The United States is a nation that is becoming increasingly diverse. But for a country with changing demographics, this diversity is not reflected within the classroom . Although school segregation in the United States was legally abolished in 1954 as a result of the Supreme Court case Brown vs. Board of Education, public schools today are becoming re-segregated. It is well known that the phrase “separate but equal” was used to justify school segregation. However, separate schools in the mid-twentieth century were not equal, and neither are segregated schools today.
This re-segregation of public schools can be attributed to the fact that since the early 1990s schools were no longer required to uphold court orders that ruled for de-segregation since they were deemed “temporary” . Furthermore, the re-segregation of public schools is also a result of a school system that is based on the location of one’s house. Subsequently, if there is segregation within the housing sector, then segregation will trickle over into the school system as well. While students of all races reap the benefits of being in a classroom that is both racially and economically diverse, it is students of color who are often most effected by the issue of segregated schools. It has been found that attending a segregated school has a negative effect on educational outcomes, specifically for students of color.
A report from the Government Accountability Office that looked at the 2000-2001 and 2013-2014 school years found that schools with more poor black and Latinx students offered fewer math, science and college prep classes as well as more suspensions, expulsions and students who were held back in the ninth grade . Being a student at a lower income school also manifests itself in larger class sizes, guidance counselors not being as accessible and the likeliness of instruction taking place in a dilapidated building .
School re-segregation is an issue that deserves recognition. Allowing schools to become re-segregated perpetuates the systemic issues that already plague the United States in many other institutions. And having unequal educational opportunities for students not only harms that individual but the state of the entire nation.
Again,
In his essay “Still Separate, Still Unequal: America’s Educational Apartheid,” Jonathan Kozol brings our attention to the apparent growing trend of racial segregation within America’s urban and inner-city schools (309-310). Kozol provides several supporting factors to his claim stemming from his research and observations of different school environments, its teachers and students, and personal conversations with those teachers and students.
Often, they experience family violence, abuse, neglect, poor clothing and shoes. Teachers have many impoverished students in the classrooms, but do not seem the need to address the concerns leaving no improvement (Lynch). Data shows African Americans and Hispanics attend public schools where a a great amount of classmates qualify as poor or low-income. Researchers have found that the prediction of racial gaps in education achievement is students attend schools surrounded by low income students. Minorities that are isolated with low-income classmates is a threat to undermine the efforts to improve educational outcomes and to provide a pipeline of skilled workers for the economy (Boschma, Brownstein). Middle classes are starting to disappear leaving a wide gap between the upper class and lower class of society (Lynch). Concentrated poverty is filled with the gaps in educational achievement (Boschma, Brownstein). The racial-achievement gap’s predictor is the rate of minorities who go to school with poor classmates. Segregation in the economy face minorities with the trends of high rates of childhood poverty. Housing segregation has many patterns such as: the increase of polarization in many metropolitan areas and the general retreat to promote racial or economic integration in schools. The factors have caused minorities isolated in schools that have economic struggles with the rule and financial stability (Boschma,
America’s school system and student population remains segregated, by race and class. The inequalities that exist in schools today result from more than just poorly managed schools; they reflect the racial and socioeconomic inequities of society as a whole. Most of the problems of schools boil down to either racism in and outside the school or financial disparity between wealthy and poor school districts. Because schools receive funding through local property taxes, low-income communities start at an economic disadvantage. Less funding means fewer resources, lower quality instruction and curricula, and little to no community involvement. Even when low-income schools manage to find adequate funding, the money doesn’t solve all the school’s
This essay will be on the Segregation in Modern American Schools, how it affects the students, why it occurs, and the strides need to integrate. I picked this topic because I came from a town that was predominantly white. Therefore my school was predominantly white as well. I have always wondered if coming from this type of school has hindered my ability to interact with people of a different race, culture, or background. I also thought of how my education would have been different if I had been taught at a more diverse school. I would have learned more about other types of people not only from my teachers, but from my peers. I have always been interested in this topic and I think it affects more people than we think. Of course, it affects the students, but it also affects the teacher and the mass public. Culturally segregated schools are hindering learning environments. Black teachers teach at black schools, White teachers teach at white schools, so on and so forth with every race. The public is affected; because the schools in their area are not divers meaning their community is not diverse. Diversity is a catalyst for growth in all people. School and education is a great place to start the
The American education system is failing the generations of the future. Society neglects the children born into impoverished areas, while mainly white upper class children participate in superior educational activities. Low-income neighborhoods often produce schools with low scoring students. Therefore the government transitions these schools into impersonal factories. The phrase diversity masquerades the reality of re-segregation of schools. Many schools across the country are utilizing the phrase diversity, yet the statistics reveal that over ninety percent of the students are black or Hispanic. Creating successful environments is extremely difficult and subsequently results in serious consequences for the American education system.
