Equity Sticks

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

What's In a Name?

Many elementary school teachers have a jar or cup of popsicle sticks, with one student's name written on each stick. This enables you to eliminate all bias in calling on kids, or just not have to think as much. Instead of calling on the kid who always has her hand up or who sits in the front, you pick the name and there you go. It's a common practice and I thought nothing of it when I started at this new school.

Then one of the teachers asked me if I had "equity sticks" in my classroom. Equity sticks? Really? I didn't know what she meant at first but it soon became obvious. Actually, they're just popsicle sticks. Maybe name sticks. Craft sticks. Wooden sticks.

I can't say equity sticks without sounding ridiculous. Actually, I don't think anyone can call popsicle sticks "equity sticks" without sounding ridiculously pompous.

One year ago: What's in a Name?

Four years ago: Payday?

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A Loss

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A New Prison, Part Two

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A New Prison, Part 1

My former student, friend, and co-author was moved to a new prison during COVID. We (myself, Mitali, and his Abuela) have visited a couple of times via the video visit functionality they set up, but we've also been trying to visit in person, ever since in-person visits were allowed again. After four of them being canceled (sometimes we were told why, sometimes not), we finally got a visit. I was super nervous about this visit. (I felt better when Mitali mentioned that she was also, because she is an inherently positive and optimistic person!) I am not proud of this, but there was a large part of me that was hoping that the visit would be canceled, just like the previous four were. I felt a little better when someone I know messaged me privately to tell me that they had had very good experiences visiting a family member in that prison. But I still didn't sleep well at all that night, worrying about the guards, the many things that could go wrong, and the projected 111-degree hea

Bronwyn Harris, Author

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