We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom by Bettina L. Love

Apr 24, 2019 Emily rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Some books you read fast because you can't take in information fast enough. This book is one you read slow because every morsel of information is big and powerful and makes you think.

All educators should read this. I wish I could take a class with her.

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May 31, 2019 Jenell rated it it was amazing

This one goes in the “Required Texts” section of my Autumn 2019 syllabus.

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Feb 20, 2019 Elizabeth Langa rated it it was amazing

Every educator should read this book. Period.

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May 25, 2019 Maya McKenzie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: social-work

Should be MANDATORY reading for all educators

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Sep 28, 2019 Becky R. rated it really liked it

As a white teacher in a very white school, I've desperately been seeking ways to challenge my own bias, my own culturally taught racism, my own bigotry. This is a systemic problem, and it had to start with me looking at myself. I have an MA in ethnic literature and spent an entire higher educational career challenging norms and reading about experiences outside my own. But now as a professional, how do I pass on this personal journey to my own students? How do I challenge them, without pushing w As a white teacher in a very white school, I've desperately been seeking ways to challenge my own bias, my own culturally taught racism, my own bigotry. This is a systemic problem, and it had to start with me looking at myself. I have an MA in ethnic literature and spent an entire higher educational career challenging norms and reading about experiences outside my own. But now as a professional, how do I pass on this personal journey to my own students? How do I challenge them, without pushing what I know to be true? In short, how do I awaken awareness in students that have too much privilege to even know they have it?

Honestly, this book made me feel like there was nothing I could do at first. The experiences and stories were told from communities with so much more diversity than we experience. For the small number of students of color that I have had over the years, I have worked to create a safe space in my room, and to give them voice and representation. I suppose my real issue is with my white students, who don't see their own racism, or privilege, or buy in to systems of power. This book pushed me pretty hard to really look at how I talk about ones civic duties. I came to realize that while I try to expose my students to the difficult issues of race we still face in this country, that I have to show them that speaking out about it doesn't make you a bad or radical person. To work to root out racism--the systematic repression of people of color for economic and political power--that I have to talk about what people are doing to fight these power structures, but without telling anyone what to think or believe. In short, I need to pose strong questions and then let kids talk.

This book has pushed me beyond my classroom walls into deep conversations with my coworkers. What we have determined is that we need to start a social justice club at our school, where we can teach and discuss HOW to put ideas and frustrations into action. Our mainly white students are crying out to take action and to talk about their fears for their futures. What this book taught me is that we really have to provide that space and allow these kids to step into their power to make their future better and brighter, for all. ...more

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Sep 16, 2019 Lynn rated it it was amazing

Excellent essay in the injustices put upon African Americans in the past and currently. Very direct and to the point. Bettina L. Love comes from Rochester NY where I’m from so I identified with what she said about Rochester. Once a thriving city in many ways, it has become a city with a huge concentration of poverty. Heartbreakingly so. Important book.

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Feb 19, 2019 Kimberley rated it really liked it

"Abolitionist Teaching" is what Bettina Love says we need more of in our schools and, as a mother, I couldn't agree more with her analysis: Racism is not exclusive to one political party or a particular type of White person. White, well-meaning, liberal teachers can be racist too.

From that point, Love lays out where it all went, and continues to go, wrong. However, she also offers a solution as to how we can make a difference--as educators, parents, activists, politicians, etc.--in the lives of ...more

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Apr 29, 2019 Bob rated it really liked it

Shelves: education

Summary: A plea and argument for abolitionist teaching that advocates for educational justice in our schools, that understands and is in solidarity with the struggle people of color face in our often racialized schools, and affirms the goodness and joy of one's ethnic, sexual, and gendered identity.

This book is an impassioned argument for "abolitionist teaching." The writer, educational theorist Bettina L. Love, offers this definition:

"Abolitionist teaching is the practice of working Summary: A plea and argument for abolitionist teaching that advocates for educational justice in our schools, that understands and is in solidarity with the struggle people of color face in our often racialized schools, and affirms the goodness and joy of one's ethnic, sexual, and gendered identity.

This book is an impassioned argument for "abolitionist teaching." The writer, educational theorist Bettina L. Love, offers this definition:

"Abolitionist teaching is the practice of working in solidarity with communities of color while drawing on the imagination, creativity, refusal, (re)membering, visionary thinking, healing, rebellious spirit, boldness, determination, and subversiveness of abolitionists to eradicate injustice inside and outside of schools" (p. 2).

