As we mourn the unjust deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics renews its commitment to promoting equitable access to quality mathematics instruction for the children of North Carolina. Students need to experience mathematics in ways that allow them to be successful and that give them the power to change the world. This experience needs to be delivered with both excellence and equality while resonating with the lives of Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian, and all marginalized peoples. Racism cannot be tolerated, and we as teachers must be vigilant that we do not tolerate nor contribute to racism, bias, hate, or violence in our classrooms.
Although these beliefs are the foundation of the work of the organization, we also acknowledge that severe gaps in equity exist and that we must continue to strive to close these gaps. Acknowledgement of equity issues in content and access to quality mathematics education is an important first step, but real change will only occur with actions designed to bring about improvement. We cannot change the past, but we can and do change the future as we educate children. We can step forward to be part of a positive change to eliminate racism and bias as a part of everyday life for anyone.
As an organization of educators, the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics will contribute to that change by providing pertinent professional development that helps us grow as teachers in our knowledge and skills for creating classrooms where every child can learn in a safe environment free from racism, bias, and oppression. We commit to increasing diversity in our leadership, in our speakers, and in our work on behalf of the mathematics teachers and students of North Carolina. We will work to support the teachers of North Carolina in creating a mathematics environment where all students feel safe, valued as learners, and capable as mathematicians.