Through conversations, LifeKit classes, and even handbook forms, Parker has made it evident that DEIB is a core value central to our education. With guidance from administrators, educators devote time to hosting conversations that force Upper Schoolers to reexamine biases through a lens of empathy. These dialogues are important (and needed) in order to secure a space where all students can show up as their authentic selves. But, even though Parker has pushed these discussions forward, it is completely valid to ask whether they have been effective .
It is not improbable that you have seen people messing around or even skipping student governments around these topics. Micro (and even macro) aggressions are still prevalent in group chats. When derogatory remarks are thrown around casually, bystanders don’t feel confident enough to call out the offender. These same comments are then labeled as jokes, even when they harm instead of heal. Even if students feel brave enough to speak out about these incidents in class-based settings, they may often avoid holding honest conversations between peers for fear of receiving backlash. A record-breaking number of expulsions is direct proof that despite Parker’s current attempts, hate is continuing to fester.
While adult-led DEIB initiatives are great for making people aware of ongoing issues, they have proven to be ineffective. Students can’t always fully empathize with teachers generations older than they are, and even if they are able to, it isn’t often that those conversations are being brought up in friend groups. Important conversations, even if directly calling out individuals, will never create changes in the community unless everyone begins to take responsibility for their actions. In order to make Parker into the safe, supportive space we all desire, we must ensure that changes aren’t being completely led by adults. There is responsibility on the student body to take a stand.
We should continue progressing ongoing initiatives like the DEIB seminar and talks about bullying led by school counselors, but we also need a new type of programming. As the student-led DEIB talk in Student Government suggested, students should take ownership of their actions: they should learn to hold their friends accountable and expect the same of others. It may not be easy to call someone else out for an insensitive comment or apologize for your own actions, but we need to do so in order to create an inclusive environment for all.
Even if adults don’t have full faith that students can be trusted in hosting dialogues, we have already begun to prove them wrong. Creating spaces to have tricky conversations isn’t easy, especially when it’s your peers who are the reason we’re having them. But we’ve proved to doubtful teachers who have sat in on conversations that it’s fully possible. We just need to address problems as we see them and force maturity on those who are yet to recognize the faults in their actions. We are the next generation of leaders. Let’s prove it.
