Both boys attend the Dalton School, an independent school in New York City. The movie was made by Idris’s parents Joe Brewster and Michele Stephenson.

Several of my colleagues, including our academic dean, Sidra Smith and director of social justice and multicultural programs, Johára Tucker had seen a pre-screening of the film last fall. The two of them, along with Kemarah Sika, director of library and media services, collaborated to ensure a hearty morning of professional development and learning. They introduced us to a powerful metaphor; the metaphor of a pond currently stocked with bass. The owner of the pond wanted to introduce trout into the waters and learned all about how to do that from a fish expert. The owner then introduced the trout to the pond but pretty much abandoned them to their own devices, following none of the advice from the expert. Most of the trout died and the bass survived.

We discussed at length what it takes to make our pond (CSW) ready for a more diverse population, all that we have to learn, and all that we need to remain open to. The metaphor helped the discussion move along quickly and deeply. This is vital and important work—work that we all need to engage in consistently at a profound level. I highly recommend the documentary to all families—watch it together with your children if you can, and talk about America’s promise and your hopes and dreams around creating a vibrant diverse world.

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Pocket Change is a web diary written by Jane Moulding, head of school.