Creating Culturally Considerate Schools: Educating without Bias

Inward Bound (Anderson, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2011) is a wholistic wellness practice for mind, body, psyche, and spirit, all of which are important to wholistic wellness. Thinking clearly, identifying feelings (body and emotion), integration of what is known at one's core, and a sense of connectedness are all important factors in healing and in [Page 122]physical and mental health. Establishing a daily wellness practice to address each of these important aspects of the self is essential. They may feel awkward, irritating, or time-consuming at first, but once integrated into daily life, these practices can become second nature.

This practice is similar to Julia Cameron's morning pages in that she suggests writing Morning Pages as a way to begin rediscovering the creative process, but also as a way to release thoughts and feelings that are barriers to creativity. In the context of Inward Bound, we use Sunrise Pages as a psychic constitutional—a healthy way to purge mental and emotional toxins through a brief free write.

Soon after you awake in the morning, sit down with pen and paper and write nonstop for five minutes. Use an egg timer or your phone. Don't use a computer; the physical act of writing is important. Don't stop writing until the five minutes are up, even if you repeat yourself or write nonsense words. When you are finished, do not read what you have written. Close the tablet, put the pages in a folder, or store them in a drawer. You are done with your morning pages and it's time to move on.

Setting an intention for each day is a simple way to begin discovering purpose. Intentions can be as general as “It will be a good day today,” or as specific as “I will find three things of beauty today.” At first, it may be necessary to set an intention such as “I will not use derogatory slang today” but soon that can be amended to a positive statement and become, “I will treat my colleagues with respect today.” Write your intention on a small piece of paper and put it in a pocket. If things begin to feel out of balance, take the paper out and read your intention aloud three times.

A food plan is just that—a plan for food. There are no bad foods but sometimes people don't make the best choices about food due to the lack of planning. Food plans help to take the mystery and sometimes evil magic out of food intake and assist in overall physical and emotional health by setting food intention. It is often random or responsive eating that becomes problematic.

Thirty minutes of low impact aerobic movement daily helps keep the body flexible and endorphins flowing which are extremely important in sustaining wellness. Depression and stress generate both mental and physical exhaustion, and pharmacological research now has caught up to what psychotherapists have known for years—depression and stress cause pain and jeopardize immune function. The release of endorphins reduces pain, strengthens the immune system, anDoffsets other symptoms such as sleep disturbance, appetite changes, lack of focus, and energy depletion.

Affirming the positive in one's life is a manifestation of our well-ness foundation. Stating out louDor writing statements that affirm what is good and true may bring to mind an old Saturday Night Live skit, but the eventual impact on self-concept and confidence is serious business. As with intentions, begin with short and simple statements: I can do this. I am intelligent. My body is strong. I am a caring person.

Nighttime is often difficult for people in the throes of emotional challenges or work overload. Not only is the dark and quiet unsettling, but biorhythms may either begin to wane or in some instances, an individual body clock may be in contradiction to the rest of the world. Establishing an evening routine is probably one of the most important components of health and wellness.

Twilight pages are much like sunrise pages in that they are designed to collect thoughts and feelings and set them aside, however in this instance, the positive and productive portions of the day are collected, put out onto paper with pen in hand, and gently tucked away.

Set your timer for five minutes (soon you won't need a timer—you'll just know when to stop and start) and begin to write about the accomplishments of the day. Don't let your hand stop writing. When the five minutes are up, stop. This time, take three deep, cleansing breaths, and walk around the room for another five minutes. Come back to the twilight pages and read them. Take three more cleansing breaths and give thanks for fulfilling your day's intention by making an offering to your gratitude grotto.

Whether it is a grotto, altar, treasure chest, or shoe box, craft a receptacle for symbols of gratitude. Becoming aware of gratitude in our lives takes us beyond pain and frustration and brings us out into the world where goodness survives amidst tragedy and freedom exists after oppression.

