Social Issue Research Project ETHS 2410 RACISM TODAY IN SCHOOL

RACISM IN SCHOOLS I wanted to discuss racism in schools because I’m pursuing a career in education. I feel as though I’ve had my eyes shut to all of the racism that is occurring around me. I didn’t recognize racism. Taking this class revealed the racism that is occurring today. There have been laws passed because of the racism for instance the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling banned school segregation and affirmed the right to quality education for all children and the 1964 Civil Rights Act guaranteed equal access to education. Although, these laws have passed we are still facing these issues in 2015.

SCHOLARLY LITERATURE REVIEW 1 Racism in schools is pushing more black families to homeschool their children sm-in-schools-is-pushing-more-black-families-to-homeschool-their- children/ This article discussed the course of action that parents have resorted to because of the racism their children are facing in school. Parents are outraged that their African American children are being suspended 34 percent more often than white children. Research shows that black parent’s homeschool their children due to white racism. White teachers make up 85 percent of all public school teachers and parents are blaming this on the racism problem. Parents consistently portrayed white teachers as overly critical, unresponsive, unqualified, insensitive, offensive, mean, hypocritical, and using double standards when it comes to their African American children. Instead of challenging the system; they’ve taken matters into their own hands and are pulling their children from school and homeschooling.

SCHOLARLY LITERATURE REVIEW 2 Stop blaming black parents for underachieving kids parents-for-underachieving-kids/ This article discussed how our Nation has undermined African American’s who live under the poverty line. Mayors, teachers unions, and news commentators have boiled down the academic achievement gap between white and black students to one root cause: parents. However, this article found that it was poverty, not motivation or attitudes that contributed to the lower performance. In New Orleans opportunities are scarce to be placed in a good school. In 2014 the hoops that were required to jump through to have your student attend a charter school consisted of standing in line which wrapped around the building. The community didn’t believe that African American parents cared and underestimated the amount of people who showed up. So many parents showed up that there wasn’t enough staff available to see every parent and had to turn parents away. It shouldn’t be money keeping your child from receiving a quality education. It would be about the drive of your student and their will. We need to put more money into education so students receive a better education.

SCHOLARLY LITERATURE REVIEW 3 American Schools Are STILL Racist, Government Report Finds This article discussed white schools vs. schools with predominant students of ethnic background receive different education. One of the facts is, “one in four school districts pays teachers in less-diverse high schools $5,000 more than teachers in schools with higher black and Latino student enrollment.” Minority students have less access to teachers with experience. Discrimination lowers academic performance for minority students and puts them at greater risk of dropping out of school. If we want students to excel; we need to give them the proper education and opportunity in doing so thus why lawsuits have been filed and won so that this doesn’t occur but it still is. There is racism in our education system that needs to end.

INTERVENTION My Intervention will start with the teachers. Racism is taught and if you teach children at a young age that racism is WRONG then you have a better chance at that child talking about racism, empowering different cultures, and stopping racism when they hear or see it. Teaching about racism in the classroom is good starting point. My proposal is to send teachers to a seminar class every year that teaches teachers how to talk about racism, deal with racism, recognize racism, and stop it in their student’s life and in the classroom. Although, what you teach your students and what their parents may teach their children could be completely different things in hopes the child learns the right thing. With peer influences of them interacting and focusing on standing up to racism I think there is a better chance that it will overcome what the parents teach. I propose that each school district has a seminar that they attend. Each year, a different speaker will speak with different approaches to teaching racism so it isn’t repetitive

RESISTANCE TO THE INTERVENTION Some teachers may feel as though it isn’t important or some of these teachers may be the root of the racism problem and behave in racist ways. The speakers that speak to these teachers will have real life stories in hopes that they hit home and not only it home but their hearts. The solution to racism isn’t going to solve itself overnight. Making it real will aid in the resistance. Just as in school; when it is related to real life it’s easier understand. Another area of resistance is the lack of money being invested in education. It will cost money to send a speaker but for a solution to that is to have it filmed so that teachers can watch it on their free time.

SUPPORT TO THE INTERVENTION If you have an open mind and support equality then I’ll have support. Majority of people will support teaching about racism.

IMPACT TO THE INTERVENTION The hope is that racism will end. I believe as generations who lived through times when the color of your skin matter die out (not in a harsh way) but really when the racist grandparents die out less and less racism will exist. It’s important because as I learned with my readings parents have pulled their children out of school. Instead of challenging the system they are taking matters into their own hands and it isn’t solving the problem. The impact is that A.A students receive equal education as white students do, there will not be injustice, equality will occur, and only love will be given to each other vs. hatred.

REFERENCES discrimination_n_ html nobullying.com/racism-in-schools/ ›... › School Safety and Violence