As I read and watched the assignments this week I felt a lot of different things; passion, hope, anger, resolve, frustration, skepticism, empowered. I think that there are so many ideas and concepts of this topic that I resonate with, but like many others I'm sure, it feels overwhelming and sometimes impossible when you think about putting abolition into practice. I feel that as I am learning more about and living in the structures of our society currently it is clear to me that we have gone astray. It isn't working anymore - not some of it or certain things - but most of it. I feel as though the thought of abolition is reminding you that you have a CHOICE in who you are and what you do as a youth worker. The concept of "Don't like it? Change it. Make your own." is a powerful one that we often don't think of in our current society. We are so indoctrinated into the current systems of living that we think this is how it HAS to be - which is exactly where they want you to be. Like we talked about when discussing the Nap Ministry, the people who are benefiting from how things are currently designed don't want you to stop and imagine something else. Certain things said in the video about the education system sound like things easy to touch or things I am already doing - ie. tailor your curriculum, stand up for the values you believe in, create a space that is conducive for all to feel safe and proud and intelligent. But I do believe at the end of the day there is only so much you can do within the current systems. These systems hold so much power that it feels impossible to overturn how things are currently done. So instead we slap band aids on it - "white supremacy with a hug". Instead of dismantling and reworking racist system we hold "inclusivity workshops" and hire two teachers of color. I'm not saying it can't be done - I think with enough support and education teachers could certainly band together to form real change. But honestly with what I've seen this far in the field, that doesn't feel like something I can touch right now. To me, I feel more inspired to start over - create a program that is all the things and should be and none of the things it shouldn't be. I think there is starting to be a shift in education - more homeschooling and private based education programs are being higher regarded. Maybe these steps are how something like abolition can begin to happen. For now, in my current practice I will continue to instill values in the children of kindness, openness, and bravery. I can't wait to see what kind of world they will create.
