The United States of America is divided, by politics, religion, race, economic status, and more. One of the main culprits is social media. It has left the world vulnerable to the spread of misinformation, where fact and fiction are distorted in people’s efforts to share their opinions and beliefs. It is times like these where the Mandela team returns to the words of Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”
To live up to these words, the team is recommitting themselves to their own education. First and foremost, the team wants their scholars to know that Black lives matter. This pursuit has led the team to read and discuss, Teaching for Black Lives, edited by Dyan Watson, Jesse Hagopian, and Wayne Au. Published by the nonprofit, Rethinking Schools, a group that provides teachers with materials that promote racial equity and justice, the book offers untold history, teacher tips, and success stories of social justice in schools. The Mandela team is committed to putting the book’s suggestions into action.
The mission at Nelson Mandela is to provide quality instruction that demonstrates ALL scholars can learn and develop academically, emotionally, socially, and physically. The school is committed to maximizing the educational success of all scholars and bridging the learning and achievement gaps. To fulfill that mission, the team continues to educate themselves, fight against the current divisions of the nation and the spread of misinformation, and unite in teaching that Black lives do matter to ensure that their scholars achieve maximum success.