Diversity DOES bring value to education

The article, "Diversity fails to deliver value in education" sheds light to the ignorance that I have been trying to challenge ever since I stepped foot on Whitworth's campus. The writer claims that diversity is racist; racist against whom? The White upper-middle class majority who fail to acknowledge the importance of diversity in the classroom? Diversity certainly isn't racist against minorities who are forced to think about the color of their skin, their socioeconomic status, religion or lack thereof, and sexuality on a daily basis. Those who represent cultural diversity actually do deliver so much value in education. How does one educate oneself if everyone around them thinks, acts, and speaks exactly the same way? Does someone who was raised in poverty--who is most likely of a different ethnicity--not have any value when they speak in the classroom? Our personal experiences, where and how we were educated before coming to Whitworth, the family we grew up in, and our identity ultimately shape how we contribute in the classroom. If we were to take out diversity and ignore the differences between each other we will accomplish nothing. To the man who wrote this article, how can you claim that diversity hasn't brought value to your education? Your major is Political Science which inevitably means you have been taught by a diverse group of people. You go to Whitworth... the university that prides itself on developing a diverse campus. I, as an Act Six Scholar, am on campus for the sole purpose of bridging the gap between those whose ignorance controls the way they think and those who are passionate about creating courageous conversations so we can all address the inequities in our country and around the globe. To say that my purpose doesn't bring value to education is a punch in the stomach. To say that what I contribute to the classroom is meaningless causes me to wonder why Whitworth is so committed to diversity. I am a Multi-Racial woman who grew up in an impoverished neighborhood. I am proud of that and I truly believe that my experiences will always deliver value in education. Society has told me and other minorities that our race does in fact matter; so let us prove you wrong in the classroom. Listen to our stories and rethink the message you portrayed in your article.

The importance of integration

When the South starting integrating schools, the initial response was backlash. Whites felt like their civil liberties were being trampled on and they were not willing to offer the education they received to black students. Some argued that there was no value to integrating schools but evidence shows there was true value. Even though both black and white students didn't feel the immediate importance of integration, it was seen in their morals and values they developed as time progressed. Whites increased comfort with blacks and they had a better understand of their social context. They were aware of their prejudices and they were given an opportunity to further their understanding of equality. Instead of increasing fear towards blacks, integration actually decreased the intimidation factor while allowing for empathy and insight to occur. It created a better working environment between two socially constructed races--which also played a significant role in the interactions between other races. Blacks were also able to develop effective ways to cope with how whites treated them since they were exposed to discrimination on a daily basis. It also allowed blacks to "learn" how to live in a "white" world. Life lessons are of the utmost importance and we cannot let ourselves look past these because it gives us a foundation for why integration today is so important.

One of the root problems of our modern education system is the segregation. There is clearly a distinctive difference between inner-city schools and suburban schools, and that is race. Jonathan Kozol in Shame of the Nation makes this distinction by describing the schools he visited where 99 percent of (so many) schools were black/hispanic and on the other side of two, 99 percent of the school was white. He claims that we have a current apartheid in our education system. He also argues, with sufficient evidence, that we are regressing. We aren't living up to the dreams of Martin Luther King Jr., JFK, Malcolm X, and so many other Civil Rights Leaders; rather we as a nation have created a densely segregated system. What happened to the importance of integration in our nation? Granted there are schools across the nation that are integrated and probably excelling but that doesn't give us an excuse to look past those schools with zero integration. We need to remember the importance of integration and how it creates even more cultural awareness. Too many people in our country aren't exposed (enough) to people who don't look like them. We cannot deny that we live differently depending on the color of our skin, that's simply ignorant. Let's integrate our school systems again... please?

Differences Between Classes (SES)

Poverty deteriorates educational opportunities in several ways. If a student has poor health then they simply cannot focus whether it's due to vision, asthma, psychological effects, dental problems, and/or nutritional habits. The lack of supplies in a school contributes to the gap in resources between the affluent and impoverished societies. Students in poorer neighborhoods have to endure the countless hours their parents are working in order to make ends meet therefore they aren't able to help with homework. Sometimes families have to move from one place to another because of rent or bad neighborhoods. Aspirations and expectations of what you can accomplish are also an important factor in distinguishing a low-achieving school from a high-achieving school. More than likely, the students in poor schools have parents who either haven't gone to college or didn't even graduate from high school therefore they don't have a model to extends beyond the mold of a "working class" parent. Those in a more affluent school have parents who graduated from college and who sustain themselves well through their high-achieving job. 

