Frequently asked questions
You might find your answer in our frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Note: Although this FAQ is designed to be helpful it is not a complete discussion. It may not cover important issues that affect you. Depending on your situation, you may wish to contact us for further information or advice.
How do I start my Unteach Racism journey?
Start by listening to our ‘Make.Me.Visible’ video and hear from a learner that was made to feel invisible. ‘Make.Me.Visible’ is a call for all of us to reflect on a time when we may have made someone feel invisible or a time when we felt invisible ourselves. Hopefully this will inspire you to lead change after hearing this story. The Teaching Council hopes you will join the Unteach Racism kaupapa and we invite you to take action by accessing the Unteach Racism app. This will guide your journey moving forward. The Teaching Council hopes you will join the Unteach Racism kaupapa and we invite you to take action by accessing the Unteach Racism app. This will guide your journey moving forward.
What is Unteach Racism?
Unteach Racism is an initiative to support teachers and education leaders to identify, confront and dismantle racism in education. It is an initiative that supports teachers and leaders to have safe and productive conversations about racism that result in changes to behaviour and practice, as set out in Our Code, Our Standards | Ngā Tikanga Matatika, Ngā Paerewa.
The Teaching Council has partnered with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) to develop this education response under the same banner as the HRC’s Give Nothing to Racism (GNTR) 2017 campaign. The GNTR campaign was the first nationwide anti-racism campaign and has gained international acclaim.
The Teaching Council has partnered with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) to develop this education response under the same banner as the HRC’s Give Nothing to Racism (GNTR) 2017 campaign. The GNTR campaign was the first nationwide anti-racism campaign and has gained international acclaim.
Do teachers and education leaders have to do this?
No, it is not compulsory. Teachers are invited to participate in Unteach Racism and begin these conversations in safe and productive ways. The Unteach Racism app and supporting resources are designed to enable teachers to do this but are optional and not required for certification.
Teachers and education leaders are already overloaded with responsibility - how do we do this too?
The intention of Unteach Racism is not to create more work for teachers, but to provide a tool and support to address an ongoing problem. Teachers have said they hear conversations about learners, curriculum and pedagogy that is underpinned by racism. However, it can be uncomfortable to discuss how to change the conversation and support colleagues to rethink biases and assumptions. The Unteach Racism app and resources are designed to assist teachers to lean in to conversations about racism and the app and resources are accessible and relevant to everyone, no matter their starting point.
Why have you used the word racism and not unconscious bias?
Children and young people in our education system experience racism, not unconscious bias. While we acknowledge the adult may not have intended to be racist, we are focusing on the effects of these interactions on children and their long-term outcomes. We have also chosen to use the term racism because experts in this field advise we should explicitly name the problem we are trying to solve.
How are racism and race defined in Unteach Racism?
These definitions we’ve used are based on a wide range of Aotearoa and international research, primarily Ibram Kendi's work How To Be An Antiracist.
Race: Race is a power construct which groups people into a hierarchy of superiority based primarily on skin colour and other attributes. There is no scientific or genetic basis to race, but it has been and continues to be used to justify both privilege and oppression.
Racism: Racism is a system which creates and/or sustains racial inequities through a collection of racist ideas, actions, or policies.
Race: Race is a power construct which groups people into a hierarchy of superiority based primarily on skin colour and other attributes. There is no scientific or genetic basis to race, but it has been and continues to be used to justify both privilege and oppression.
Racism: Racism is a system which creates and/or sustains racial inequities through a collection of racist ideas, actions, or policies.
Does racism still exist, and does it have an impact on learners and their learning environments?
In 2018 the Office of the Commissioner for Children released Education Matters to Me: Key Insights Report, with the New Zealand Schools Trustees Association, which evidenced the effects of racism on young people in our education system. The report is publicly available online: https://www.occ.org.nz/publications/reports/education-matters-to-me-key-insights/ Young peoples’ voices, along with the voices heard in school students’ race unity speeches (https://raceunity.nz/), provides a compelling evidence base for us to confidently answer “Yes”, racism still exists.
Why does the Teaching Council see this as a priority for work with teachers and education leaders?
Teachers and education leaders have a trusted position in society. It's important to respect and recognise the influence that all teachers and leaders have to shape learners’ understanding of the world and the future wellbeing of society. Unteach Racism encourages teachers and leaders to reflect on how their teaching practices affect and influence their learners and provides guidance to ensure teachers’ influence is positive, as described in the Code & Standards.
Teachers and leaders are responsible for upholding the Code of Professional Responsibility | Ngā Tikanga Matatika mō ngā Haepapa Ngaiotanga for teachers. The Code | Ngā Tikanaga Matatika declares a commitment by the teaching profession to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Part of this commitment is to promote the wellbeing of learners and protect them from harm, while effectively managing assumptions and personally held beliefs – something that the Unteach Racism tool also supports. Therefore, it is a priority for the Teaching Council to promote this kaupapa and thereby, support teachers.