In this work, she describes an "educational survival complex," in which schools serving people of color struggle under regimes of performance testing (and the testing companies who profit from all this), school report cards where "failing" jeopardizes funding, and often where students see few teachers of their own ethnicity. She describes how important the seemingly simple thing of mattering can be with examples of teachers, coaches, mentors, and advocates who said she mattered, helping her to obtain an athletic scholarship that launched her academic career.

She has harsh words to say about an educational culture that has only a cursory grasp of the power of white privilege, and does not understand the need for advocacy for children of color, or as she describes them, "we who are dark." She is highly critical of character education programs like Grit, arguing that the circumstances under which many students live already require grit in abundance. Instead, they may need celebrating. She also decries the substitution of character courses for those on civics--then engagement with the political structures needed to advocate for justice. She believes students need co-conspirators who educate with a culturally relevant pedagogy. She seems most concerned for teachers who call themselves "white" and who labor under the burden of whiteness and then afflict this on students of color.

Love also engages the additional layers of intersectionality as a black woman who is lesbian. She helps readers recognize the added layers of struggle to thrive involved in these additional layers and seeks to advocate for others in this situation.

I mention this book is an impassioned argument. Apart from citing some studies of the impact of having teachers of one's own ethnicity in one's schools, this book feels long on theory and short on practice. I do not have reservations about her arguments. It makes sense that students will do better when they know they matter and when their education speaks to their identity rather than tries to conform them to a dominant culture.

Rather, I would like to have seen a few case studies beside the author's own experiences where theory has been translated into practice, showing marked flourishing of students. Perhaps it is hard to implement such programs in the state and federally mandated testing regime approach to schools that I have heard teachers decry even in suburban schools with good report cards. It would be great to know of places where Love's approach is working.

Also, I recall a presentation by an educator on the faculty of a school dedicated to training teachers in justice pedagogy, but whose teachers were found to lack content competency in the subjects they taught, with the impact that school districts would no longer hire their teachers. It seems to me that a culturally relevant pedagogy that results in students flourishing, fosters excellence not only in artistic and social studies programs, but in reading, language, math and science programs. I hope subsequent works by this author addresses these matters.

Perhaps this is asking a great deal of one book. Perhaps first we need to hear the educational equivalent of "black lives matter" and sit with that truth. Love contends that "dark" students matter and what is needed are those who so enter into these students lives that they know existentially that they do matter. Too many are going through our schools without knowing that fundamental truth so crucial to grounding one's life. Anyone who has had a teacher who showed them they matter knows what this can mean. Hopefully every child will not be left to struggle to survive rather than be buoyed by such support and advocacy.

____________________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher via LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. ...more

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Mar 28, 2019 Zoe's Human rated it it was amazing

Shelves: lt

In We Want to Do More Than Survive, Bettina Love, a lifelong educator, paints a clear picture of the systemic nature of racism in our educational system. She examines the role of for-profit organizations in undermining true learning and the role of whiteness, including that of well-intended white folks, in killing the spirits of children. She persuasively argues that there is another way forward, a way that not only makes room for black students to breathe and thrive but also creates paths and possibili ...more

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Jun 22, 2019 adeservingporcupine rated it really liked it

I would love to read this with other educators so we could discuss it. It’s a challenge to us all to dismantle education as it stands in the U.S. There is mostly theory here and not exactly action steps. Which is great for planting the seeds of radical change but leaves me with questions of what is next. I love that Dr. Love does not shy away from tearing apart so many celebrated aspects of education policy (character education, grit, charter schools) and how they are rooted in white supremacy.

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Sep 28, 2019 R rated it really liked it

As a white teacher in a very white school, I've desperately been seeking ways to challenge my own bias, my own culturally taught racism, my own bigotry. This is a systemic problem, and it had to start with me looking at myself. I have an MA in ethnic literature and spent an entire higher educational career challenging norms and reading about experiences outside my own. But now as a professional, how do I pass on this personal journey to my own students? How do I challenge them, without pushing w As a white teacher in a very white school, I've desperately been seeking ways to challenge my own bias, my own culturally taught racism, my own bigotry. This is a systemic problem, and it had to start with me looking at myself. I have an MA in ethnic literature and spent an entire higher educational career challenging norms and reading about experiences outside my own. But now as a professional, how do I pass on this personal journey to my own students? How do I challenge them, without pushing what I know to be true? In short, how do I awaken awareness in students that have too much privilege to even know they have it?

