CARE Principles
What are CARE’s Principles?
Like so many before us, we look to a future where the promise of equality is upheld for everyone. We understand that keeping the promise means working together to overturn the long legacy of racism that has limited opportunity for many. We recognize we’re not yet there, and we believe, along with Nelson Mandela, “That education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” What and how children learn – in the curriculum and in how they are taught – can lead to that more equal and just future.
Affirm the dignity and humanity of all people.
Antiracist educators put people, particularly students, at the center of instruction. The curriculum champions the diverse and complex human experience. Antiracist schools recognize the value and possibility in all students and ensure that no one feels unsafe, invisible, or unhears.
Embrace Historical Truths.
Antiracist educators reject incomplete narratives that hide more than they reveal and they are adept at confronting hard histories in the classroom. The curriculum counters dominant narratives by including multiple perspectives and balances stories of oppression with those of agency, resistance, and perseverance. In antiracist schools, students uncover the roots of present-day injustice.
Develop a critical consciousness.
Antiracist educators recognize how dominant narratives perpetuate marginalization. Curriculum explicitly addresses power and marginalization. In antiracist classrooms, humility and courage drive dialogues among students and educators that expose the hidden and visible ways racism manifests in individuals and societies.
Recognize race and confront racism.
Antiracist educators understand intersectionality and recognize that all individuals are affected by living in a racialized society. The curriculum demystifies difference and demolishes stereotypes, encouraging students to see each other more fully. Confronting racism means explicitly addressing bias, racism, power, privilege, and oppression.
Create just systems.
Antiracist educators focus on the complexity of systems, particularly those in schools. The curriculum invites students to examine how policies and practices operate to impede or advance human potential. Antiracist schools dismantle inequitable systems and create new ones.
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