same time, their fellow Japanese - 150,000 of them, many of them US citizens - were taken from their homes and livelihoods and sent to internment camps. After the flurry of activity from ordinary citizens like us, the U. S. Army restored the 100th Battalion/442nd Infantry website. Thank you to all those who shared their outrage in the media, on social media platforms, and with calls or emails to their Congressional delegation. But the fight is not over. Blacks and women are being scrubbed on the Arlington website. Navajo code talkers were taken off military websites after Trump’s Executive Order. Who is next?
In January, the Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan was fired. (See article here.) She was the first female in uniform to lead a military branch and the reasons for her dismissal were questionable. Most likely, Trump viewed Ms. Fagan’s hire as part of “woke” culture; clearly in his mind and the minds of his supporters, a female military leader is inferior to a male military leader. It is likely that they believe that females in the military are not equal to males. They believe that “a woke military is a weak military.” In this day and age, that kind of thinking is appalling. Since 2013, women have been allowed to serve in combat duty alongside male soldiers, and some have died and others have been severely injured. Senator Tammy Duckworth was serving as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot when it was hit by rocket-propelled grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents. She lost both of her legs and partial mobility in her right arm. She, like Linda Fagan, are examples of strong military women. We need a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive military, and that includes women in combat and women in leadership positions.
As an educator, I am concerned for our schools, our school staff, and our students. The U.S. Department of Education posted this memo about taking action to eliminate DEI. I have no idea what they mean by “divisive ideology in our schools” or “the Department works to end discrimination based on race and the use of harmful race stereotypes, both within the agency and throughout America’s educational system.” The fact is, our schools are diverse, equitable, and inclusive. DEI recognizes and values differences in people, ensures fair treatment and equal opportunities, and fosters an environment where everyone is treated fairly and can participate fully. The purpose of public education in our country ensures that every student, no matter their needs or their challenges, has the opportunity to succeed to become contributing and productive members of society. That is not “woke” as the present administration claims.
I read an article about Sarah Inama, a middle school teacher in Idaho who was told to remove welcome signs in her classroom that were considered "controversial," and I thought to myself, "What the heck?" Clearly this teacher cares about her students and wants them to feel welcome in her classroom. Teachers spend time (and money) to make their classrooms welcoming for their students, especially those who may be marginalized. As a teacher of middle school-aged students, diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) are very important in Sarah's classroom. The message is not just for Sarah and her students, however. It's for ALL students and their classmates in every classroom. It’s for ALL of us who are citizens of this country. What is it about DEI that scares the Trump administration? I applaud Sarah for standing her ground. Every classroom should be sharing a message of inclusivity and diversity.
This is one of the posters that Sarah Inama was asked to remove from her classroom.
Educators and students across the country are getting involved and are protesting the Trump Administration’s elimination of DEI policies for being “woke." They are also protesting the massive cuts to the Department of Education which will impact schools throughout the country and in Department of Defense schools. These cuts will have a huge impact on schools, districts, and states which rely on these funds to support ALL students including those who require special education services, who rely on Title I funds for disadvantaged students, or who are English Language Learners. These funds ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in our schools. As Randi Weingarten shares in this op-ed, "We are at a crossroads: Fear and division, or hope and opportunity. A great nation does not fear people being educated. A great nation does not fear pluralism. A great nation chooses freedom, democracy, equality and opportunity. All of that starts in our public schools."
Let's fight for the rights of every student to feel welcome at school and in their classrooms so they can achieve to their fullest potential.
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