Unless we re-conceptualize education and recognize that we have populations and sub-populations that are delayed within the twentieth century…we will continue to struggle.
Unless we acknowledge that any education system is designed to support the requirements of the culture – as described by the dominant group…we will continue to struggle.
Unless we come to grips with the fact that education has shifted from a process of learning to a process of readying for employment…we will continue to struggle.
Unless we allow some level of privatization of our education (K-12) system allowing for greater challenge to our current poor-accountability system…we will continue to struggle.
Until we acknowledge that a two-day training seminar on an emotionally pregnant issue such as race does absolutely nothing to shift anybody’s level of readiness…we will continue to struggle.
Until we realize that higher education is a business and all the rhetoric of multiculturalism, and diversity, and inclusive excellence does nothing until you show me how the shift is going to benefit my company financially…we will continue to struggle.
Until we quit recycling the same song and dance and the same singers and dancers…we will continue to struggle.
Until we make a concerted effort to search for competence (if we know how to define and recognize it) rather than comfort (to make us feel safe)…we will continue to struggle.
Until we truly acknowledge that we are struggling and quit the stories of whose fault it is, and realize that we are nearing the water mark…we will continue to struggle.
Finally ~ the chat and the rhetoric are all good; the meetings and the seminars are all good; the marching and the placards are all good – but every time we exit the room there is a strong scent of urine that nobody wants to clean-up. That’s okay. We seem to have lived with it a long time. We could put some Febreeze on it, or just ignore it, or hide it with a flower pot. We seem to be pretty comfortable as…we continue to struggle.
Diversity Contact 