Teaching About Identity with Bill Ivey

In this episode, how do we get beyond a focus on single aspects of identity? How might we explore the intersections of identity – showing how aspects such as gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, and socio-economic status interact with each other? Bill Ivey has some top teaching insights in this area.

CLICK PLAY TO LISTEN TO MY CONVERSATION WITH – BILL IVEY

Bill Ivey

Bill Ivey is a Middle School Dean at Stoneleigh Burnham Girls’ School in Western Massachussetts, USA.

Episode Summary

When we explore identity with our students, we often focus on single dimensions like race or ethnicity.

But if we consider race, how does your gender, belief systems, or socio-economic status impact on your experiences and opportunities in life?

The intersections of identity, that’s the focus of this episode. And in the Lightning Round, we’re Pushing The Edges of conversations about gender and race, privilege, social justice, democracy, and co-existence.

Our guest Bill Ivey is passionate about teaching for social justice, and the concept of intersectionality is central to much of his teaching in this area.

Episode Run-Down

▪ The origin of this episode (1:07)

▪ What got Bill interested in Social Justice? (1:45)

▪ How Bill Pushes The Edge in education (4:41)

▪ What is intersectionality, why teach about it, and what got Bill interested in it? (5:17)

▪ Exploring gender identity and sexuality with students (8:03)

▪ How Bill explores intersections of identity with students – being a ‘girl’ (11:50)

▪ Developing class guidelines for discussing identity – exploring race (13:12)

▪ Navigating tricky situations within discussions – white privilege (14:25)

▪ Not under-estimating our students | Facing our fears about messing it up (15:19)

▪ Students are interested in ‘No-Go’ Topics – let’s get out of their way (17:09)

▪ Discussing student designed units – Should we teach Gender? Should we teach sexuality in school? (18:05)

▪ Staff reactions to students’ ideas and understandings about race and racism (19:39)

▪ The challenges in teaching about the intersections of identity (20:15)

▪ The Lightning Round – teaching gender, co-existence, conversations about race, social justice, democracy, privilege, best self, and Pushing The Edge (21:32)