Honestly, this book made me feel like there was nothing I could do at first. The experiences and stories were told from communities with so much more diversity than we experience. For the small number of students of color that I have had over the years, I have worked to create a safe space in my room, and to give them voice and representation. I suppose my real issue is with my white students, who don't see their own racism, or privilege, or buy in to systems of power. This book pushed me pretty hard to really look at how I talk about ones civic duties. I came to realize that while I try to expose my students to the difficult issues of race we still face in this country, that I have to show them that speaking out about it doesn't make you a bad or radical person. To work to root out racism--the systematic repression of people of color for economic and political power--that I have to talk about what people are doing to fight these power structures, but without telling anyone what to think or believe. In short, I need to pose strong questions and then let kids talk.

This book has pushed me beyond my classroom walls into deep conversations with my coworkers. What we have determined is that we need to start a social justice club at our school, where we can teach and discuss HOW to put ideas and frustrations into action. Our mainly white students are crying out to take action and to talk about their fears for their futures. What this book taught me is that we really have to provide that space and allow these kids to step into their power to make their future better and brighter, for all. ...more

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Oct 04, 2019 Chalida rated it really liked it

Shelves: education, books-read-since-baby-2-s-birth, books-read-since-baby-s-birth

Brought up a lot of interesting discussion in two book clubs over two weeks. Makes me think that freedom dreaming is more important now than ever and we have replaced civics ed with character ed. The value of homeplaces and abolitionist teaching in every way possible in a system that is spirit murdering is necessary. Very excited to hear Love talk about these principles next week.

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Jul 09, 2019 Viral rated it it was amazing

An excellent and powerful short book about systemic racism and inequality in our educational system, and why we cannot simply solve the problem with "better teachers", but instead, we need to systematically rethink education, politics, and society. The classroom can be a place of liberation, but it also can reinforce systemic oppression. A great book for people looking to learn more about the problems we face.

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Aug 23, 2019 Gabriella Schiller rated it really liked it

great material and concepts for education. she tended to go on unrelated tangents. that's a personal pet peeve of mine when reading essays so maybe I'm biased. Overall, I would reccomend it though! She is highly intelligent and I appreciated her wisdom, especially as an educator. ❤

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Mar 30, 2019 Becky rated it it was amazing

I am a School Nurse at an elementary school where the majority of children are a different race than I am. I appreciated this book more than words can say. My educational background is in complex developmental trauma in children and adolescents. This book took what I already knew to be true about trauma and the developing brain and gave me so many new things to think about when it comes to the students I serve. I loved it.

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Mar 11, 2019 Stephen Rockwell rated it it was amazing

Certainly a must read for all people. Inspiring, raw, and a staple in the field of education.

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Oct 12, 2019 bellatuscana bellatuscana rated it liked it

I don't think I still understand the book as much as I could have even after reading it. It is part auto-biography, part current events. I first heard Dr. Love's talk at Auburn Avenue after nearly running into her, and I felt that it was something imperative I should read. She talked about "respecting, not loving" dark children, whiteness being synonymous with racism, and being allies in social justice. I found her conversation very sympathetic, and in line with some of the work I've already bee I don't think I still understand the book as much as I could have even after reading it. It is part auto-biography, part current events. I first heard Dr. Love's talk at Auburn Avenue after nearly running into her, and I felt that it was something imperative I should read. She talked about "respecting, not loving" dark children, whiteness being synonymous with racism, and being allies in social justice. I found her conversation very sympathetic, and in line with some of the work I've already been exposed to in my previous Montessori job. I thought her talk was interesting since it had a lot to do with the stuff I was learning in school. Plus, her family is really kind y'all. Really cute, and charming people.

For the most part, I liked the book, even though the rage was a lot. A lot. She writes like I do, which is sometimes saying things, and sometimes summarizing events (without citation), which I'm afraid might turn some people away. She's very auto-biographical, which was another part I did like. Instead of distancing herself away, she puts herself into the context of her own upbringing and her own reaction to the current events - something I liked a lot. I feel like there was a lot more to her, a lot more writing material, that couldn't be summed up in this one book. Ultimately, I found the association between Whiteness as Extreme Prejudice vs Islam, Blackness, Immigrants, and LGBTQ as "Blackness" to be a little too extreme as an example.