Additionally, one of the Teaching Council’s key legislative functions is to identify and disseminate best practice in teaching and leadership.
Teachers and leaders are responsible for upholding the Code of Professional Responsibility | Ngā Tikanga Matatika mō ngā Haepapa Ngaiotanga for teachers. The Code | Ngā Tikanaga Matatika declares a commitment by the teaching profession to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Part of this commitment is to promote the wellbeing of learners and protect them from harm, while effectively managing assumptions and personally held beliefs – something that the Unteach Racism tool also supports. Therefore, it is a priority for the Teaching Council to promote this kaupapa and thereby, support teachers.
Additionally, one of the Teaching Council’s key legislative functions is to identify and disseminate best practice in teaching and leadership.
Why is the initiative called 'Unteach Racism’?
When racism is recognised as a societal issue (which is a central concept of the Human Rights Commission campaign) it’s easier to understand and acknowledge how it exists within systems and shapes our cultural norms. Our research with the teaching profession, confirmed that many learners in the education system experience racism and are fed subliminal messages and engrained biases.
Our learning environments can feed or starve racism. The idea of ‘unteaching’ means that teachers and leaders can actively work to reverse the lessons society teaches learners about who is less valued, by learning and reflecting on their practice. Unteaching acknowledges the unique skills and experience teachers have, and their position of influence and expertise in being able to address this challenge. We know they will inspire others to do the same and therefore it is a powerful call to action.
Our learning environments can feed or starve racism. The idea of ‘unteaching’ means that teachers and leaders can actively work to reverse the lessons society teaches learners about who is less valued, by learning and reflecting on their practice. Unteaching acknowledges the unique skills and experience teachers have, and their position of influence and expertise in being able to address this challenge. We know they will inspire others to do the same and therefore it is a powerful call to action.
How will it help?
Unteach Racism aims to empower the profession to have safe and productive conversations about racism that result in positive changes in behaviour and practice as set out in Our Code, Our Standards | Ngā Tikanga Matatika, Ngā Paerewa.
The intention is to support teachers and education leaders to have conversations that might help to identify how racism can manifest in individuals, systems, policies, and practices.
The intention is to support teachers and education leaders to have conversations that might help to identify how racism can manifest in individuals, systems, policies, and practices.
Why did you choose Taika Waititi to front the Unteach Racism 2022 campaign? (We've since launched our second campaign.)
As New Zealander of the Year and a kiwi with global recognition, Taika was a great person to represent the Human Rights Commission Give Nothing to Racism campaign in 2017. He was keen to be involved in the Unteach Racism kaupapa to help align it with the Human Rights Commission campaign and because his mother was a teacher. He had an authentic voice and experience to share and support teachers. Taika helps to make it ‘safe’ to participate, and undesirable to ignore racism.
Are you saying that every teacher and every learning environment needs this? Some of us live with racism in our own lives.
We acknowledge that the need for an initiative like Unteach Racism is variable and dependent on one’s lived experiences with racism. Some teachers, education leaders, schools and early childhood education centres have already addressed racism in their own settings. There are teachers who have been leading the way with their work in this area for years. However, to make a difference in education for all learners it takes all teachers to begin this journey, which is why we’ve created Unteach Racism alongside the Human Rights Commission, to be an accessible starting point.
So, what is there to help us?
There are online resources, research papers, an app for self-learning (no individual data will be collected or shared) and a dedicated website with accessible resources to support teachers and leaders to build their knowledge and make a difference for their learners.
These resources will build teachers’ understanding of their influence on learners and the effects of engrained biases and assumptions. The resources also explain how biases and assumptions are expressed within education as a whole and work to feed racism in Aotearoa.
The resources are divided into three categories, Identify, confront, and dismantle racism.
These resources will build teachers’ understanding of their influence on learners and the effects of engrained biases and assumptions. The resources also explain how biases and assumptions are expressed within education as a whole and work to feed racism in Aotearoa.
The resources are divided into three categories, Identify, confront, and dismantle racism.
Is data collected from the app? What about the website?
No, there is no collection of individual data through the app or website. Once you have downloaded the app, the responses you make or the content you cover remain private to you. We will be able to tell the total amount of people who have opened webpages on the website and downloaded the app, but we have no way of knowing who those people are. This was important to ensure teachers and education leaders felt it was a safe space to learn.
Will people who are not teachers be able to access this material?
Yes, as with other Teaching Council website material, it is open for the public to access. However, the design is built on the assumption that as a teacher you have the skills and knowledge to teach and to unteach.
Who has been involved in the design and content?
The Teaching Council has worked with teachers, professional leaders, academics, and others from outside of education as part of the design and development process. The content and design were also informed by the work of external agencies in the areas of leading cultural change and app design.
How has it been developed?
