Racism and Racial Discrimination

in Schools
Emily Johnson
Intervention Project
ETHS 2410
Spring Semester

Racial Discrimination in Schools

This social issue is important to me because I

currently work at a preschool and I'm going
into education and I know the importance of
having a classroom that is diverse in many
aspects.
I found many articles that contained
information on racism and discrimination in
schools and the negative impact it has and
through research it made it even more clear
why it's such an important issue.

Scholarly Research

The first article, An Examination of Racial Discrimination in U.S. Public Schools

contained data on 12 school districts. All had a higher number of black students
who were expelled, suspended, dropped-out, and less likely to be in advanced
classes than their white peers.

Another article, A Study of Mainly-White Primary Schools discussed schools that

are predominately white and the significant features of the cultures of the children

This article taught me that there is clear evidence of racial discrimination

in our public schools and motivated me to brainstorm ways to make a
positive change.

This article taught me that the way many of the schools discipline are
very racist. It gives clear data that many educators need to look into
and recognize.

The third article, Affirming Diversity showed benefits of multicultural for students
of all cultural backgrounds.

This article showed different ways we can remove barriers that inhibit
learning and ways we can develop an environment that will help
promote a higher-quality education.

Intervention

To address my social issue I would get in contact with the superintendents of different school
districts and order a meeting to discuss my social issue. I would start with Murray School
District because I work at a preschool in that district and have met the superintendent multiple
times. I would ask for his assistance in arranging a workshop in his next teacher meeting to
discuss the different ways I've looked into fixing and making positive changes for our
students.

I would stress the importance of having racially diverse classrooms. I think it is very crucial
that they are able to see, hear, and learn from people that look like them, their mothers, their
fathers, and their families. I think that it is very important that they feel a sense of belonging
and familiarity.

I would urge the importance to pass down the knowledge and advice to their staff members
and the teachers in their school districts

Intervention con.

Cost: I would raise money to cover the costs of the workshop meetings the
superintendents would implement. An estimated cost would be about $700. This
would include the pamphlets I would create with the discussions, and workshop
activities that the superintendents would lead. The cost would also cover catered
lunch from Einsteins to the teachers who attend the meetings

The goal is for the superintendents and teachers to realize the importance of
eliminating racism in schools and the importance of a racially diverse classroom.
And to motivate them to research and look into more ways they can address and fix
these issues in their own classroom.

Resistance

Some resistance I might come in contact with is getting the superintendents to

make time to schedule a meeting with me. I would urge that the meeting would be
brief and I would have ready a pamphlet that has my ideas in more depth that they
can review after our meeting.

Another resistance I might encounter is educators who don't believe that there
needs to be a change. I think a good way to persuade them would be to show them
the numbers and show them the benefits.

Support

Abram works at a school in the Salt Lake school district and we've discussed how
he could help me implement the meetings on his side of things. He would help pass
out flyers to students and their families and he would arrange to make a meeting
with the superintendent of his school district.

The preschool I work at is prioritized for the teachers of Murray School District. So
a lot of my preschoolers parents are teachers- I talk to them about my ideas and
gain support since I know so many of the teachers.

Impact

I would like to see a lasting impact, even if it

takes one district at a time. A decrease in
numbers of African-American students who
dropout, are suspended and expelled and
increase in numbers of African-American
graduates.
I would also like the make a positive impact on
the teachers- if the majority of them realize
there needs to be a change the more
motivated they will be to be that change.

Bibliography
Gordon, R., Piana, D., & Keleher, T. (n.d.). ERIC - Facing the Consequences: An
Examination of

Racial Discrimination in U.S. Public Schools., 2000-Mar. Retrieved

May 01, 2016, from http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED454323

Nieto, S. (1992). ERIC - Affirming Diversity: The Sociopolitical Context of Multicultural
Education.,

1992. Retrieved May 01, 2016, from http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED361440

Troyna, B., & Hatchard, R. (1992). ERIC - Racism in Children's Lives: A Study of
Mainly-White Primary Schools., 1992. Retrieved May 01, 2016, from
http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED367765