What Are DEI Programs in Schools and Why Do They Matter?

As you get older, you will hopefully begin to notice just how much bigger than the world seems to get. With each new experience, both the good and the bad ones, your worldview is meant to expand and your outlook on the world around you can and should broaden. This is how growth happens, and it's how we get better as people. One way in which our world can grow is by the people we meet, and the backgrounds they bring into our foreground. There is a term out there for this, and it is one which you may have heard of. For those who have not, this is called DEI, otherwise known as Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion. But what exactly is it, and how does it affect your education today?

Here at NSHSS, we believe that students should be made aware of the sociopolitical landscape, and how it can impact their lives and education. So today, we are going to look at the history and evolution of the term DEI, and more specifically its place in schools. We hope that with this brief article, we can help you better understand how DEI programs contribute to education in more ways than you can ever imagine.

The Origins and Evolution of DEI

To better understand the impact of this otherwise simple acronym, we must quickly look at its origins. DEI is a term which, according to PBS, dates back to the late 1800s and the Reconstruction Era following the American Civil War. After black men and women were freed from centuries of slavery, the federal and other local governments were faced with how to respond to the rights being demanded by minorities across the country. As decades of reform continued to sweep across the nation, the term became more common with civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr, who encouraged progress in the hearts and minds of millions of black Americans, as well as with feminist groups pushing for more equal pay amongst genders. 

Today, the term includes the LGBTQIA+ community, as well men and women who identify as being on the spectrum. Without these programs today, most schools would have no money to fund special education programs. Recently, the term has become something of a political “lightning rod” in elections and debates. This is a threat to more than you realize, and it's important we break down why its elimination could hurt your education. So, let’s look at how it currently affects you. 

How DEI Impacts Students and Schools

DEI programs were implemented into schools as a way for educators to show students how we can all work together, despite different backgrounds and ways of thinking. At its most basic function, DEI programs allow for healthy debates around race, gender identity, income-inequality, and other forms of discrimination. These programs open students’ eyes to different cultures, and they allow students to have a voice in their education where before they were made to feel silenced. 

Practical DEI Practices That Make a Difference

To better understand the more practical explanation of DEI, we have laid out a small list of the programs and practices which can be utilized in your school. These programs have been proven to work time and again, and they are important ideas to consider when looking to improve your DEI awareness.

•  Encourage inclusive communities in your school

•  Debate Pay Equality and other institutional forms of discrimination

• Establish a diverse DEI committee in the classroom 

• Learn the importance of “Unconscious Bias” (how we judge people without realizing we’re even doing it)

• Bring in business leaders and other mentors with different cultural and societal backgrounds to speak to your students about the world outside their classrooms. 

• Host a multi-cultural show-and-tell, where students are encouraged to bring in items from their home which represent who they are and where they come from, speaking to their identity and/or heritage. 

• Avoid singling out fellow students just because they appear to be “diverse.” Instead, find organic ways to highlight those diversities in a more fun and enriching way. 

These activities help students better understand themselves and others, building a stronger school community.

What If Your School Doesn’t Offer DEI Programs?

Now not all of these practices will be available in your school. And it might be hard to implement these on your own. The most important thing is that you try and broaden your horizon by seeking out DEI programs as you move further in your education. College campuses and universities are likely to have an even-great tapestry of DEI programs to get involved in. The more you learn about and get involved in these programs, the deeper your perspective will grow.

Continue Exploring DEI with NSHSS

If you are still curious about DEI and its many programs, check out our other blogs on this topic. At NSHSS, we value each and every student's backgrounds, and we want to promote equality above all else. Please feel free to check out our other resources for further information. And don’t forget to be honored and be more. When you do, you will see your world grow exponentially.