GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — Community leaders in Ottawa County got together Monday night for a virtual town hall, titled “Race and Racism: Education Systems.”
The underlying theme was focused on removing harmful stereotypes in the American education system. The event featured two speakers, the founder and director of the Social Centric Institute, Calvin Terrell, and curriculum consultant with the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, Rebecca Bush.
Terrell explained the difference between education and what he called schooling. “Education draws out the inherent gifts and talent of all peoples, then helps those people to use those talents for the betterment of the world,” explaining that “schooling” is teaching stereotypes against minorities throughout the history of our country.
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The town hall, attended by nearly 150 people, ended with a question and answer session, with many wondering how a parent can tell if their child’s school is truly educating. Rebecca Bush explained, “Ask their children what they’re learning, ask them what they’re talking about and how they’re talking about things.”
There is a second town hall discussion set for late January. For more information, go to momentumcentergh.org.
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