Is racial segregation in schools coming back from the past to haunt our primary and secondary students? In the essay “Still Separate, Still Unequal: America’s Educational Apartheid” by Jonathan Kozol talks about how racial segregation is making a comeback and is becoming particularly apparent between low-income urban cities and wealthy upper suburban areas. In this essay, Kozol talks about his visits to these urban schools that aren’t getting much attention. These schools where the majority are kids of color and seem to be lacking resources that other “uptown” schools wouldn’t lack. Throughout the essay he gives the reader statistics of the demography of schools in different areas of the east coast. This really helps the reader understand his point of how racial
With the advancement of thinking in the United States since the Jim Crow era, shouldn’t school segregation be a thing of the past? Well, this is an ongoing epidemic in the United States, and it has a dangerous effect on the youth. School segregation rates are at an all time high, and the main reason for this increase is residential segregation, or segregation of neighborhoods. Although school segregation can be a result of economic policy, housing policies have a greater influence on segregation. Many neighborhoods that are classified as low income, have a negative connotation attached with them. This causes a difference in funding of schools located in those districts, and those students end up paying the price.
Jonathan Kozol states in his writing “Still Separate, Still Unequal,” that schools that were already deeply segregated twenty-five to thirty years ago are no less segregated now. He brings up some interesting statistics about how certain areas have schools that have been desegregated over the years. While our country has been trying to make the access to learning available to everyone, they also have created different kinds of schools. For example, private and public schools. Private school is usually very expensive and mainly parents who make a lot of money are the ones putting their children in these schools. However, the rural areas of each country cannot afford such expenses. African-Americans or Hispanics are typically the people living
“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children. The impact is greater when it has the sanction of the law, for the policy of separating the races is usually interpreted as denoting the inferiority of the negro group. A sense of inferiority affects the motivation of a child to learn. Segregation with the sanction of law, therefore, has a tendency to [retard] the educational and mental development of negro children and to deprive them of some of the benefits they would receive in a racial[ly] integrated school system.” Through this quote, the Warren Court thoroughly established why separate is not and has never been truly equal in regards to public education since segregation consequently lays down a system that has a damaging effect on the psyche of young African-American students leading them to deem themselves as inferior to Caucasians. Moreover, it causes African-American students to internalize their feelings of inferiority which causes them to have a lack of motivation in their education, slow their learning and mental growth, and miss out on achieving their full educational potential. Furthermore, one can assume that segregation could cause African-American students to mistakenly consider themselves as less academically and
Throughout the history of America issues around race have brought great debate and augments. Being a nation birthed from ideals of freedom and undeniable human rights, America has failed in being truthful to its founding. The treatment of African-American is an atrocity that stains the history of our nation’s past. Steps have been made to heal the injustice, but they are just steps. In this essay, I will be discussing school desegregation focusing on the landmark and controversial Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education and the effect is had on the nation and even the world. Many people ignore the fact school segregation has not been fixed. The Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education is just something people learn in their social studies class. Most think this case was the end of the story and schools were desegregated and everything was happily ever after, but this is sadly not the reality. The reality is Brown has failed us. The effects can be seen in the schools of today in many American cities but in this essay, I will use the case of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to illustrate the massive shortcomings of this ruling today.
Today, we have a diverse student population within our public schools. However, more can still be achieved for equality in our society. The struggle with racism and segregation are still very present in America; we see proof of their existence in the news almost every day. The shootings in Charleston, SC and Ferguson, MO are evidence that heinous crimes, which extend beyond education, are still committed in America based on race. However, the removal of the Confederate flag and movements to end racially-motivated crimes are signs of
In the article “Still Separate, Still Unequal: America’s Education Apartheid” author Jonathan Kozol informs us about inequality and segregation in today’s school systems. Kozol talks about schools were minority’s makes up the student body. For example, Kozol refers to John F. Kennedy High School where the majority of the student body is made up by African Americans and Hispanic students, only a third of the students are white. Kozol states that schools like these are typically underprivileged schools that normally have structural issues and also lack behind in technology and resources for students. Kozol also brings up the predominately white schools where on average there is more money spent on students and funding is not a problem, these
Almost six decades have gone past since the struggles of Brown vs Board of Education. The segregation of that era still persist in today’s black American community but through a different form. The new Jim Crow is not law decreed but through institutional racism. Black students attend school where around 90 percent of students are nonwhite or minorities. Public schools around black
Unequal educational opportunities for black students are a huge effect of racial segregation. Education has become a major problem dealing with racial segregation. Education is the foundation of literacy and success in America and African American students and schools are suffering. Schools in the U.S. are retracting back to segregation. As schools districts began to release schools from court order integration schools began to retract increasing test score disparities and national achievement gaps in large amounts not seen in four decades in the south. A national study conducted on the achievement gap between black and white students says “Nationally the achievement gap between whites and blacks during the integration period narrowed but as schools began to be released from court order integration schools became more segregated widening the achievement gap between black and white students” (Jones 1). Because of racial segregation the quality and access to education in African Americans is worsening over the years as school districts stop enforcing integration. But surprisingly, residential segregation has a big play in how well
How would you feel if you saw in the news that 33% of school districts within cities currently are segregated? Well, what if I told you that is true. Studies show that African American children aren't given as much as an opportunity as Caucasian children in education in some districts in the US. The lawsuit Brown vs. Board of Education finally convinced the Supreme Court 50 years ago, in 1954, that segregation would be outlawed in the United States. But now it seems that since law officials are not paying close attention to school districts, segregation seems to be coming back, which has left a large gap between the income of African American and Caucasian families. Racial inequality seems to still a problem in America, but there are ways