Richmond Teachers for Social Justice
hosts a community conversation
Viewing Changing Populations
and Changing Schools
through a Social Justice Lens
Monday, October 19th
5:00pm to 7:00pm
Byrd Middle School
9400 Quioccasin Rd
When you come to Byrd, park in the big lot
Enter through the side door, not the main entrance
Framing the Discussion
Across the country, many communities are experiencing rapid demographic shifts. These shifts – due to regional, national and international political and economic forces – generally involve the movement of the most disenfranchised communities. For example, in the Richmond metropolitan area, gentrification has driven many families with less socio-economic power out of urban centers and into inner-ring suburbs. At the same time political unrest and lack of economic opportunities across the world have caused new waves of immigration to the area. An examination of the demographic trends in the region reveals that the movement of these communities (i.e., urban poor, new immigrants) leads them to the very same neighborhoods and schools. Both the socio-economic composition and the language and cultural diversity within our schools are changing quickly.
The purpose of this conversation is to provide educators and those interested in education (students, parents, community members) an opportunity to reflect on how schools and the school systems within the Richmond Region are responding to these demographic changes and to consider the social justice implications of current school policies and practices.
Questions for Discussion
1. What are the experiences of the teachers, parents, and students in the schools with the most dramatic demographic changes?
2. How are schools and school systems responding to demographic changes at a policy level?
3. What are the social justice implications of the schools’ responses to these changes?
4. What strategies can educators use to address these changes in ways that promote equity and access?