There was a palpably lower level of energy flowing through the conference room as we wrapped up our second and final day of diversity training yesterday. Dialogue of this nature is difficult to sustain for too long, before it begins to feel tiresome for everyone.
Today I reflect upon the notion that there is a certain amount of risk you take in trying to summarize lessons learned on a sensitive topic like race. A summary by its very nature, sacrifices context for details, and race can't be discussed in a constructive manner unless the context is thoughtfully and deliberately conveyed. The tone of my previous entry that described my thoughts on "Day 1" were honest, but strident and coarse--perhaps too raw. I didn't think that was the case at the time, but they were. And so I have gone back and edited my wording, softening its tone considerably.
As a future school leader, I should remember that 1) passion can some times undermine you, and 2) if there may be a time when a colleague regrets something he said to me or the manner in which he said it, I should honor his sincerity.
It’s important for organizations to offer some type of diversity training to help their employees deal with potentially difficult situations. Diversity training can help employees avoid harassing and disrespectful behaviors, creating a healthy environment for everyone, with no costly lawsuits.
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