Name: Olivia
Current Even Posting #4
Topic: Education
Title of Article: "Why Don't We Have Any White Kids"
Author: N. R. Kleinfield
Publication Name: New York Times
Date of Publication: May 11, 2012
Length of Article: 6 pages
New York City's public and charter school system are in question. This article focused mainly on Explore, a predominantly African American charter school in Brooklyn. The administration, parents, and even the students themselves are worried over the lack of racial diversity at the school. 92.7% of the student are African American, and the rest are either Hispanic or mixed; not coincidentally, 80% of the children there qualify for government subsidized lunch, a glaring sign of poverty and lack of diversity in the school. Many of the parents and staff worry that the children will not know how to intermingle and connect with students of other races, once they have graduated from Explore. Also, the administration and teachers at Explore are, in majority, white. The difference in power among the races is especially clear at this school, and its founder, Mr. Ballen, feels that integration and diversity is a must among education for K-12. When author Kleinfield interviewed white parents about not sending their kids to Explore, which is still an academically achieving school, they said they "did not want to be the one drop of cream in the coffee".
Segregation, whether purposeful or not, is still prevalent in today's society. Many of the students in the article expressed wishes to being white, a red flag to many that the self-esteems and curiosities of the students are not being met by having an one-race school. The parents and staff are right when they say something has to be done; it is only a matter of how and what now.
Personally, I completely agree with the staff, parents, and students in the article. Going to a school like Gunn where there are people from all different backgrounds really has educated me in an unnoticeable way. Racial diversity is important, because it teaches us about others and most importantly of all, it teaches tolerance. If tolerance is not being taught at a young age, an intolerant generation will emerge.
This article explores New York's public and charter school system which is an overwhelmingly 92.7% African American, while the rest are Hispanic or mixed. There is no doubt the student population seems to be a dominantly non-white kids that parents fear once these kids have graduated these kids won't know how to interact and "connect" with students of other races. What was disappointing to read was that when white parents were asked about sending their kids to Expore, they said they "did not want to be the one drop of cream in the coffee". It is extremely disheartening to read that parents are so aware of skin color difference that they aren't willing to send their kids to this "academically achieving school" as Kleinfield says. The result of this unwillingness to diversify the school is that many of the kids express wishes to being white, thus lowering their self value as a human being, which is something that should not happen to any kid. I completely agree with Olivia in that racial diversity is important in teaching tolerance because it breaks down the mental barrier that whites are considered the "superior race" and that an African American child is less worthy because of their skin tone.
ReplyDeleteSegregation, whether purposeful or not, is still prevalent in today's society. 92.7% of the student are African American, and the rest are either Hispanic or mixed; not coincidentally, 80% of the children there qualify for government subsidized lunch, a glaring sign of poverty and lack of diversity in the school. Many of the parents and staff worry that the children will not know how to intermingle and connect with students of other races. Also, the administration and teachers at Explore are, in majority, white. Something needs to be done about this segregation, whether it was intentional or not, if not addressed, intolerant will manifest in the coming in this generation. It also effects the self esteem of several kids who express their desire to be white, it lowers the self worth of the individual. If every race is to be treated equal, we must debunk the idea that white is the "superior race".
ReplyDeleteIn New York City, a public school by the name of "Explorer" is under question for possible segregation. The school consists of 92.7% African Americans, and the rest are Hispanic or mixed. Also, 80% of the children qualify for a lunch program. Interestingly, the entire administration is white. Parents worry that their children won't know how to integrate with white people after the graduate, and administration admit it is an important skill. However, white folks refuse to send their kids because they don't want their kids to be singled out. It is amazing how we are in the 21st century, but still find race as an issue in our school diversity. The article says theres a "difference in power" since the administration is all white, but I disagree, just because the administration is white does not mean there's an abuse in power. The administration is trying to help the students, not abuse them, if they were really racist they wouldn't even be there!
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