The unspoken discrimination against minorities and African American Students

Question: Does discrimination still exist in public schools today?

Discrimination in the United States has gone unacknowledged in public schools, yet it’s still prevalent in schools today. This closely applies in low-income communities. Although, there is a solid change towards attitude and race, the legacy of racism and prejudice, continues to play a role in society. Discrimination can come in many shapes and forms that can easily bypass the legal system. Middles Eastern, Latino, Native American and especially African American are discriminated against based on the statics of research conducted.

Based on a study conducted by ERIC, an online library of education research and information, which is sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences, favoritism in pubic schools still exists. The publications states the following: “Students of color are more likely to drop out or be pushed out if school and less likely to graduate that are white students. They also had less access to advance classes or programs for gifted students.” (Gordon, Piana & Keleher; 25) through collection of date is clear that the African American students are placed at a disadvantage. Many people try to contradict this science and statistics by saying it does not exist because there are laws against this; but there is no such laws against personal preference by teachers.

I personally believe that the question around discrimination is not whether its occurring or not; it’s a proven fact, that its taking place. It takes both consciously and unconsciously and public school should start facing it. When teachers treat students with inferiority, this makes them feel like they are unable of being thought, abandoned and treated unfairly. I personally think even teachers who believe they have a good education, choose not to work in public schools that are located in low-income communities. For examples, schools in the District of Colombia with minorities and African American students dominating the area, teachers who are more than competent for the job refuse to teach there. This leaves teachers who are unqualified to teach, which is unfair for these students.

Finally, the Student Non-Discrimination Act of 2013, H.R. 1652, prohibits publicly funded schools from excluding students from participating in or becoming subjected to any discrimination on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or that of their associates (Bill 113, Congress). Laws against discrimination have existed since the Supreme Court has passed them, over 60 years ago, yet the issue still continues to subsist in present day. Although the we have the law against discrimination, I suggest more laws should be passed to reeducated all personal involved in public schools. Education of everyone; from the county’s superintendent to the classroom teacher assistant should have mandatory classes on noticing and recognizing signs of discrimination. This is important because it will ensure that everyone is held accountable for the law and will punished as so. The policy I propose to be passed is that all figures involved in the public sector of education should be required to take a class on discrimination, which offers emphasis on getting rid of subconsciously unnoticed habits of showing bias against students.

Works Cited

Gordon, Rebecca, Piana, Libero D., and Keleber, Terry. “Facing the Consequences: An Examination of Racial Discrimination in U.S. Public Schools.” Http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED454323. Applied Research Center Oakland, CA., 03 Mar. 2000. Web. 02 Feb. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Feric.ed.gov%2F%3Fid%3DED454323>.

Hope, E. C., Skoog, A. B., & Jagers, R. J. (2015). “It’ll Never Be the White Kids, It’ll Always Be Us”: Black High School Students’ Evolving Critical Analysis of Racial Discrimination and Inequity in Schools. Journal Of Adolescent Research, 30(1), 83-112. doi:10.1177/0743558414550688

United States. Congress. H.R.1652 – Student Non-Discrimination Act of 2013. Bill113. Congress. April 2013. Web. 09 Feb. 2015. https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/1652