Diversity in Education at Norwell

Hello! Today, I’d like to introduce you to DEAN, or Diversity in Education at Norwell. We’re a student-run organization dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in Norwell’s school curriculum and student culture.

Take two minutes to complete this survey to share your thoughts about the ability of NHS teachers to initiate difficult conversations about important issues like race, class, and gender inequality in the classroom.

When you’ve done that, read on to find out a little more about our story.

After the nation erupted in civil rights protests in June, a group of us felt like there was more we needed to do to educate ourselves and to be part of the solution to systemic racism. Before he even officially began working in the Norwell school system, Mr. Bender agreed to meet with us to hear our opinions and help us shape our frustrations into the group that eventually became DEAN.

Since that beginning, we have expanded in numbers and in the size of our hopes -- our ultimate goal is to make Norwell Schools a place where students of every background can feel accepted and see themselves represented in our curriculum. We believe that we are made stronger by a variety of perspectives coming together to create One Norwell.

Although we have meetings on Google Meets each week, we are not a club. Early on, we decided that having a student-run organization not associated with a specific organization at school would allow us the freedom to shape our projects as authentically as possible.

So what have we done so far? Only nine months after those first meetings with Mr. Bender, we have become a trusted voice for student input. We have met with teachers, curriculum leaders, and administrators to advocate for increased diversity of perspective in the classroom. Working with Norwell’s All Are Welcome Committee, we have created a connection with other groups in town working towards inclusion in Norwell.

Beyond that, we are currently organizing the Just Mercy book discussion (which you can register for here). And, you may have already seen and heard our celebration of Black History Month through posters, announcements, and instagram posts (follow us @norwell.dean)!

Do you want to have an input about our curriculum? Do you want to see more cultures reflected in the books we read and the history we study? Then join us. Students from every grade level and every background are welcome, and new members are accepted every day.

Join DEAN -- be the change.

DM @norwell.dean or email rose.hansen@students.norwellschools.org for more information about how to join.