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The Suzuki Association of the Americas is committed to creating inclusive, diverse, and generative spaces for its members. We are a community made up of members from several countries, many walks of life, and a wide set of perspectives and values. It is important that we agree as a group on guidelines for how to engage with each other. Our organization aims to solve big problems that impact teachers, students, parents, artists, musicians, and each of us as people. We know that in order for us to work together, we need to agree on a few basic principles for how to engage together.
Below you will find suggested guidelines as well as an Aspirational Code of Ethics for engaging in community spaces virtually or in person, as well as discussion forums on the SAA website, social media, or in relation to any SAA materials. While the guidelines below are not written in stone, and not all encompassing, we will use them as a starting point for collaboration. If you have questions, concerns, or feel these are not being followed, please email us at [email protected].
Below are commitments we ask from our members when gathering, writing to each other, and
sharing space with one another:
- Be present for and with each other: We do everything in our power to set ourselves up to focus on being in the same space. We honor each other’s time, and we trust that everyone in the space is doing all they can to be fully present. We know this can be difficult while we’re working from home, or on a Zoom call, and we offer respect and understanding toward each other. We offer a balanced perspective.
- Assume positive intent, own impact: We can hold accountability for the words people say along with an assumption that the intent is positive. We ask questions, rather than assuming or accusing someone of what they think. If we say something that someone tells us is hurtful, we listen and consider why and how it is hurtful.
- Use I statements: We speak to our own experiences, and to our own thoughts. It can be tempting to use our voices to speak for individuals and communities that have been silenced, but it is important that we give everyone the autonomy, trust, and authority to speak for themselves. We know our individual experience, and trust individuals to know their experiences.
- Stay open-minded and willing to hear diverse perspectives and ideas: We are a community of teachers, and as teachers, we are first and foremost a community of lifelong learners. We know no individual carries all of the answers we are looking for, and so are willing to listen to and engage with new ideas. We embrace “I don’t know,” and we embrace discomfort as opportunity for growth and learning.
- Stay focused: One topic at a time, and discuss the issue at hand. We, of course, can’t change the past and we know there are connections between topics. With that said, with focus and mindfulness, we can create solutions for the future.
- Pause for what we need: We trust each other to practice self-care—to know what we’re feeling, to check in with ourselves, and to ensure that we can engage in a way that is healthy and safe for those around us.
Suggested Prompts, and Questions:
Below is a set of questions for us all to ask ourselves in thoughtful consideration before we communicate with each other:
1. Safe
- Am I feeling heated, angry, overwhelmed, or otherwise disengaged from my most kind and thoughtful communicating self? Can I pause until I’m reconnected?
- If this is a post, would I say these things to someone face to face?
- Am I speaking about and from my own experience? Or am I speaking from hearsay, or speaking for others, which unfairly alters their voice?
- Can I acknowledge and name the emotion that is coming up? Can I share it with the people in the room?
2. Solution Focused
- Is it possible for me to approach this issue with curiosity, assuming I don’t have all the information, and ask questions to gain clarity instead of accusing?
- If I am asking for a change, do I understand the workload, timing, or other responsibilities of those that I’m asking it from?
- Am I pointing to a problem, or am I also offering my time, energy, and resources to achieve a solution?
- Can I acknowledge gratitude for the things going well?
3. Community Aware
- Is what I’m saying or writing something I want Suzuki students to embrace and embody? Am I comfortable with them seeing what I am saying or writing?
- Am I willing to have my online comments seen by a larger community including the entire staff, new teachers, parents, and my students?
- Am I using language that could be interpreted by others as disrespectful, shouting, rude, inappropriate, or confusing? If so, can I name that, and state why I am speaking in this way?
- Have I read my comments out loud to myself or someone else to check how they may be heard by someone else?
We are not interested in limiting dialogue, limiting thoughts, or turning down ideas. However, the safety, health, and well-being of all of our members are first and foremost. Therefore, we reserve the right to end discussions that are slanderous, unlawful, abusive, defamatory, invasive of another’s privacy, or offensive.
We welcome inquiry, dialogue, and curiosity. It is the highest priority of the SAA to establish and welcome safe, respectful, accessible, and sustainable communication. If you have any questions or concerns, you can write us at [email protected].