What is DEI and why does it matter?
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) encompasses any practice that seeks to improve 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
What is Inclusion?
A video explaining how to go above and beyond in including others and celebrating their differences
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
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| Outdated/Inappropriate Language | Appropriate Language to Use Instead |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 |
