“I was tired of being quiet,” Christa Talbott, a Black teacher at Robert Mills Lusher school, New Orleans, said after the 2020 / 2021 school year. “I was tired of sitting back so that white people could feel comfortable.” After being harassed and isolated among her peers for her “activism” under the George Floyd climate, she decided to resign, following her mother’s advice: Go where you feel valued.
Unfortunately, the Lusher school´s history is not an isolated one. America has long had a teacher diversity problem: although it has been demonstrated that Black students perform better academically, and are more likely to stay in school, when they are exposed to teachers of their race or ethnicity, only 7% of teachers identify as Black… and this for the public school, including in Black neighborhoods. Black teachers today are, by nearly every metric, more successful at supporting the achievement and well-being of Black children. But they are absent from the system and the wall they faced while trying to integrate the system -in spite of all programs for recruiting them- is higher and higher. The problem is not entering, but remaining, without being bullied. The reality is that the vast majority of teachers in the US public school system remain white women, in part because many Black teachers leave just a few years into the job.
But the problem does not end there. Then comes the misdiagnosis by these mostly white teachers… Many Black teachers clash with their colleagues who substituted punishment for pedagogy, particularly when dealing with Black students, and they struggle against the low expectations of administrators with limited visions of Black potential. Then comes the ADHD label, either undiagnosed or overwhelmingly diagnosed, particularly, to Black boys. Studies show that implicit biases in professional white Americans are at about the same level as they were in the 1950s — and that they’re still affecting how clinicians diagnose and treat patients. Furthermore, findings have shown that Black children, including those with ADHD, are more likely than their white counterparts to be prescribed strong antipsychotics — even though the side effects can be severe and dangerous. We all know it: Black students with Black teachers experience less exclusionary discipline and fewer office visits. Frequent office visits and the subsequent school-discipline is what fuels the school-to-prison pipeline in the U.S., a disturbing and widespread trend perpetuating slavery conditions for the same community under the Constitution’s 13th amendment.
In recent months, cases of children as young as 12, 10 and even 6 years old were being arrested in handcuffs in police patrol cars for minor incidents (urinating in public, a drawing that upset a parent, or simply throwing an object in the trash) have not stopped appearing in the press. The trauma that these experiences may cause in the psychological development of the child cannot be accurately measured, but no apology or financial compensation will be able to rebalance what has been damaged, for sure.
Yet, as impactful as Black teachers have been and continue to be, their numbers began to decline significantly in the 1960s and 1970s. Black teachers and administrators often lost their positions as their schools were shuttered and their students transferred to majority white institutions. A generation of Black teachers were pushed out of the system at the moment when their expertise and experience were needed most, and even after decades of collective efforts, the percentage of Black teachers in public schools remains stubbornly low, hovering around 7% today.
As a result, MORE BLACK parents are opting to home school their children to protect them from systemic racism, according to education experts. Leading Black tutors say they have seen an increase in demand over the last 18 months, with many parents turning to online services because their children are at risk of exclusion. For many Black parents home schooling has been the only viable option because they believe the mainstream education system is broken and destroys Black children. Many Black moms are conceding to the reality: particularly Black boys don’t have the luxury of being average, they have to be excellent to have average opportunities.
This is not an exclusive U.S. trend among Black parents; according to BBC research, the number of children registering for home education in the UK rose by 75% in the first eight months of the current school year.
Despite the data - and even bad experiences suffered by their own children, there are still parents who doubt, and blindly believe in the current educational system. However, if we look back, we have a tradition of educating ourselves and we've forgotten that. Even during slavery times, Black people used to pool their resources to educate and empower themselves independently. Our ancestors learned to read and write whenever and wherever they could, often in secret and against the law. Also, after “integration” and after seeing the obstacles that the institutions put in the way of the integral development of our children, Martin Luther King Jr. himself expressed shortly before his death, that he had integrated Black Americans “into a burning house.” Without giving up, in 1969 the Black Panther Party started a free breakfast program for schoolchildren. Eventually it fed tens of thousands of hungry kids oranges, eggs and chocolate milk at 45 sites around the country. J. Edgar Hoover, the head of the FBI, reportedly got the Chicago police to try to sabotage the program, because he considered it to be such powerful positive messaging for the radical movement he was determined to destroy.
It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men [Frederick Douglas]
What can we do about it today to ensure our next generation are well prepared for any vicissitude that life may throw at us, professionally and academically wise? Welcome to the Web3 era.
The Metaverse can offer a more immersive and engaging learning experiences than regular online courses, which often rely on static or passive content, such as text, images, videos, or quizzes. The Metaverse can create realistic and interactive simulations that allow learners to explore, experiment, and collaborate in 3D environments that mimic real-world scenarios or create new ones. For example, learners can visit historical sites, practice medical procedures, or design their own games in the Metaverse.
