Submitted by Viki
As students get ready to return to on-campus study after a year of disruptions, let us take a look at the current state of education in the United States, through the lens of our publication: diversity.
Dramatic changes have occurred in the racial and ethnic makeup of our country, especially in the last twenty years. Unfortunately, many of our institutions and systems are not yet geared to serve the needs of a diverse America.
It was not so long ago that most students of color in the US had to attend segregated schools. In fact, there were still school districts practicing racial segregation as recently as 2016.
While the specter of overt racism in education may have been dispelled by formal law, many more subtle factors negatively impact students from minority groups.
It’s All About the Money
One of the most significant factors is school funding. In the US, schools are generally 55 percent federal and state-funded, and 45 percent locally-funded. Property tax is the largest contributor to local funding sources.
Simply put: Areas with rich people receive better school funding than areas with poor people.
The difference can be astonishing, with some school districts budgeting three times as much for each student as the district next door. Minority and low-income groups, who form a large population of poorer communities, bear the brunt of this inequity.
Inadequate school funding results in larger class sizes, as schools struggle to pay the salaries of teaching staff. A student facing difficulties with algebra might take the opportunity to hire a math tutor to receive the personalized instruction that they need to attain better understanding and higher grades.
In schools with limited funding, facilities such as computers and sports equipment may be outdated. In a similar way, these schools are often unable to employ essential support staff such as crosswalk attendants or librarians.
Another Brick in the Wall
In addition to external factors, the schools themselves often have policies that excessively penalize students from minority groups. Students of Color are often overpoliced and face harsher discipline than their white peers.
Poorer schools with more minority attendance tend to have a greater police presence, perpetuating a cycle of antagonism with law enforcement. This fuels the school-to-prison pipeline where a disproportionate number of students from marginalized backgrounds are being incarcerated.
According to the US Department of Education, Black students are three times more likely to get suspended or expelled than their White counterparts. The American South is responsible for 55 percent of all suspensions of Black students nationwide.
Students from minority groups also face racial microaggressions in the form of non-inclusive school dress codes. For example, Black and Native American students have been punished for wearing their traditional and natural hairstyles.
The situation is not much better for disabled students, who often face disciplinary punishment for behavioral and emotional issues that are beyond their control.
Social Justice Starts in School
Much of the problems with inequality in the US school system are a manifestation of broader socio-economic issues across the country. To improve education accessibility, we need to address these underlying issues.
First, we need diversity and representation in schools.
Teaching staff and the school board should reflect the diversity of the students. There should be more teachers of color, and they must be paid competitively. Through minority representation in positions of power within the institution, schools can better appreciate the needs of their minority students.
In addition, the history and culture of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) should be added to the nationwide school curriculum. This helps to integrate minority students into the fabric of modern America and empowers them to engage in the learning environment.
Second, we need to consider reallocating funds from school policing to mental health support instead.
Children and young adults need empathy and understanding instead of exclusionary discipline. Schools should focus more on hiring social workers and counselors that support the well-being of students.
Teachers and other school personnel should regularly undergo professional training programs to learn new and alternative student behavior management strategies.
Healthy and respectful relationships with students reaffirm their self-worth, help them to see the value of school, decrease dropout rates, and improve overall educational results.
Finally, we need to set up safe study spaces for students. These can be part of after-school services or an independent facility in the community. Many disadvantaged students do not have the luxury of personal study areas and can benefit from a place to do their schoolwork without distractions.
Mentorship programs combined with study-oriented spaces can also help to plug the holes that cause minority students to leave the school system. Needless to say, mentors should be from similar community and socio-economic backgrounds as their protégés.
The good news is that approximately $129 billion in Covid-19 relief funds will be allocated to K-12 schools this year. This funding will be used partly to address learning gaps or trauma suffered by students during the pandemic. It will also help pay for additional teaching staff in order to reduce class sizes.
As the US restarts face-to-face education, we must take the opportunity to rebuild our schools into restorative institutions that focus on the needs of all students. We can no longer be content with under-serving children and youth that have less to begin with.
Now is the time to prioritize education equity and develop a robust and diverse nation, from the ground up.