New book helps teachers, principals confront their own racism
When Sarah Fiarman and Tracey Benson met in 2014 as class instructors at the Graduate School of Education (GSE), they bonded over their common experience as former school principals and their shared desire to battle racism in schools. Fiarman, Ed.D. ’09, and Benson, Ed.L.D. ’16, co-wrote the book “Unconscious Bias in Schools: A Developmental Approach to Exploring Race and Racism,” drawing on their experiences as principals in Massachusetts public schools. They were scheduled to discuss their new work at the Ed School in late April, but the event was canceled due to the pandemic. The Gazette interviewed the authors via Zoom to talk about the project and the need for educators and school leaders to start conversations about race and address racism in schools. Q&A Sarah Fiarman and Tracey Benson GAZETTE: How widespread was racism in the schools you worked in as teachers or principals? BENSON: I saw it all the time. It happens...