[Xmca-l] Re: "learning loss"

[Diana Arya]

Dear Shirin and all,

Thanks so much for sharing this article!  Yes, there are many of us who
find it problematic when we read that students have "lost" an "average X
months of learning" . . . the econometric machine is hard at work, and some
of us are starting to see an additional underlying agenda that supports the
marketing of new curricula and hence profit. And meanwhile, the
longstanding need for real transformation in education is left unaddressed.

I particularly liked the following:

"Deficit thinking also defines the ways of speaking and knowing
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://blogs.umass.edu/jdrosa/files/2015/01/Avineri-et-al.-2015-Bridging-the-language-gap.pdf__;!!Mih3wA!TSmCyas87McxqNpyYt8qhxlgVa0VjT0sXfTsk_mTEF6OgQeJLVGEsQItwlrQCPaet78B8Q$ >
 of youth of color as problems rather than cultural-historical practices
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.3102/0013189X032005019?casa_token=ZDcGRDAYyGIAAAAA:jN6rz4ui3sURlBdpgIRun06M00e7ENMGeM9buR3hEa9tHtdRu4kwQX8-JEWLqxDUx8SqNf45Pa4fGA__;!!Mih3wA!TSmCyas87McxqNpyYt8qhxlgVa0VjT0sXfTsk_mTEF6OgQeJLVGEsQItwlrQCPYYbo4TtA$ >
 essential for ongoing, deep learning
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2006-07157-029__;!!Mih3wA!TSmCyas87McxqNpyYt8qhxlgVa0VjT0sXfTsk_mTEF6OgQeJLVGEsQItwlrQCPY4LqbZXA$ >. In fact, basing education
on one way of speaking and knowing undermines critical thinking and
individual and collective well-being
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/multiple-ways-knowing-beth-warren-shirin-vossoughi-ann-rosebery-megan-bang-edd-taylor/e/10.4324/9780203774977-19__;!!Mih3wA!TSmCyas87McxqNpyYt8qhxlgVa0VjT0sXfTsk_mTEF6OgQeJLVGEsQItwlrQCPZuSj98Cg$ >
."

And on this MLK holiday, I will reflect on the authors' final questions:

"As we witness what pandemic-era schooling has further illuminated, what
lessons will we head? Will we embrace the complexity and diversity of young
people’s brilliance and promise? What are we invested in and what do we
need to let go of to create the future we desire?"

IMHO, there is no way to avoid issues of racism and other sources of bias
in CHAT topics. I acknowledge those in this community who may view such
sociocultural and sociohistorical matters to be separable (or perhaps
avoidable), but for many of us who grew up in the U.S. and went to U.S.
public schools, it is impossible to separate racism and other forms of
discrimination from activities in the context of learning, which is
culturally and historically laden and, hence, has documented roots in
racist/discriminatory policies and practices.

Maxine & Shirin:  You do an amazing job on outlining the enormous task
before us as educators and researchers. Thank you for your efforts in
bringing the truth forward.


Best,
D

On Mon, Jan 18, 2021 at 9:15 AM Shirin Vossoughi <shirinvossoughi@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Dear all,
>
> Sharing an op-ed co-authored with Maxine McKinney de Royston that draws on
> cultural historical ideas to challenge the increasing narrative around
> "learning loss" and other deficit ideologies, and to center families of
> color as educational partners and leaders:
>
>
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://truthout.org/articles/fixating-on-pandemic-learning-loss-undermines-the-need-to-transform-education/__;!!Mih3wA!TSmCyas87McxqNpyYt8qhxlgVa0VjT0sXfTsk_mTEF6OgQeJLVGEsQItwlrQCPYC18A92w$ 
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://truthout.org/articles/fixating-on-pandemic-learning-loss-undermines-the-need-to-transform-education/__;!!Mih3wA!V_zce6_iKqDaSj7UBvVR2qFpfRrDGZ4J1l2cSf8ts02DFRY9qwcdVYG42K3tfecDn5vPGQ$>
>
> ~Shirin
>
>
>

-- 
*Nothing can be changed until it is faced. *(James Baldwin)

Diana J. Arya, PhD
she/her/hers/they/them/theirs
Associate Professor and Graduate Diversity Officer, Education
Faculty Director, McEnroe Reading and Language Arts Clinic
Gevirtz Graduate School of Education
University of California, Santa Barbara
https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.cbleducation.org__;!!Mih3wA!TSmCyas87McxqNpyYt8qhxlgVa0VjT0sXfTsk_mTEF6OgQeJLVGEsQItwlrQCPbO-ZJSfg$ 
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