The November meeting of the Equity Lab centered on fostering culturally responsive teaching by continuously updating curriculum and pedagogy. Participants discussed the dangers of allowing educational content to become static and emphasized the importance of evolving practices to meet students’ changing needs.
The group continued its book club discussion on Punished for Dreaming, focusing on Chapter 8, “White Philanthropy.” Members explored how philanthropic efforts, particularly by influential figures and organizations have shaped public education. The conversation highlighted instances where philanthropy appeared motivated by profit or control rather than genuine systemic reform. The Gates Millennium Scholars Program was noted as a rare example of effective philanthropy aimed at removing systemic barriers for marginalized students.
Participants shared valuable resources, including a restorative justice circle focusing on Indigenous perspectives and NYCDOE’s full PreK-12 Black Studies curriculum. They also announced the upcoming Black Lives Matter Curriculum Share event on January 11, offering a chance for educators to exchange social justice-oriented lesson plans. Additional teaching resources, such as Native Knowledge 360 for Indigenous history and recent equity-focused STEM research, were recommended.
The next Equity Lab meeting is scheduled for January 13, where Chapters 9 and 10 of Punished for Dreaming will be discussed. Educators interested in participating can find details on the STEMteachersNYC website and are invited to sign up for any of its free monthly working groups.
Note: summaries are written with aid of AI text software