Yes, if you are a teacher who wants to rest, have a quiet life and forget about the kids, yes, online courses can be a great escape... but if we are honest, teachers who think like this do not exercise education as a mission but as a way to pay their bills. If your concern is that children learn lifelong useful resources, you need tools that go further in the students’ engagement. This is what immersive learning seeks. You will not be absent from the course, but as they say, if a picture is worth a thousand words, a 360º image is worth a hundred thousand.
The Metaverse can also overcome systemic barriers and offer inclusivity for learners who face challenges or limitations in accessing quality education (no computer at home, no tablet,… we know those cases). The Metaverse can provide learners with more flexibility, accessibility, and affordability than traditional or online education. For example, learners can access the Metaverse from anywhere, anytime, and with any device (including cellphones), without the need for expensive equipment or infrastructure. Learners can also customize their avatars and environments to suit their preferences, needs, and abilities. For example, learners with disabilities can use the Metaverse to enhance their sensory or motor skills for people with visual or hearing impairment, or to communicate with others using sign language or subtitles.
Actually, AI-powered tools have the potential to make the Metaverse more accessible, inclusive, and empowering for all users. By providing tools for speech-to-text and text-to-speech translation, accommodating diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, assisting users with disabilities, and promoting social equity, AI is helping to create a Metaverse that truly reflects and embraces the diversity of human experience.
Okay, let's cut to the chase. How can we apply this Web3 technology specifically to counteract, for example, De Santis' campaign against Black American history, which has emboldened many teachers and parents to censor and shut down anything related to our culture? Let me give you just 4 use cases:
- Virtual Inclusive Learning Spaces: We could create a virtual classroom environment within the Metaverse where Black children could learn without the systemic barriers they face in traditional schools. This space could provide tailored educational experiences, focusing on personalized teaching methods, culturally relevant content, and accommodating the unique needs of students, especially those with ADHD. It could also serve as a platform for interactive discussions on race and history, promoting critical thinking and understanding.
- African American History and Cultural Preservation: We could also develop a virtual museum or gallery within the Metaverse dedicated to African American history and culture. This immersive space could provide a rich and engaging learning experience, showcasing important figures, events, and contributions that are often overlooked in mainstream education. Through interactive exhibits, storytelling, and virtual events, this space could help counteract the recent bans on teaching African American history by offering an alternative platform for education.
- Tokenomics Design: For the more adventurous and willing to invest more resources, a token system that rewards students for active participation and achievements in virtual learning environments could be created fostering engagement and motivation. And if we go up a level in the matter, we could design a token-based scholarship program within the Metaverse, offering financial assistance to students based on their academic performance and contributions.
- Community Establishment: Many parents would like to be a little more involved in their children's education, but work and day-to-day tasks prevent them from doing so. What if you created a Parent-Teacher Network, a virtual community where parents, teachers, and students can connect, where everyone had an immersive space at their disposal with the right resources to teach, collaborate and share life lessons? For communities of parents with homeschooling children, sharing a tutor is ideal.
EMPOWERING CHRISTA AND THE EDUCATION SECTOR
I don't know if Christa will ever read this article, but I would like to dedicate this section directly to her, as a tribute to her dedication to her mission and the efforts she has made during her time at Lusher School. Surely, she will not be a unique case, but it is the case that I resonated with the most in crafting this article.
Christa, losing a physical space doesn't mean the end of learning. Let us imagine your virtual Classroom for you to go beyond barriers:
- In your Virtual Global Classroom you could conduct immersive 3D classes in the Metaverse, allowing students worldwide -not only in New Orleans- to experience and interact with your educational and training programs.
- In the not-too-distant future, certificates will no longer be papers that require verification by the issuing institution each time a job application is submitted. Black students who have dropped out of the system could get recognition from your program in the form of valid and permanent Learning NFTs. Christa, you can mint educational materials and course completion certifications as NFTs, giving them unique value and recognition in the digital realm.
- If you are also determined to ensure Black children know their roots you could create Virtual Historical Tours, in collaboration with historians and artists, in the Metaverse dedicated to Black history and achievements. These interactive experiences not only educate but also will instill pride and counteract the narrative of systemic erasure.
- Do you have any student in mind that might need special attention? Create your Personalized Learning Paths: you could use AI and blockchain technology to create personalized learning paths for each student, addressing their unique strengths and weaknesses.
THE PATH FORWARD
Christa's unwavering commitment to the well-being and success of Black children is a testament to the transformative power of education. With the Metaverse and Web3, she has the potential to shape an inclusive, accurate, and empowering curriculum for these young minds, ensuring they become the leaders of tomorrow.
And you, reader? Do you dare to join the movement toward a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape? Remember, DO WHAT THEY THINK YOU CAN’T DO. TAKE PRIDE IN HOW FAR YOU HAVE COME. HAVE FAITH IN HOW FAR YOU CAN GO.
Photography: Midjourney AI ©JJBK studio 2023
JJBK STUDIO © All Right Reserved. 2023
