Via Brian Leiter, I read of a "Dear Colleague" letter about race in academia. It's troublesome in ways Leiter mentions. I developed my own teaching method that you may adapt and discuss that addresses these issues--while addressing these issues , if you get my drift. You can view a short write-up on my teaching method here . I never slid the scales on my Introductory classes. Frankly, I didn't need to. The majority of my students did very well--not just in grades, but in class discussion and attendance, where it's also demonstrable. It's true, I didn't befriend my students. But I gave them everything.