Respond to the following prompts in the Experiencing Racism discussion forum:
How do School Counselors lead system change?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Role of School Counselors in Leading System Change
Systemic change is a critical aspect of addressing and combating racism within educational institutions. School counselors, with their unique set of skills and expertise, play a vital role in leading this transformation. By advocating for equity, providing culturally responsive counseling, and collaborating with stakeholders, school counselors can lead the way in dismantling racist systems and promoting inclusivity. This essay will explore how school counselors contribute to system change and promote anti-racism within the education system.
1. Advocacy for Equity
School counselors have a responsibility to advocate for equity within their educational institutions. They can actively participate in discussions, committees, and decision-making processes to promote policies and practices that address racial disparities. By using data to identify inequities and presenting evidence-based arguments, counselors can influence positive change at both the micro and macro levels.
Culturally Responsive Counseling School counselors are trained to provide counseling services that are responsive to students’ cultural backgrounds and experiences. By adopting a culturally sensitive approach, counselors can create a safe and supportive environment for students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. This involves understanding the unique challenges faced by marginalized groups, challenging biases, and providing appropriate interventions to support students’ mental health and well-being.
Collaboration with Stakeholders Effective system change requires collaboration and partnerships with various stakeholders, including administrators, teachers, parents, and community members. School counselors can lead these collaborative efforts by engaging in dialogues about race, facilitating professional development workshops on cultural competency, and fostering relationships built on trust and mutual respect. By working together, stakeholders can develop strategies that promote equity, inclusivity, and anti-racism within the school system.
Data Collection and Analysis School counselors can contribute to system change by collecting and analyzing data related to racial disparities within their schools. By examining discipline records, academic achievement data, and access to resources, counselors can identify areas where racial inequities exist. This information can be used to inform decision-making processes, develop targeted interventions, and monitor progress towards creating a more equitable educational environment.
Curriculum Development School counselors can collaborate with teachers and administrators to develop curriculum that promotes multiculturalism, diversity, and anti-racism. By infusing lessons with content that challenges stereotypes, fosters understanding of different cultures, and promotes social justice, counselors can help create an inclusive learning environment that celebrates diversity. This curriculum development can extend beyond traditional academic subjects to include social-emotional learning programs that address issues of bias, prejudice, and racism.
Training and Professional Development School counselors have an opportunity to lead professional development sessions focused on cultural competence, anti-racism, and equity for educators and staff members. By providing training on the impact of racism on students’ mental health, strategies for creating inclusive classrooms, and ways to challenge implicit biases, counselors can empower educators to become agents of change within the school system.
In conclusion, school counselors have a significant role to play in leading system change within educational institutions to combat racism. Through advocacy for equity, culturally responsive counseling, collaboration with stakeholders, data collection and analysis, curriculum development, and training initiatives, school counselors can contribute to dismantling racist systems and promoting inclusivity. By embracing their unique position as change agents, counselors can help create educational environments that are equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist for all students.
