Courtney Farrell

What would you say to me if I asked you these questions: What shelf do you belong on? in the grocery store? in a clothing store? on a toy aisle? If you had to place yourself upon a shelf anywhere, where would you belong? I invite you to linger on these questions for a moment, … Read more

They have a lot of love. See, mom, they really get it. Did you hear their words? They are full of that love thing you’re always trying to do in schools – almost ten year old These words floored me today, they truly left me speechless. This is so personal for me tonight. I’m okay … Read more

Language. Language holds weight; immense weight, in fact. Words have the power to communicate ideology and shape world view. The words we use matter a great deal. The words we remain silent about and refrain from using also matter a great deal; their absence sends a message of denial of reality often times. So recently, … Read more

“That’s called racism!” a wise 5th grader recently stated during a whole class conversation this December. “Yeah, isn’t that called racial profiling?” said another.  Their amazing teacher, Ms. J, and I, a guest collaborator, researcher, and friend of the class, looked at one another, eyes wide and nodding at one another with the acknowledgment that: … Read more

As I approach my fortieth year in this crazy thing called life, I appreciate the little bits of wisdom my mama imparted to me over the years of my youth. She, most likely, gained this wisdom from her brilliant parents; I’ve no doubt. I wish to impart bits of wisdom to my two young boys, … Read more

If we agree that what we teach in the classroom must have relevance in the lives of our students outside of our four walls, when we teach kids to analyze characters in the books we read, without acknowledging and naming the work we’re doing as that of creating assumptions, are we essentially weaponizing children with … Read more

The youth of our nation cry out. Are we hearing them, all of them? Are we truly centering their collective cry in our hearts and in our actions? No. Tragically, we are not. We can, though, especially in emancipatory spaces, those critical spaces where the voices of youth are centered as they unpack thinking around … Read more

“Mom, you just don’t understand me,” he said to me with every molecule of impatience his adolescent self could muster on a Friday night after a long week of school, the first week in fact, of this new school year. Two things about these six simple words I’d humbly like to communicate to you. First, … Read more

I’ve been trying to figure out how to save my child for 365 days. I’m going to say that aloud to myself, so my soul can hear what I just wrote: I’ve been trying to figure out how to save my child for 365 days. That sounds weird to say, perhaps even a bit arrogant … Read more

A question for you tonight: When you were a kid, what did you dream of being when you grew up? Consider this question and hold the answer in your heart. Yep, I said heart. You’ll know why in a minute, I promise, when you’ve had a chance to read further. Perhaps you changed your mind … Read more