Fostering Inclusivity
By Gabrielle Douge
There is a need for inclusivity in schools all around the world. The average American student attends school nine months out of the year, every year, until they are approximately 18 years old. If students are going to school for almost 14 years, shouldn’t they feel safe in schools? We need to make school a safe space for everyone.
Students nationwide have been bullied and have witnessed bullying throughout their school years. According to admissionsly.com, around 20% of students have been bullied. Roughly 70% of students and teachers have witnessed bullying. Students are bullied for several reasons, ranging from weight and height, to race, culture, sexuality, and many other things. If schools were a more inclusive space, there would be less bullying. With less bullying, school would be more enjoyable and a safe space for students.
One big way to foster inclusivity in schools is with diversity. There is always strength in numbers. When students can go to school and see others that look like them, it creates a comforting space. It is reassuring to know that there are other students that have similar backgrounds and shared experiences. If a student is going through a difficult situation, having others they can relate to can bring students together. Another benefit to having diversity among students is representation and change. Diversity indicates a wide variety of people from different backgrounds are present. On the other hand, people often have to work towards inclusivity. Inclusivity comes from people coming together to fight for a change, a voice, and an impact on their community. The more diversity in a community, the more likely it is to see the people of that community strive for inclusion.
Another good way to foster inclusivity is with clubs, and groups. Having clubs and groups allows students to meet and interact with others. Students typically join clubs and groups based on their interests. Interest-based organizations will help students realize that there are others with similar passions. If they know that there are others like them, they will feel more comfortable being at school daily.
It is important to have a diverse staff, as well as a diverse student body. The students look up to the staff and administrators in a school as role models. Comparable to how it is comforting to see students similar to themselves, it is good for the students to see themselves in their teachers. It is helpful to have an adult in the school that students can trust because they know that they can relate to them. Having this person can make school a better place. It also makes school a little easier, knowing that issues do not have to be tackled alone.
My middle school had a very diverse staff. I had teachers from many different cultures, religions, ethnicities, and races. This allowed me to see into many different ways of life. Many of the teachers would share information or background on special times or holidays in their different cultures. My teachers were able to educate us about subjects that I never would have known. These administrators were also able to help us with planning and organization when we wanted to educate other students on our own cultures.
In sixth grade, my friends and I, with the help of a teacher, started a step club. Step is not designated for African- American girls only, but they are typically the main participants. Step is often performed by HBCU Sororities. Due to this, most of the people who joined the club were African- American girls. This gave us an opportunity to meet each other, and become friends. We were able to spend time with people who looked like us, but we were also able to bond over the fact that we all had a shared passion for dance. There was also one boy that joined our step club. We all knew that he was just as passionate about dance as we were. As a group, we tried our best to make him feel as welcome as possible and include him in our group. We had Step club together for two years, and the majority of us are still in contact today.
Nationwide, we need to push for diversity and inclusivity in schools. Students should come to school feeling welcome and safe. They should never go to school wondering if they will be bullied, or face discrimination. We need to make sure that there is inclusivity for all groups, no matter the race, gender, sexuality, or social identity. All students should feel included at school.