If You’re Still Teaching Today, This Might Be A Good Video For Students To Watch: ‘If you want an end to riots, then learn to listen’

 

 

If you are still teaching, I think this new video from Reese Waters, a commentator at the CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C., might be good to show as part of a discussion of what’s happening in Minneapolis.

There are a lot of good ideas at New & Revised: A Collection Of Advice On Talking To Students About Race & Racism about how to frame a lesson and discussion.  I particularly like Preparing to Discuss Race and Police Violence in the Classroom  from The District of Columbia Public Schools.

However, please do not initiate a lesson or conversation with students about this topic without careful planning, as well as thinking through your own feelings, first.  Not doing so could be damaging, if not traumatic, for some of your students. See Affirming Black Lives Without Inducing Trauma from Teaching Tolerance (Thanks to Ashley McCall for reminding me of this danger).

ADDENDUM:

George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in Minnesota on May 25, after being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by a white police officer’s knee. In this lesson, students learn about Mr. Floyd’s death and the aftermath … #sschat https://t.co/oi3brIhjk6

— NYT Learning Network (@NYTimesLearning) May 29, 2020