Name it.

Don’t say you’re against DEI unless you’re ready to explain why.

Name It. 

We hear it increasingly these days, people saying they “have a problem with DEI.” It’s become a catch-all for discomfort, disagreement, or fear, often without specifics. Here's the thing: If you're going to reject something as fundamental as DEI, then you must be willing to name exactly what you're against. Because DEI isn't a monolith. It stands for three core commitments: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Each one supports the success of all students on its own.

Let’s break it down. If you’re still uncomfortable after understanding what Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion truly mean, be honest with yourself and others about what’s making you uncomfortable. Is it the idea of sharing power? Of acknowledging systemic barriers? Of changing long-standing practices that have only served some? Discomfort is not a justification for dismissal unless you're willing to confront its source.

D is for Diversity

Diversity means representation. It means recognizing and honoring student differences, including race, ethnicity, language, ability, gender, religion, and socioeconomic background. It does not mean excluding anyone. It means expanding the lens, so no one is left out.

If you have a problem with diversity, are you saying students should only see themselves reflected in the curriculum, literature, and leadership if they belong to a particular group? Are you saying that a classroom should ignore the reality of the world students live in?

Diversity benefits everyone. It builds empathy. It grows global thinkers. It prepares students for real life, where difference isn’t an exception, it’s the norm.

E is for Equity

Equity is not the same as equality. Equality gives everyone the same. Equity gives everyone what they need to succeed. That might mean extra language support. It might mean access to assistive technology. It might mean understanding that students don’t all start from the same place, and designing schools that meet them where they are.

If you have a problem with equity, is it because you're uncomfortable with fairness when it requires effort? Are you saying the playing field is already level?

Equity benefits all students by ensuring that talent, potential, and success aren’t limited by the zip code a child grows up in or the language they speak at home.

I is for Inclusion

Inclusion is the daily practice of belonging. It means students don’t just show up; they are welcomed, valued, and heard. Inclusion doesn't take anything away from students who’ve always had a seat at the table; it simply ensures more chairs are pulled up.

If you have a problem with inclusion, is it because you’re worried someone else’s voice means less of yours? Are you afraid of sharing space?

Inclusion strengthens communities. It makes classrooms safer, more prosperous, and more dynamic. And it models the kind of citizenship we want to instill in our young people.

If you have a problem with DEI, I challenge you to name and define the part you object to. Own it. Is it the presence of difference? Is it support for those who need more? Is it the idea that everyone should belong?

Vague discomfort is easy, you can reject something without examining and publicly naming your beliefs. But when you’re forced to name precisely what part of DEI you oppose, you reveal whether your resistance is rooted in bias, fear, misinformation, or a desire to maintain the uneven status quo. Clarity exposes truth.

If you're against DEI, then say what you really mean: you’re uncomfortable with schools serving all kids. Not just the ones who look like you, learn like you, or believe what you believe. That’s not a critique, that’s a confession. Let’s be clear: the real threat to education isn’t DEI. It’s the refusal to see every child as worthy of dignity, opportunity, and belonging. If we can’t get behind ALL in public education, what exactly are we doing?