Michigan’s public schools spent 21 days training adults how to be “equity” allies. The culmination was a call to them to participate in a Black Lives Matter protest. Farmington Public Schools, Michigan, has launched a 21-day Equity Challenge for interested parties. It aims to teach individuals how to better understand and celebrate their differences.
The school district stated that “Farmington Public Schools will engage every student to become a thoughtful, contributing citizen of a changing world. They hope to increase our knowledge about our community, as well as to use that knowledge to combat bigotry, hate, and discrimination against any person or group.
The calendar provided a “personal action planning sheet” that students could use to keep track of their progress in the challenge. The sheet offers suggestions such as “donate for causes that support Black LGBTQ+ communities,” “join Black Lives Matter or affiliated protests” and “donate bail efforts supporting those arrested for protesting injustice.”
The calendar’s previous days were progressive in many ways, including providing white privilege checklists and lessons on the gender spectrum. Day 18 of “equity Challenge” contains a link to a list of “microaggressions” you should avoid. For example, calling America “the land where opportunity”
The calendar was first flagged by the conservative Young America Foundation. Students were not allowed to access it and the district did not require students to participate. These activities are completely optional and you can participate in as many or few as you wish. If you need more time, the challenges will be available through December.