Each night, create a symbol of something for which you are grateful. It can be anything: a poem, a drawing, a clipping from a magazine, a rock, a puff of cat fur. It needs to be tangible—something you can see and touch, hear or smell. The senses must be involved so that you can fully take in the significance of the person or event for which you are grateful.

Deposit your symbol into your gratitude chest. These tangible objects will be there for a rainy day when it might be more difficult to find a rosebud for which to be thankful.

Western medicine calls it “sleep hygiene.” Zen Buddhists will not call it anything as sleep is what it is and does what it does. But a few things will help increase the odds of a good night's sleep.

• Establish a regular sleep routine and time.
• Create a pleasant sleep space which takes all senses into account.
• Reduce all other sensory stimulation at least one hour before bed.
• If you are prone to bad dreams or nightmares, understand that this is information for growth, not to terrorize. Nightmares will subside when they are embraced and the lessons they bring are learned.
• Associate your sleep space with sleep—not watching TV or doing work or homework.
• Be comfortable when you get into bed. Wear PJs which are soft and not binding. If a new mattress is not in your budget, maybe a foam topper or new pillows are.
• Center yourself by taking deep, relaxing breaths.
• Affirm that you will sleep and sleep peacefully. Welcome the information dreams may have for you but ask that it come gently so you may listen and learn.

Along with these daily practices, the following facets of day-today life need to be carefully and considerately attended.

Human connection is vital to becoming a vital human being. Sometimes it is necessary to find a new circle of friends or adopt an extended family, but it is a necessary part of health and healing. Trust cannot be rebuilt or newly discovered without having people to push against and pull toward us.

Finding a “right livelihood” brings self-esteem and builds self-confidence. Whether it is finishing another degree or getting the job of your dreams, finding an environment in which you feel comfortable and respected is important. It is likewise important that you respect your colleagues. Unfortunately money is necessary, though not evil as the often misquoted adage states. But money must be secondary to comfort or the likelihooDof joblessness increases.

Everyone has the capacity to create. Creativity is not a gift bestowed upon the deserving. It is a human quality. We may not be able to draw as well as another person or sing our way to stardom, but we can create. There are many vehicles that are rarely considered for creative transportation of our thoughts and feelings. In addition to the “fine” arts, sewing, gardening, carpentry, cooking, or rebuilding cars may be your vehicle of choice. Don't diminish anything you create.

Closely aligned to creation, nurturing a pet, a plant, or a talent validates our stamina. Yes, as educators and helpers we nurture each day, but nurturing something unrelated to our jobs shows that we can see things through without a paycheck to prompt us. We can grow.

Have fun! All work—internal and external—and no play makes for a tired and resentful person. Activities must simply be fun for the sake of fun—not purposeful. Fun has no purpose other than to invoke joy and happiness. It may take a few tries and trying new things, but recreation is just as important as any other column on the healing chart.

Bonnie and I feel very strongly about Reparation as an important step toward Equity and Social Justice. I also feel it is an important part of personal growth. It may seem overwhelming to help others when we give at the office each day, but stepping outside of our comfort zone to make someone else more comfortable gives perspective and a sense of accomplishment that is unsurpassed. Some ideas are volunteering at a community garden, tutoring new immigrants in English, cooking or serving food for those in need, building houses with an organization like Habitat for Humanity. Efforts do not have to be organized. Watering an ailing neighbor's lawn or taking pets to the vet for an elderly or physically challenged person can be just as rewarding. Set a limit of time devoted to your efforts each week. Balance in all things, even volunteerism.

Faith or belief does not have to mean organized religion or naming a deity, but becoming reacquainted with a sense of something beyonDourselves can give purpose and direction. For those who identify as agnostic or atheist, this may seem culturally insensitive. Though that is not my intention, I acknowledge the contradiction. The truth is, I have never found alternative verbiage that didn't sound awkwarDor pandering to me.

Connecting with Nature can be grounding, calming, and can assist in becoming more connected to one's body and inner voice of reason. Make outings as simple as possible. Carry little with you. Return with less. Breathe deeply. Walk gently. Attune to the sounds. Quiet time in Nature can stand alone as a meditation.

