The Hofstra Network of Elementary Teachers (HNET) held their 17th annual conference in collaboration with the Hofstra School of Education on Saturday, Feb. 29.
HNET uses their annual conference to inspire elementary educators to integrate new techniques into their curriculum. With their “ever-growing” population, HNET strives to make every conference original and engaging, according to the Director of HNET and Co-Director of Elementary and Early Childhood Education Andrea Libresco.
“Instruction is thoughtful and engaging and isn’t test prep,” said Libresco.
This year’s conference addressed how to explore civil rights issues in an elementary classroom in a critical and inclusive way. Lauren Brown, a fifth-grade teacher from Northampton, Massachusetts, gave the keynote address, which focused on changing the way history is taught.
“We need to teach social studies from a place of looking back and [seeing] how far we’ve come, but also looking forward and thinking about how far we need to go,” Brown said.
Brown explained that it is not risky or dangerous to talk about racism, sexism, transphobia and homophobia in the classroom. Instead, she said, it is a “teacher’s job to educate students about the world and the issues [we] face every day.”
“The Radical Political Act is to tell a white-washed version of history that feels safe, which is meant to keep the power in straight, cis, white male hands and continue to oppress anybody else,” Brown said. “That’s bringing politics into the classroom.”
To truly connect with history, children need to see a representation of themselves or their family, and as Brown and Libresco made clear, this is not always the case when social studies lessons are taught. Instead, they argue that history is often told from one perspective and is not an accurate portrayal of queer people or people of color.
“How can we not honor who they are?” Libresco said.
Virginia Kambouras, a graduate student majoring in early childhood special education, said it is essential to “reflect on ourselves as educators with the impact we have on students and how we can incorporate really important, significant concepts into the curriculum.”
The incorporation of these concepts into early education classrooms was Brown’s main goal. She argued that it is not only essential that children are educated on these ideas, but also that teachers work the ideas into their curriculum.
“All I’m asking kids to do is think deeply and critically, and that is what the tests are supposed to do – read this text and have something to say about it,” Brown said.
HNET not only pushes educators to implement new teaching methods into their curriculum, but also creates a supportive community for teachers with all levels of experience – a group of like-minded individuals who are passionate about education and inspire those around them to ignite change throughout education.
“It’s really important to network with different elementary school teachers,” said junior Marlie Allen, who is a double major in early childhood education and English.
The HNET annual conference gives college students, new graduates and experienced teachers the chance to start a conversation about the one thing that universally connects them all: educating the new generation.
“Ideas are always growing and changing, and the world of education’s commitment to social justice is so much stronger and more robust than it was when I started,” Brown said. “It keeps the work alive to come to conferences.”
