I've always been in favor of small "d" diversity. It means both non-discrimination and having a goal to bring in people from a broad variety of backgrounds and creeds, not just the same old white middle class educated types. This was an important step for our society. But the "D" in DEI seems to be more about superficially plucking from …
I've always been in favor of small "d" diversity. It means both non-discrimination and having a goal to bring in people from a broad variety of backgrounds and creeds, not just the same old white middle class educated types. This was an important step for our society. But the "D" in DEI seems to be more about superficially plucking from non-white racial groups, LGBT, and disabled in a surface way who may all belong to the same progressive world view while completely ignoring a diversity of viewpoints.
I am for equality of opportunity, not equity. While I think affirmative action at the college or career level is way too late to make a difference, I can see having it applied in early childhood and elementary school. To achieve equality we need a revolution in early childhood and elementary education to ensure that kids from all races and socioeconomic backgrounds have access to high quality schools and teachers, and that those children whose parents are unable to keep them on track with homework and tests get extra tutoring or time after school to do their work and use school computers and facilities.
As others have pointed out, in practice the "I" in DEI often means "excluding or censoring the right people" in order to be more "inclusive." "Inclusion" is a deceptively innocent sounding term. Who wouldn't want to include everyone? But once again it is used in a way that is the opposite of how it sounds.
"I am for equality of opportunity, not equity. While I think affirmative action at the college or career level is way too late to make a difference, I can see having it applied in early childhood and elementary school."
Yep, I absolutely agree. This sone of the main reasons I full agree with the decision to strike down affirmative action in college admissions. If anything, I think this makes matters worse for minorities. I don't think constantly monitoring the proportions of black/white/asian people in various fields is the anti-racist utopia we all want. But as you say, there are ways to at least improve equal access to opportunity.
I saw a great video a while ago on the topic of education inequality (https://youtu.be/hNDgcjVGHIw?si=ENL33PJ4Y1LTiLlT&t=559). I'm going to write something on this topic soon. So many of the levers to pull here are incredibly obvious. It's just that wealthy people who have the system rigged in their favour don't want anybody pulling them.
I've always been in favor of small "d" diversity. It means both non-discrimination and having a goal to bring in people from a broad variety of backgrounds and creeds, not just the same old white middle class educated types. This was an important step for our society. But the "D" in DEI seems to be more about superficially plucking from non-white racial groups, LGBT, and disabled in a surface way who may all belong to the same progressive world view while completely ignoring a diversity of viewpoints.
I am for equality of opportunity, not equity. While I think affirmative action at the college or career level is way too late to make a difference, I can see having it applied in early childhood and elementary school. To achieve equality we need a revolution in early childhood and elementary education to ensure that kids from all races and socioeconomic backgrounds have access to high quality schools and teachers, and that those children whose parents are unable to keep them on track with homework and tests get extra tutoring or time after school to do their work and use school computers and facilities.
As others have pointed out, in practice the "I" in DEI often means "excluding or censoring the right people" in order to be more "inclusive." "Inclusion" is a deceptively innocent sounding term. Who wouldn't want to include everyone? But once again it is used in a way that is the opposite of how it sounds.
"I am for equality of opportunity, not equity. While I think affirmative action at the college or career level is way too late to make a difference, I can see having it applied in early childhood and elementary school."
Yep, I absolutely agree. This sone of the main reasons I full agree with the decision to strike down affirmative action in college admissions. If anything, I think this makes matters worse for minorities. I don't think constantly monitoring the proportions of black/white/asian people in various fields is the anti-racist utopia we all want. But as you say, there are ways to at least improve equal access to opportunity.
I saw a great video a while ago on the topic of education inequality (https://youtu.be/hNDgcjVGHIw?si=ENL33PJ4Y1LTiLlT&t=559). I'm going to write something on this topic soon. So many of the levers to pull here are incredibly obvious. It's just that wealthy people who have the system rigged in their favour don't want anybody pulling them.
Yes! I had watched that video. Really good and really obvious. John McWhorter also says some great things about how to make education more equal.