The Teaching Council recognises that there are global and national experts working on the ongoing challenge of eliminating racism. Their research has informed the Unteach Racism initiative. As the Teaching Council is not an organisation with expertise in addressing racism we have also partnered with the Human Rights Commission and have been supported in developing Unteach Racism by partner agencies, including the Office of the Commissioner for Children and the Ministry of Education and those involved in Te Hurihanganui.
We have also drawn on several expert leaders and teachers who have been able to guide our thinking and support us to design the app and supporting resources.
We have also drawn on several expert leaders and teachers who have been able to guide our thinking and support us to design the app and supporting resources.
Can we use these resources with our learners?
The Unteach Racism app and resources are not intended as content for young learners in schools and early childhood education centres. Instead, they are to help teachers and education leaders to build their knowledge and become confident in discussing this topic with colleagues through conversations that are both safe and productive and bring change to our education settings.
There are some terms that I’m unfamiliar with, how do I find out more about these?
There is a glossary included in the resources to explain the key terms used throughout the app. We encourage you to review the glossary, which has been informed by a wide range of both Aotearoa based and international research about racism.
What does the term 'lean in' refer to in the Unteach Racism app?
‘Lean in' has been used to express the opposite of 'shy away’. It refers to having the confidence or courage to engage in an uncomfortable conversation. Using the knowledge learned in the Unteach Racism app teachers and education leaders can lean in to safe and productive conversations about racism.
What comes next?
For each teacher, their Unteach Racism journey will start with their own understanding of how they can begin to identify, confront, and dismantle racism. The current resources focus on identifying potential biases within teaching practices. The app has been designed to support teachers and education leaders to develop their understanding of the concepts and discourse around racism and how they can begin to ‘unteach’ it in their own settings.
In addition to the Unteach Racism app, we’ve created some initial resources designed to support teachers and education leaders to feel equipped to ‘lean in’ to conversations about racism with their colleagues. As these conversations and learnings progress, additional resources will be developed to support teachers to feel confident to confront racism. This will begin the journey of dismantling systemic structures within education that perpetuate inequality. As always, the journey to identify, confront and dismantle racism will be guided by the profession, in line with best practice and the dissemination of current and relevant research in this field.
In addition to the Unteach Racism app, we’ve created some initial resources designed to support teachers and education leaders to feel equipped to ‘lean in’ to conversations about racism with their colleagues. As these conversations and learnings progress, additional resources will be developed to support teachers to feel confident to confront racism. This will begin the journey of dismantling systemic structures within education that perpetuate inequality. As always, the journey to identify, confront and dismantle racism will be guided by the profession, in line with best practice and the dissemination of current and relevant research in this field.
Most of your resources support teachers to identify and confront racism in education, but what if I/we have already started to dismantle it, where are the resources for us?
We understand that teachers and education leaders will be at different starting points of their Unteach Racism journey. Our initiative is iterative, and the Teaching Council is as much on this journey as teachers are. Following the launch of Unteach Racism, we intend to co-develop additional resources to support teachers to begin the journey of dismantling structures that perpetuate inequality, with support from experts and the teaching profession. We welcome your involvement in this next stage!
I would like to be involved in the ongoing development of this initiative, who do I contact?
Contact us at [email protected].
How is the success/effectiveness of this initiative being measured?
The Council has identified three important components for success, these are:
Once the project has reached the implementation phase, we will work with teachers, leaders and our partners to define how we will understand and measure the results of our three success components above, and to co-create a pathway forward.
- Reach and relevance
- Participation and engagement
- Development and change.
Once the project has reached the implementation phase, we will work with teachers, leaders and our partners to define how we will understand and measure the results of our three success components above, and to co-create a pathway forward.
There are many anti-racism tools, resources, and professional learning initiatives available, including the Ministry of Education’s Te Hurihanganui. How is Unteach Racism any different?
Unteach Racism begins as an individual journey, which requires self-reflection and engagement. Our conversations with teachers and education leaders indicated that while they had a good understanding of racism existing between people and in the actions and behaviours of individuals, they were less familiar with how racism exists within education systems, processes, and practice.
We don’t see Unteach Racism as the complete answer, rather we encourage you to use it as an opportunity to expand your understanding of racism and utilise other resources.
By engaging with Unteach Racism, teachers will have a foundation of understanding to become involved with the Te Hurihanganui space, with a heightened commitment to equitable outcomes for learners. The Teaching Council’s kaupapa, including Unteach Racism, will contribute to Te Hurihanganui local and national programme of action.
We don’t see Unteach Racism as the complete answer, rather we encourage you to use it as an opportunity to expand your understanding of racism and utilise other resources.
By engaging with Unteach Racism, teachers will have a foundation of understanding to become involved with the Te Hurihanganui space, with a heightened commitment to equitable outcomes for learners. The Teaching Council’s kaupapa, including Unteach Racism, will contribute to Te Hurihanganui local and national programme of action.
