Racism In Schools

Racism in Schools

Some people seem to think racism in schools died out a long time ago. This statement couldn't be more wrong. Racism in the learning environment is more evident than ever, and it needs to be stopped because it affects the way students learn and their success. There are many stories and incidents where discrimination has occurred and the effects they have had on students.

Take the art teacher from Chicago for example. During class one day, some students spilled paint on the teacher's jacket. She became very angry and said,

"Ð'...all Mexicans are criminals, and you were born to scrub floors"

The teacher was rightfully fired from her job. It was decided by the Board of Education in Chicago that all the teachers will need to undergo "sensitivity training". They don't need to learn how to be sensitive, what teachers need to know is to accept everyone as equal. There can be no discrimination in schools because is disrupts the learning environment.

There are many stories and accounts of racism in schools against African Americans. They range from the little things such as telling the black boy to throw out his gum but let the white boy chew it, to moving all the black kids to the back of the class. There is one story about a white male teacher who called a black student "nigger". The boy was walking into the English class one day, and the teacher told him to "sit down nigga!" The teacher claims that because he hears the students calling each other that casually in the hallways all the time, it gives him a right to also use the word. He says he used the term "nigga" instead of "nigger" because they are two completely different words and he would never use "nigger" against someone. Consequently, the teacher was fired for racial discrimination.

The racism that teachers put onto their students causes low expectations from black kids. Because they have had so many negative experiences in school, they lack the motivation and confidence to do well. It was found in a review of research about teacher expectations that teachers hold more negative attitudes about black students' ability, language, behavior and potential, than they do of white students'. There are reports of black students scoring lower in reading assessments than white students. This could be the cause of black students not trying because they are not confident in themselves.

It was also found that black kids receive more severe punishments than white kids for the same offense, and they are more likely to be suspended from schools. There