Building Bridges Through Mindful Education: Resilient Young Minds

Against Racism

“Education matters”

Welcome to “Education Matters”, the podcast where we delve into the crucial role of
education in our society. I am your host, Anisha Bhadoo. In this episode, we will explore how
education can serve as a medium of resilience against racism, particularly in the context of
elementary education. Joining us today are two esteemed guests: Ms. Marvin Choudhary,
________ and Ms. Aanchal Oberoi, an educational counselor at D.A.V. Sr. Sec. School,
Chandigarh, India. Together they will share their insights and experiences on this important
topic. Welcome, Marvin and Aanchal.

Introduction
Host: To begin our discussion, lets first understand resilience and its relevance in addressing
racism. According to Philippe Bourbeau (2015: 389), resilience is a “process of pattern
adjustments adopted by a society, a group or an individual in the face of endogenous or
exogenous shocks”. It involves the ability to bounce back, recover, and navigate through
challenging circumstances by making necessary changes and adjustments.
Resilience is a dynamic process that enables individuals and communities to effectively
respond to and cope with various disruptions and uncertainties. But how do we build
resilience? Why it is important to be resilient? What are these disruptions and uncertainties
that require resilience?
These disruptions or uncertainties could be natural disasters, economic crises, health crises,
technological disruptions, social and political unrest, environmental challenges, or personal
setbacks. Building resilience is crucial to overcome these challenges and thrive in the face of
adversity.
There are various ways in which we can be resilient to these disruptions and uncertainties.
For instance, building a strong support network, develop problem-solving and decision-
making skills, enhancing emotional well-being, adaptability and flexibility etc. Education
plays a pivotal role in promoting empathy, developing critical thinking skills and
understanding these disruptions. So not delaying much let us dive into the discussion of the
day. Focus of this episode is on the role of elementary education in building resilience to
address racism. How can we equip young minds with knowledge, understanding, and skills
necessary to challenge and confront racism by providing the right education?
We all know that it is important to build resilience for social unrest like racism, Aanchal, do
you think it is important for young children to be resilient to racism and why?
Aanchal: Before I begin, I would like to Thank you, for inviting. Yes, it is crucial for our
young ones to endure, respect and be sensitive to cultural and individual differences. I being a
counselor feel that the attitudes and beliefs formed during childhood play a significant role in
shaping opinion and individual’s worldview. If we don’t provide the right knowledge at right
age than children may learn to assume things, and they may fall for wrong notions.
Host: Absolutely. Marvin, you deal with teachers training and curriculum planning, so what
is your opinion about involving education in making our young ones resilient to racism?
Marvin: (say something to start with……) By incorporating racism resilient education into
the curriculum, we can raise awareness about the historical and systemic roots of racism,
promote equality, and encourage empathy and compassion. This type of education creates a
foundation for building a resilient society that actively works towards dismantling racism and
creating a more inclusive and equitable future.

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Host: Hmm, how essential is it to incorporate such education at elementary level according
to you?
Marvin: As Aanchal mentioned that if we will not provide them with correct knowledge
than they might fall for misinformation. Building resilience for racism at young age or
elementary level lays foundation for creating a more inclusive and equitable society. Early
awareness helps children understand the existence of racial differences. It helps them
recognize and challenge racial biases and stereotypes from an early stage.
Host: That is insightful. Aanchal what do you think about the impact of such education on
our young minds?
Aanchal: Developing resilience to racism fosters empathy and understanding towards
individual from racial and ethnic backgrounds. It encourages children to appreciate diversity
and recognize the value of inclusivity, promoting a more tolerant society. Children learn to
identify and challenge discriminatory behaviors and attitudes. They develop the skills and
confidence to stand up against racial injustice and advocate for equality and fairness. It
promotes self-esteem, self-confidence, and a sense of belonging among children from
marginalized racial or ethnic backgrounds.
Host: Yes, it essential to promote self-esteem and confidence. As (your designation), what
strategies or approaches can educators employ to promote resilience against racism in
elementary education?
Marvin: There are several strategies that educators can adopt to promote resilience against
racism in elementary education. Firstly, it is essential to incorporate anti-racist curriculum
and resources that reflect diverse perspectives and experiences. This includes teaching
students about different cultures, histories, and contributions to society. Secondly, educators
should create a safe and inclusive classroom environment where students feel comfortable
discussing and challenging issues related to racism. This can be achieved through open
dialogue, active listening, and fostering empathy among students. Additionally, professional
development opportunities for teachers that focus on cultural competence and racism resilient
teaching strategies can greatly enhance their ability to address racism effectively.
Host: Those are excellent strategies, Marvin. It’s crucial to equip educators with necessary
tools and knowledge to create an inclusive learning environment. Aanchal, based on your
experience as an education counselor, could you share any specific examples or initiatives
that have been successful in promoting resilience against racism in elementary education?
Aanchal: Absolutely, Anisha. In our school, we have implemented a program called
“celebrating Diversity”. This program involves regular classroom discussions, guest speakers,
and interactive activities that highlight the importance of respecting and valuing diversity. We
also organize cultural exchange events where students from different backgrounds share their
traditions and experiences. These initiatives not only foster a sense of belonging among
students but also encourage them to challenge stereotypes and promote inclusivity.
Host: That’s a nice way to sensitize children at that age, and this reminds me of Government
program, “Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat”1, I think that has helped children in India to know
more about the various communities of the country. This brings my attention to the role of
curriculum policy and teacher training. Marvin, how can curriculum planning, and teacher
training programs support in promotion of resilience against racism in elementary education?
Marvin: Curriculum planning, and teacher training programs play a vital role in promoting
resilience against racism in elementary education. Prioritizing inclusion of racism resilient
education in curriculum, ensures that it is a core component of the education system. This
includes providing clear guidelines and resources for teachers to address racism effectively.
Additionally, teacher training programs should incorporate modules on cultural competence,

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ant-racist pedagogy, and inclusive classroom management. By equipping teachers with
necessary knowledge and skills, we can empower them to create resilient learning
environments that challenge racism and promote social justice.
Host: Thank you, Marvin. It is evident that both curriculum and teacher training are crucial
in creating a resilient education system. Before we conclude, can you both share your opinion
about the effect of technology on education in context with making children resilient to
racism. In my opinion, it has more of negative effect than positive on children, like, hate
speech, biased information etc., impact negatively, so how can we make it a supporting tool
in education?
Marvin: To mitigate the negative impact of technology on young children in context with
racism, parents, educators and policy makers must work jointly. Digital literacy and
monitoring online activities both by educators and parents play an essential role. Teaching
children critical thinking skills to navigate and evaluate online content, help them identify
and challenge racism and discrimination. Policy makers and curriculum planners must
advocate for responsible technology use. They should push for policies and regulations that
address racial bias in technology and hold platforms accountable for combating hate speech
and discrimination.
Host: That sounds quite appropriate but with a double responsibility on educators like us who
are parents too. Aanchal what do you have to say on this?
Aanchal: Anisha, I totally agree with you both and one thing I would like to add to this as an
education counselor that fostering open conversations as mentioned by Marvin earlier, may
be good way to lessen the negative effect of technology here. Creating a safe space for
children to discuss and ask questions about race, racism, and discrimination and engaging in
open and honest conversation will help in battle against misconceptions and biases.
Host: Absolutely, thank you so much Marvin and Aanchal for taking out time to educate our
teachers, and society to educate our young ones for being resilient to racism through
acquiring right education.