Child rearing is also a significant way that poverty deteriorates educational opportunities. Salman Khan refers to the differences between how the working class and middle class respond to their misbehaved child. While the middle class parent will emphasize conversation and individualism, the working class parent will more than likely respond to the child forcing them to be obedient, punishing them, and/or making them conform to their ways. In effect, this perpetuates the gap of creativity. Middle class children are already ahead of the game regarding thinking for themselves as opposed to conforming. The working and middle class parents respond the way they do because of the type of work setting they're placed. Working class parents are most likely working in an environment that forces them to abide by rules but on the contrary, middle class parents represent a work place that allows for conversation and ability to think as an individual. So basically, both sets of parents were socializing children for future careers and it reflected their working environment.

In reflection, I can relate to the effects of child rearing because I was raised by a working father who was determined to discipline us every single time we did something wrong. We never had a conversation about whatever was done; rather he would tell us what we did wrong and how to fix it so that it ceases to happen again. My brother and I were very obedient children towards our Dad because we were scared to do something that would make him mad. This was reflected in my relationship towards my teachers throughout school. I saw them as an authority figure and didn't feel comfortable talking to them unless I had to. My Dad and I never held conversations outside of him disciplining me thus I rarely every spoke in the classroom. It's so interesting looking back on my education and the factors that play into how I received it. In retrospect I wish my relationships with my teachers and Dad were better and that there was an established two-way communication system rather than one-way.

Changing the Script

The question that is still lingering in my head from class is: if we really wanted to reform education, we would have to change the script, what if we did change the education system? What would happen?

This insinuates an idea that if we were to truly reach equality in the education system then chaos would ensue in society. Competition in the job market would increase because of the amount of qualified graduates there would be based on this notion of equality in the school. What would society look like? This is almost unfathomable not because I agree that we shouldn't change the education system; rather will the elite and the most affluent in this country be willing to do such a thing? NO! They're ultimate goal is to maintain the status quo and keep the have-nots at the bottom. As pessimistic as this sounds, it's reality. However, that idea will not prevent me from trying to change the education system so that the so-called "have-nots" can reach the idealistic "haves" and continue the cycle of change in our society.

We need to become a more selfless society. Our economy is structured by the differential outcomes of all people. Yes, some may stay at the "bottom" but we still need to give more opportunities to those who aren't capable of reaching to the top with money. They need to be given the option of changing the script and persevering through this system that inevitably pushes them down.

Educational Funding Matters

Affluent neighborhoods have better schools.

Poor neighborhoods have the worst schools.

This isn't news to anyone, at least I hope not. There are so many factors that go into the reasons why the above statements hold truth. Resources are either unlimited or very scarce depending on where a person lives. If you're living in a poorer/inner-city neighborhood then property value is low. This in turn determines the funds of the schools. Property taxes are going to be lower thus less money is given to schools in the surrounding neighborhood. I grew up in a pretty impoverished area where, in retrospect, property values were so low. All parents were working to make ends meet and therefore lived in the neighborhood of apartments (with cheap rent). There was an elementary school nearby that didn't receive adequate resources, had low test scores, and many children weren't receiving the education they deserved. 

This is where the educational achievement gap starts. Inner-city schools are getting the brunt of education. Teachers don't want to work in these schools because pay is low, children are susceptible to problems like "ADHD", resources are hard to come by, and the government doesn't do a good enough job to fix these issues. The difference between high achieving affluent neighborhoods and low achieving poor neighborhoods is too significant to ignore. Educational funding is unevenly distributed to schools and this lack of funding perpetuates the problem in the education system. It isn't fair that children who unfortunately must live in low-income areas have to experience poor education. It is not their fault that they live in this kind of lifestyle and it's arguably not the parents' fault either. They system creates an apartheid. 

The government needs to take more initiative to properly fund schools so that children in the inner-city have an equal opportunity to achieve at the same levels of more affluent neighborhoods. These students should not be punished based on how much money they have. In this country, equality truly needs to be a priority through actions and not just words.