It’s no secret that racism is still a problem in our society. And unfortunately, it’s also an issue in our schools.
Racism in schools takes many forms. It can be overt, like when students make racist comments or jokes. It can also be more subtle, like when students are segregated by race or when teachers have different expectations for students of different races.
Either way, racism in schools is a real and serious problem. It creates an unsafe and unwelcome environment for students of color. It also leads to disparities in achievement and opportunities.
So what can we do about racism in schools?
First, we need to acknowledge that it exists. We can’t sweep it under the rug or pretend it’s not a problem.
Second, we need to talk about it. We need to have open and honest conversations about race and racism. This can be uncomfortable, but it’s necessary.
Third, we need to take action. We need to create policies and programs that address racism in schools. We also need to hold everyone accountable – students, teachers, administrators, and even parents.
Racism is a complex issue, but we can’t afford to ignore it any longer. We need to face it head-on and work together to create a more just and equitable society for all.
There will almost certainly be news of racial tension in our schools if you turn on the television or open a newspaper. In many cases, racism is caused by a lack of diversity. Consider my own experience at two very different high schools: first as a student in a school with primarily white students, then as a teacher. Many of the pupils had attended this institution since grade school and had little contact with people from different backgrounds.
The student body was made up of mostly white, wealthy students. Because of this, when a few African American and Latino students were admitted to the school, they experienced a lot of racism.
The African American students were called racial slurs and told to go back to their own schools. The Latino students were made fun of for their accents and told to go back to Mexico. There were very few teachers or administrators who did anything to stop this racism. In fact, some of them even participated in it.
The next two years I attended a high school that was much more diverse. There were students from all different backgrounds and cultures. The majority of the student body was still white, but there was a significant number of African American, Latino, Asian, and Middle Eastern students. There was also a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds represented. Because of this diversity, the students were much more accepting of each other. There was still some racism, but it was not nearly as bad as at my previous school.
It is clear that exposure to diversity can help reduce racism in high schools. When students are around others who are different from them, they are less likely to judge and hate them. They are more likely to be curious and want to learn about their culture and experiences.
Therefore, high schools should make an effort to increase diversity among their students. This can be done by recruiting students from different backgrounds, offering financial assistance to those who cannot afford tuition, and providing support programs for underrepresented groups. By increasing diversity, we can help reduce racism in our high schools.
Several times, I overheard classmates making racial jokes and denigrating non-whites with words such as “ghetto.” This was extremely distressing to me since I had come from a school where this sort of bad behavior wasn’t tolerated. I later transferred to a school where whites were in the minority.
I remember an incident where a group of white students were called “honkies” by a black student. The term made me very uncomfortable because it is a derogatory term used to describe whites.
Racism in schools is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. It is important for students to feel safe and respected at school. No one should have to endure being called names or made to feel unwelcome because of their race. Schools need to create an environment where all students can feel comfortable and respected.
While this book is very popular, it has its own set of problems. Some white parents would prefer to believe that their children are color blind to race and avoid educating them about the distinctions between races. Whites are often hesitant to speak about race because they feel guilty for the wrongs done to previous generations of non-whites (Bell). This notion, in fact, may be at the heart of the problem.
Data suggests that when whites do not talk about race with their children, the children are more likely to develop racist attitudes and behaviors (Bell).
High schools across America continue to struggle with issues of racism. In too many cases, students of color are the targets of racism, whether it is in the form of name-calling, being made to feel unwelcome, or actual physical violence. Sadly, this is nothing new. What isnew, however, is the way social media has allowed racist attitudes and actions to proliferate.
Racism in schools takes many different forms. One common form is microaggressions. Microaggressions are small but cumulative acts of racism that occur on a daily basis. They can be intentional or unintentional, but they add up over time and can have a significant impact on students of color.
Another common form of racism in schools is discrimination in the classroom. This can take many different forms, from a teacher calling on white students more often than students of color, to making assumptions about what students of color are capable of based on stereotypes.
Racism in schools can also manifest as physical violence. Unfortunately, this is all too common, especially against black and Latino students. In 2015, there were nearly 2,000 reported cases of hate-motivated attacks in schools (Southern Poverty Law Center).
The good news is that there are things that can be done to combat racism in schools. Parents, teachers, and administrators can all play a role in creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all students.
If you witness an act of racism, don’t be a bystander. Speak up and take action. Showing solidarity with students of color is one of the most important things we can do to combat racism in our schools.
The University of Texas in Austin published a study on “Are Children Racist?” where researchers discovered that the majority of white moms took a colorblind mentality when discussing a book about race with their four to five-year-old kids. In contrast, the study also revealed that non-white parents discussed race with their children.
The article goes on to say that racism is still a problem in our society, and children are not born racist, but they can learn racist attitudes from adults.
There have been several studies done on racism in schools, and the results are often alarming. A study by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that students of color perceive more racism in their schools than white students do. In another study, researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that black students are three times more likely than white students to be suspended from school.
These studies show that racism is still a problem in our schools. Children of color are disproportionately affected by suspensions and expulsions, which can lead to them falling behind in school and eventually dropping out. We need to do better in educating our children about race and racism, so that they can learn to be accepting of all people.
If you suspect that your child is a victim of racism at school, there are some things you can do. Talk to your child’s teacher or the school principal. You can also contact the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) for more information on how to address racism in schools.
Racism is a problem that needs to be addressed in our society. By talking to our children about race and racism, we can help them learn to be accepting of all people.