What is DEI and why does it matter?
DEI, which stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, is a term that encompasses any practice that seeks to better the relationships between different groups of people in a community. These resources will show you the positive influence DEI implementation will have on the Holt learning environment.
Resources
13 Tips on How to Talk to Children About Diversity and Difference
Advice for parents who want to teach their kids to accept others regardless of identity
Benefits of Inclusion and Diversity in the Classroom
An article that emphasizes the importance of good DEI practices in the classroom
DEI and Empowering Students
An article that details the positive effects of making students feel heard and seen in the classroom
DEI Parent Guidebooks
Parenting guidebooks on teaching different DEI concepts to children (primarily for a younger demographic)
Talking to Kids About Race and Cultural Diversity
Tips for talking about celebrating cultural differences with children
Harvard Implicit Bias Quiz
A quiz, created by Harvard professors, that allows you to discover any preconceived notions you may have about different groups of people
Our words matter. Below is a table if appropriate and inclusive language to use.
| Outdated/Inappropriate Language | Appropriate Language to Use Instead |
| “Committed suicide/killed themselves” | “Died by suicide” |
| “Failed suicide” and “successful suicide” | “Attempted suicide” and “Completed suicide” |
| “Patient/Client” | “Individual/Person” |
| “Disorder/Disease/Illness” | “Diagnosis/Condition” |
| “Suffering from mental illness” | “Living with/experiencing a mental health condition” |
| “He is bipolar/She has bipolar” | “They are a person living with bipolar” |
| “LGBT students and staff” | “Individuals who identify as LGBTQ+” |
| “Those school of choice kids” and “Those kids from Lansing” | Discourage the use of this kind of language, as using it is a racist microaggression |
| “Asians” or “Blacks” | “Asian people” or “Black people” |
| “An autistic” | “An autistic person” or “they have autism” |
| “Mental retardation” or “retarded” | “Intellectual disability” or “someone afflicted with an intellectual disability” |
| “Confined to a wheelchair” or “Wheelchair-bound” | “Uses a wheelchair” |
| “Ladies and gentlemen” or “guys and gals” | “Colleagues, team, people” |
| Maternity or paternity leave | Parental leave/Parental time off |
| Husband, wife boyfriend, girlfriend | Partner, spouse |
| “What are your preferred pronouns?” | “What pronouns do you use?” |
| Ms., Mr., Mrs. | People’s first names, non-gender specific titles like Mx. or M |
| Mailman, Chairman, Policeman | Mail clerk, chairperson, police officer |
| Sexual preference | Sexual orientation |
