NCTE Executive Committee Motions Related to Implementation of the 1996 Report on Involving People of Color in the Council

2001:96
To establish a Task Force charged with exploring the establishment of an NCTE Commission on Diversity and other such entities as it deems appropriate. (Stock, Hirth)  CARRIED  (Diversity Subcommittee)

Time Line:
Established in November of 2001, the Task Force is expected to complete its charge on or before November 2002.

Charges:

1.  To educate itself on recent critical inquiry into social and cultural difference, including critical race theory, queer theory, disability studies, post-colonial theory, critical literacy studies, critical language studies, and gender theory as well as other areas members of the Task Force feel appropriate;

2.  To discuss the potential impact of such theories on the practice of teaching and learning the language arts, including K-12, the college level, and teacher education (in-service and pre-service);

3.  To suggest directions to the NCTE Executive Committee for educating the membership with regard to the above and for engaging the membership in discussion of the above (such directions might include, but are not limited to:  (a) proposing convention sessions, speakers, workshops, panels; (b) creating a bibliography of selected works; and (c) publications);

4.  To suggest infrastructure mechanisms within NCTE to enable education and  discussion to continue beyond the duration of the Task Force (such suggestions might include establishing a Commission).

Activities:

1.  The Task Force will meet at the 2001 Annual Convention and deliberate on the above.  Deliberation will continue between the 2001 Annual Convention and the 2002 Annual Convention;

2.  The Task Force will consult with appropriate individuals and appropriate groups, committees, commissions, etc., within NCTE and outside of NCTE;

3.  The Task Force will propose a session for the 2002 Annual Convention;

4.  The Task Force will write and submit to the Executive Committee a short document to include:  (a) a description and discussion of the impact or potential impact of these theories of social and cultural difference for teaching and learning the language arts; (b) directions for educating and engaging the membership in discussion of the theories and the impact of the theories for teaching and learning; and (c) directions and discussion for NCTE with regard to infrastructure, including but not limited to consideration of the creation of a Commission;

The Task Force will present to the Executive Committee a recommendation and rationale for the continuation or non-continuation of the Task Force through the 2003 Annual Convention.

2001:124
In 1996 the 17 distinguished members of the NCTE Task Force on Involving People of Color in the Council recommended that  “only persons of color” be nominated “for Vice President on a regularly scheduled basis.”  Whereas we as an organization are not legally able to institute this 1996 recommendation as written policy, the NCTE Executive Committee strongly recommends that this charge be instituted as customary and routine practice and that in so doing we thus operationalize the Council’s commitment to diversity.  In light of the fact that the NCTE Nominating Committee nominates a vice presidential slate every four years from the elementary, middle, secondary, and college sections, respectively, we recommend that the Council ensure the regular election of persons of color to the NCTE Vice Presidency by advising the NCTE Nominating Committee to run at least four slates of all persons of color in each twelve-year cycle. Specifically, we advise that the NCTE Nominating Committee run a slate of all persons of color at least once in every three times a vice president is nominated from the elementary section, at least once in every three times the vice president is nominated from the middle level section, at least once in every three times the vice president is nominated from the secondary section, and at least once in every three times the vice president is nominated from the college section. We recommend that this practice commence with the NCTE 2002-03 Nominating Committee.  The Executive Committee wishes to note that this recommended practice should not preclude regular inclusion of people of color on all slates for all years.  (Stock, Floyd)  CARRIED