Racial discrimination has plagued the US educational system for a long time. It is quite hard to imagine that there are racists among educational institutions who should be promoting camaraderie and equality among individuals. Countless incidents of racism in schools have elicited debates, regulations and laws to implement just and fair treatment of every individual regardless of race, nationality and color. Most critics would say that those people who initiate that racism prevail in schools are just seeking special treatment to ease their way through school. This have been proven wrong by 16 year old named Charissa who was named 1995 Newsweek scholar, when she spoke in front of her classmates on the “Difficulties Minority Students Encounter in Predominantly White Schools”. She received a lot of hurtful comments like she’s just another black person crying in need of a crutch. That particular incident has lowered her self esteem which greatly affected her studies; she later on applied for early entrance to college and didn’t attend graduation at her high school.
Racism is characterized as the presence of superiority of one group to another usually a smaller group. Difference in color is the earliest recognition of a child to racism. Parents have the direct influence on a child racial attitude either in a positive or negative way. The biggest challenge is maintaining a positive attitude towards racism in the presence of your peers or groups which practices negative racial discrimination.
How prevalent is racism in schools? Racism exists in the presence of a diverse society. There are racial jokes, stereotyping and derogatory arguments among white kids and black kids. States that has a high immigration rate experiences an increase in racial discrimination. States where there are many minority groups are likely to have higher incidence of racial discrimination.
Can racism be prevented? What can we do to eradicate racism among students? Resources are widely available for teachers to recognize such occurrence and avoid tolerating such racial actions. Educators and school administrators should develop strategic ways to change student’s racist behaviors.
- A clear manifestation of expectations regarding racism should be communicated to all
- Implement rules and regulations strictly by enforcing corrective measures for those who violates set rules on racism behaviors
- Quick response to racial incidents in schools should be practiced
- Propose integration in seating arrangements
- Seek cooperation from parents and student organizations to participate in the campaign to eradicate racism
