Active Student Nettleton Definition: Exploring Concepts of Race, Ethnicity, and Education

This article delves into the complex and evolving landscape of race, ethnicity, and related terminology, while also examining innovative approaches to education, drawing inspiration from the Revolution School model. Understanding these concepts is crucial for fostering inclusivity and equity in educational settings and beyond.

Defining Key Terms

Navigating discussions about race and ethnicity requires a clear understanding of the terminology used. Many terms have specific meanings and implications, and their usage can be sensitive.

Aboriginal: Without capitalization, "aboriginal" refers to an Indigenous person from anywhere in the world, meaning "original inhabitant" in Latin.
African: Refers to people directly from the African continent, as well as the customs and languages of Africa.
African American: Relates to Americans who trace their ancestry back to the African continent or to enslaved Africans.
African American Vernacular English (AAVE): A dialect of American English spoken by many in the Black and African American community, also known as Ebonics.
African Caribbean: Caribbeans who trace their ancestry back to the African continent.
Anti-Racism: The active process of identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems, structures, policies, practices, and attitudes to redistribute power equitably.
Asian: Refers to the continent of Asia, people from Asia, or Asian customs and languages.
Asian American: Relates to Americans who trace their ancestry back to the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent.
BIPOC: Stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, acknowledging that people of color face varying types of discrimination and emphasizing the specific violence and cultural erasure experienced by Black and Indigenous people.
Black: Refers to populations with dark skin pigmentation who identify as Black, including those in the African Diaspora and within Africa.
Black Lives Matter: A global organization founded in 2013 with the mission to eradicate white supremacy and intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities.
Brown: A term often used in the United States for racial minorities who do not fit into typical racial classifications, often referring to people from South Asian regions.
Caucasian: Often used interchangeably with "white," a term that historically classified light-skinned people as a superior race.
Chicano/a: An identifier for people of Mexican descent born in the United States, popularized during the Chicano Movement of the 1960s.
Defunding the Police: Reallocating funding away from police departments towards other government agencies.
Ethnicity: A social construct dividing people into groups based on shared cultural heritage, including values, language, and history.
European: Refers to the continent of Europe, people from Europe, or European customs and languages.
Indigenous/Native: Refers to people historically linked to territories and natural resources in pre-colonial times who self-identify as and are accepted by their community as members of a Native group.
"Model" Minority: A cultural expectation placed on Asian Americans to be intelligent, wealthy, hard-working, and docile.
Multiethnic: Relating to societies, communities, or individuals who identify with multiple ethnic backgrounds.
Multiracial: Refers to people consisting of or involving many different races or individuals with a mixed racial identity.
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: Refers to persons having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands, sometimes referred to as NHOPI.
People of Global Majority (PGM): Refers to the fact that people of color represent over 80% of the world's population, challenging the term "minority."
Race: A social construct created to divide groups of people based on genetic characteristics, with related concepts of superiority and inferiority.
Second Language/Bilingual: A bilingual person speaks two languages; multilingual people speak more than two.
White: Refers to populations with light skin pigmentation, predominantly those of European descent.
White Centering: The centering of white people, values, norms, and feelings over those of people of color.
White Fragility: A state in which even minimal racial stress triggers defensive reactions in white individuals.
White Privilege: Unearned advantages and benefits bestowed on people solely because they are white.
Whiteness: The way white people, their customs, culture, and beliefs operate as the standard to which all other groups are compared.

Revolution School: An Innovative Educational Model

Revolution School in Philadelphia offers an intriguing example of an alternative educational approach. This private high school, though small, demonstrates the potential for innovation within education.

Key Features of Revolution School

Interdisciplinary Projects: Students engage in two interdisciplinary projects each semester, focusing on real-world issues such as transportation and neighborhood transitions.
Inquiry-Based Learning: The school emphasizes inquiry, with dedicated time blocks for project work.
Community Partnerships: Revolution actively partners with diverse organizations in Philadelphia, integrating the city into the learning experience.
Flexible Scheduling: The school offers flexible schedules to accommodate different student needs.
Alternative Assessment: Assessment focuses on growth and progress rather than traditional grades.
School of Thought: A blog and newsletter that extends the school's conversations and learning to a wider audience.

Lessons from Revolution School

While Revolution School operates in a unique setting, its principles can inspire educators in more traditional environments. Key takeaways include:

The Importance of Teamwork: Collaboration among teachers is essential for interdisciplinary and co-creative approaches.
Community Engagement: Connecting learning to the local community enhances relevance and impact.
Flexibility and Adaptability: Being open to new approaches and adapting to changing circumstances is crucial.

International Affairs and Diplomacy: A Global Perspective

Mount Union's international affairs and diplomacy program offers another avenue for students to engage with the world. This interdisciplinary major explores international relations through political, historical, and economic perspectives.

Program Highlights

Customized Curriculum: The program is tailored to individual career goals.
Real-World Experience: Students gain practical experience through internships and study abroad programs.
Student Organizations: Opportunities to participate in Model United Nations, Sigma Iota Rho, and other organizations.
Focus on Language: Students must demonstrate competence in a foreign language.

The Metaphase Spindle: A Biological Example of Force and Stability

While seemingly unrelated, the study of the metaphase spindle in cell division offers insights into how structures generate and respond to forces. Understanding the spindle's micromechanical properties can inform our understanding of complex systems in general.

Key Findings

Viscoelastic Properties: The spindle exhibits both viscous and elastic properties, with viscosity depending on microtubule crosslinking and density.
Orientation-Dependent Response: The spindle's deformation response depends on the direction of the applied force.
Role of Microtubules: Kinetochore and non-kinetochore microtubules contribute to spindle rigidity and organization.

Implications

The research on metaphase spindles demonstrates the importance of understanding the interplay between force, stability, and structure in dynamic systems.

Read also: Enrichment and Engagement

Read also: The Power of Active Learning

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