I think ____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

(What my mind tells me about this person, event, situation, or problem.)

I feel ____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

(The emotions I feel and the physical sensations I have in my body in response to this situation.)

I know ____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

(Considering my thoughts and feelings, what facts have I concluded.)

I believe ____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

(What does my intuition or faith tell me in regard to this person, event, situation, or problem.)

[Page 133]Cultural Consideration Event Summary Date ________________

Description of Event

___________________________________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________________________________

My First Thoughts _________________________________________________________________________

My Body Felt ______________________________________________________________________________

I Knew ___________________________________________________________________________________

I Believed ________________________________________________________________________________

What I Wanted to Do _______________________________________________________________________

What I Did ________________________________________________________________________________

Result ____________________________________________________________________________________

What I Will Do Next Time

___________________________________________________________________________________________

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How I Feel About How I Handled Things

___________________________________________________________________________________________

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The Right to Promote One's Own Dignity and Self Respect

The Right to be Treated with Respect by Others

The Right to Say “No”

The Right to Experience and Express One's Feelings

The Right to Take Time to Think before Acting

The Right to Change One's Mind

The Right to Ask for What One Wants

The Right to Achieve Less than is Humanly Possible

The Right to Ask for Information

The Right to Make Mistakes

The Right to Feel Good About One's Self

Tired, Exhausted, Numb

Tense, Tight, Teeth ClincheDor Grinding

Anxious, Jittery

Joint or Muscle Pain, Achy, Hurt

Stomach Trouble, Nauseous, Diarrhea, Stomach Pain

Dizziness, Fuzzy, Light-headed, Spacey

Funny, Weird, Skin Crawling, Tingly

Flashbacks, Body Memories; Intrusive Thoughts, Beliefs, or Voices

Can't Sleep, Bad Dreams, Sleep too Much

Hungry, Cravings, Empty

Satisfied, Full, Too Full

Strong, Beautiful, Energetic

Clear communication includes

• Respect of one another
• Being honest
• Speaking one at a time and allowing equal time
• “I” statements
• Clarifying by repeating
• Giving reasons
• Making compromises
• Admitting mistakes
• Time-outs and taking breaks
• Observing the guidelines agreed upon

Clear communication does not include

• Name calling
• Generalizations
• “You” statements
• Tangents
• Violence, threats, or intimidation
• Changing the rules
• Expecting a winner and loser
• Expecting a right or wrong
• Saving up issues and dumping them all at once
• Mind reading
• Assumptions
• Denying the facts
• Gloating over a victory
• Stonewalling or ignoring the other person

Barriers to communication include

• Habit
• Fear of displeasing someone
• Mistaken sense of responsibility
• Protecting the other person
• Guilt and/or shame
• Misinformation about personal rights
• Reluctance to give up benefits of silence
• Financial insecurity
• Chemical abuse or dependency
• Abuse or violence
• Secrets

Causes of poor communication are

• Anger
• Depression
• Misinformation/ignorance
• Feelings of vulnerability
• Lack of empathy for the other person
• Mistrust of the other person
• Control feels good

Additional communication considerations:

• Facial Expressions
• Gestures
• Touch
• Interrupting
• Tone and volume of voice
• Control over space

• Deal with one issue at a time.
• Set a time limit.
• Follow the guidelines for clear communication and rigidly abide by them.
• Stay current. Do not talk about past problems unless they directly relate to the present.
• Allow both talking and listening time.
• Do not interrupt.
• Arrive at a solution good for both parties. A problem has not been solved if someone has to “give in” for the sake of ending a conflict.

• 1.
  Define the problem.
• 2.
  Specify the desireDoutcome.
• 3.
  List ways to attain the goal.
• 4.
  Narrow the focus to the top three choices.
• 5.
  List positives and negatives of each choice.
• 6.
  Calculate findings.
• 7.
  If things remain unclear, re-examine the problem definition and desireDoutcomes. It may be that the core issue[s] have not been stated clearly.