I wish I could tell you Dr. Love that I felt horrible near the end in my last job. I wish I could tell you the PTSD, bad management at previous job that harassed me, problems associating with parents, general stress of my life at home at 24, and being single / friendless in general. I want to commit to the fight, I want to run away from it, and part of me feels like I can't do anything. I guess my general surmise is this: teaching is hard. I felt it standing up, being applauded for my previous teaching experience - guilt, and still being sure this job is right for me even though I love it. How hard it is for anyone my age to get into teaching - White, Black, LGBTQ, of any identity, all throughout my program and school. ...more

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May 26, 2019 Megan Gafvert rated it it was amazing

Shelves: africana, education

“The ability of education to be a mechanism for freedom, particularly for dark students, is suspended in midair by Whiteness, racism, sexism, and neoliberalism.”

“I often conduct workshops on racism and White supremacy, topics that make many of my participants uncomfortable. I remind them that it’s okay to be uncomfortable but also to understand that while you may be uncomfortable for 45 minutes, other people are uncomfortable their entire lives dealing with oppression.”

4. ...more

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Nov 06, 2019 Julia rated it it was ok

Shelves: america-n-central, non-fiction

I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you!

I feel like I missed something in this book. The writing was serviceable, but not memorable. The autobiographical bits were interesting to learn a bit about the author, but I wanted more on education. There was more memoir and more general race theory than I expected, and less concrete focus on the education system. I recognize that it is challenging to disentangle from a lot of other aspects, but the discussion was too surface ...more

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Jun 20, 2019 Hannah Darr rated it really liked it

"Abolitionist teaching is asking a lot of all teachers, but any good pedagogy should. Any pedagogy that does not interrogate and challenge Whiteness is inadequate, especially since more than 80 percent of the teaching force is White. Any pedagogy that does not help teachers contextualize students' realities is inadequate because no student is solely responsible for their reality. And any pedagogy that does not challenge injustice is useless because survival is not the goal. Abolitionist teaching ...more

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Oct 22, 2019 Kesi Augustine rated it it was amazing

Dr. Love is an insightful and important writer. I am a young Black educator and I am just starting my third year of my career. I heard Dr. Love on 8 Black Hands and then immediately bought her work.

This was a book that was deceptively short but quite thorough, I read it slowly over the course of about a month, hoping to commit it to memory. Dr. Love taught me that I must teach my students not just about injustice but to also offer them models of resistance. I appreciated her for call ...more

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Nov 14, 2019 Paula Overby rated it really liked it

The book identifies so many issues from so many different perspectives that I found it difficult to develop a cohesive interpretation. While there were many illustrations of the inherency of injustice, it was that sense of inherency that made it difficult to formulate an actionable response. The idea that this perspective is a denial based in my white privilege invokes a binary context that is counterintutive to one of the authors primary assertions about intersectionality. Still, that depth of ...more

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Jun 11, 2019 Maxine rated it really liked it

Shelves: finished, race

A beautiful and important book--but as a white woman, this book was not written for me, which is Love's entire point. More a manifesto than a book of pedagogical theory, it does the "freedom dreaming" work it advocates for rather than outlining specific strategies. While I found it moving and radicalizing, this is not a guide to abolitionist teaching so much as it is a galvanizing force to look into such teaching and be humble in my own approaches in the classroom.

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Sep 25, 2019 Angie Prophet rated it really liked it

I was hoping for more information about theories and structures that are working in some schools. I guess I was hoping to see some more case study work in this text because I think there are other books that have done exactly what this one is doing. I love how this book is structured and the background information that is provided. It is a great intro for people who have not done extensive work in this area.

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Jul 16, 2019 Melinda rated it it was amazing

“Teachers who say they are deeply concerned about social justice or that they love all children but cannot say ‘Black Lives Matter’ have no real understanding of what social justice is and what it truly means to love, find joy, and appreciate students and their students’ culture.”

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Oct 01, 2019 Kumoshi rated it really liked it

It was definitely a solid read! From the title/headline, though, I was expecting it to be more specifically focused on teaching in the classroom rather than the more broad scope it ended up covering. Not a bad thing, just not what I expected.

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Apr 08, 2019 Melissa rated it it was amazing

A well written immersive book. Givee the reader a lot to think about. This seems to be a book that may need to be read more than once to grasp all the ideas. Won book courtesy of the author and goodreads.com

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Aug 02, 2019 Elisa rated it it was amazing

A must read for educators.

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Jul 14, 2019 Falicia rated it it was amazing

This is a book that I read slowly in order to have enough time to digest it. This should be required reading for all teachers and those considering the profession.

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