Diversity and Equity Today: Meeting the Challenge Chapter Thirteen

Society in the Classroom Wider society influences what goes on in the classroom, for better or for worse Wider society influences what goes on in the classroom, for better or for worse Racism and sexism present and often unchallenged in the structures of schooling Racism and sexism present and often unchallenged in the structures of schooling Jane Elliott’s Discrimination Day exercises Jane Elliott’s Discrimination Day exercises –Members of a group identified as “superior” literally tend to act and feel superior; those identified as “inferior” also react accordingly

the the Pygmalion effect The Pygmalion effect, Rosenthal effect, or more commonly known as the "teacher- expectancy effect" refers to situations in which students perform better than other students simply because they are expected to do so. The Pygmalion effect requires a student to internalize the expectations of their superiors. It is a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy, and in this respect, students with poor expectations internalize their negative label, and those with positive labels succeed accordingly. Within sociology, the effect is often cited with regards to education and social class.studentsself-fulfilling prophecysocial class

Theories of Social Inequality Genetic Inferiority Theory –argues that biologically some groups of people are inferior intellectually and socially –interpretations of IQ testing to support this theory continued to be offered and continue to be discredited (Jensen, Schockley, Herrnstein) Cultural Deficit Theory –inferior home environments explained low achievement rates of minority children –1960s, 1970s compensatory education movement –beginning of Head Start –does not take children’s unfamiliarity with the dominant culture into account Critical theory –questions the whole social order and its power relations –looks at the relationship between the child and the school, rather than the child or school in isolation

Cultural Difference Theory Respects the variety of different cultures and assesses the relationships among various cultural groups Respects the variety of different cultures and assesses the relationships among various cultural groups Addresses “cultural mismatch”—differing ways of learning, demonstrating knowledge, behaviors and socialization patterns among students Addresses “cultural mismatch”—differing ways of learning, demonstrating knowledge, behaviors and socialization patterns among students Confronts the traditional role of schools as instruments of social policy that maintain the dominant culture Confronts the traditional role of schools as instruments of social policy that maintain the dominant culture

Cultural Subordination Theory Examines social processes that lead to lower status for minority groups and structured inequalities in the system Examines social processes that lead to lower status for minority groups and structured inequalities in the system Anyon’s study of elementary schools Anyon’s study of elementary schools Testing, tracking, and ability grouping Testing, tracking, and ability grouping Schools, curriculum, and setting reflect white middle-class worldview Schools, curriculum, and setting reflect white middle-class worldview

Resistance Theory Students experiencing discrimination retreat Students experiencing discrimination retreat –Adolescent girls submerge their intelligence –African American students caught between cultures –Other students give the impression they “don’t care” about schooling, and teachers can give up on them

The Impact of Language What linguists agree on : What linguists agree on : –all languages can support complex cognitive processes and express whatever needs to be expressed –language prestige is attached to economic/military power of group using it –children learn better through use of native language –not all non-standard speakers have same language development –the way a child's primary language is valued affects self- concept –every language has variety of linguistic styles –reading failure is frequently caused by conflict between English-speaking teachers and non-English-speaking children

Bilingual and ESL Instruction as Bridges to English Proficiency 42% of all public school teachers have at least one Limited English Proficiency (LEP) student in their classroom 42% of all public school teachers have at least one Limited English Proficiency (LEP) student in their classroom Spanish-speaking more likely to receive bilingual instruction; others get ESL programs Spanish-speaking more likely to receive bilingual instruction; others get ESL programs Oakland School District’s controversial Ebonics instruction program Oakland School District’s controversial Ebonics instruction program BEV: Language and cultural subordination BEV: Language and cultural subordination

Pedagogical Approaches to Pluralism Ignore differences and teach to single standard Ignore differences and teach to single standard Seek to eliminate differences by forcing compliance to a single standard Seek to eliminate differences by forcing compliance to a single standard Balance sensitivity to group differences without being biased by group differences Balance sensitivity to group differences without being biased by group differences –“culturally responsive” pedagogy

Multicultural Education and Democratic Pluralism 1. Teaching the exceptional and culturally different –fitting students into existing structure with ESL, bilingual, remedial, special education programs –retains status quo 2. Human relations –promotion of unity, tolerance, and acceptance within existing structure among students –Doesn’t address institutional inequities 3. Single-group studies –singling out groups for study; foster acceptance, work towards social change on behalf of identified group –Doesn’t alter the main curriculum; more “add on” 4. Multicultural education –promotion of cultural pluralism, equal opportunity and respect in the school –critical thinking, bilingual instruction –debate over whether result is cohesion or fragmentation 5. Education that is multicultural and social reconstructionist –preparation for the “real world”

Multicultural and Social Reconstructionist Education Practice of democracy Practice of democracy Analysis of one’s own life Analysis of one’s own life Development of social action skills Development of social action skills Formation of social coalitions across boundaries of race, ethnicity, social class and gender Formation of social coalitions across boundaries of race, ethnicity, social class and gender

Diversity, Equity, and Special Education Multicultural education is the most equitable way to address educational needs of all students (Banks) Multicultural education is the most equitable way to address educational needs of all students (Banks) Special education as a form of tracking (Skrtic) Special education as a form of tracking (Skrtic) Labels may say more about the system than they do about the students Labels may say more about the system than they do about the students

Concluding Remarks Jane Elliott’s experiment reminds us of the social construction of what is judged superior or inferior Jane Elliott’s experiment reminds us of the social construction of what is judged superior or inferior Slow progress from culturally deficient to culturally different explanations of differences Slow progress from culturally deficient to culturally different explanations of differences Sensitivity means asking “When is race or class or gender a relevant variable in this student’s performance, and when is it not?” Sensitivity means asking “When is race or class or gender a relevant variable in this student’s performance, and when is it not?”