Our Support and Commitment to Inclusion and Diversity

Given the recent incident at a local high school wherein a Progress Pride flag was cut down during Diversity Week at the school, the Association supports the District in its ongoing “intention to create awareness and celebrate the diversity of students, as well as increase inclusion...continually educating students … on the importance of respecting one another and the right to attend school, participate in events, and learn in a safe and respectful school environment.” We also join with our friends at our neighboring district in their expression of solidarity: that “if extra support is needed, we encourage all to reach out to allies and supporters including those offered within the walls of our schools,” and among the members our Association.
 
 These values reflect the mission of Northern Utah UniServ to

*Advocate for the well-being of our members

*Improve the conditions of teaching and learning 

*Advance the cause of free, universal, and quality public education

*Preserve the human dignity and civil rights of our members, and by extension, all educators and their students

*Foster a more just, equitable, inclusive and democratic society
 
Northern Utah UniServ echoes beliefs with UEA that
 

• The diversity of our society enriches all individuals. Similarities and differences among race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, status as a person with a disability, and protected veterans’ rights form the fabric of a society.

 

• Education should foster a vibrant, pluralistic society that authentically reflects diverse populations and recognizes the importance of observances, programs and curricula that accurately portray and recognize the roles, contributions, cultures and history of diverse groups and individuals.

 

• Education should support efforts to understand and respect cultural, ethnic, religious, and other individual differences, the rights of others, and the importance of these differences to a healthy pluralistic democracy.

 
 

• Education should support accountability that is restorative in its approach, whether for impulsive, insensitive, or intentionally hurtful actions.

 

• Inclusion has the power to unite, while exclusion has the tendency to divide.