It's 2022, why are schools still segregated?
I would like to think that we have come a long way from dealing with segregation in our schools. However, we are still dealing with segregation in our school system, and our students of color are having to pay the price. In our module this week, we learned about the systematic segregation that disadvantaged people of color called redlining. Redlining was a practice that denied black neighborhoods home loans and trapped them in poverty, while white neighborhoods were given opportunities to accumulate wealth. Although redlining is now illegal, it set up a society where the black community has struggled to move out of poverty. In the video we watched, The Disturbing History of the Suburbs, it explains how after laws were passed to ban the practice of redlining, black families were left with barely enough money to pay their bills and remained trapped in a cycle of poverty. So, how does this relate to our society today? In Schools Are Still Segregated and Black Children Are Paying a Price, we learn that "while less than 1 in 10 white students attend high poverty schools with a high share of students of color, 6 in 10 black students do". It is clear that there is a connection between race and poverty in America, and black students end up being doubly disadvantaged by this systematic racism. The consequences of this lead to lower standardized test scores for black students, performance gaps between black and white students, and black students being more likely to attend these high poverty schools which hinders their education. This is proven by the fact that "in contrast, when black students have the opportunity to attend schools with lower concentrations of poverty and larger shares of white students they perform better, on average, on standardized tests". (Garcia, Schools Are Still Segregated and Black Children Are Paying a Price).
Hey Willow! I really enjoyed reading your blog for this week. You got straight to the point and your thoughts were very clear which I appreciate. You are right. We have come a long way, but there is obviously so much more we need to do to end segregation once and for all. I love how you added the fact from "Schools Are Still Segregated and Black Children Are Paying a Price". That fact really puts into perspective that black kids are STUCK at these low income schools and have been for years. How can we expect students of color to thrive while they are stuck at schools that do not give them the opportunity to do so? Students of color are indeed "being doubly disadvantaged by this systematic racism" and something needs to be done about it.
ReplyDeleteHello Willow! I really liked reading your blog this week. I agree with a lot of what you said and how we have come a long way from segregation in the past. Personally, in my schools I never witnessed segregation within the building or the classrooms but I think we need to look outside the actual school and focus more on things like redlining as you said. I thought it was really interesting to read about redlining because when people say segregation in schools most minds would go to how students are being treated in schools and if everything is fair but they don't typically think about outside of school. I like how you brought up the article about redlining and even though it is illegal, people still struggle at getting out of those areas. The schools in this area might not have as many resources as other schools as well. Do you think there is a way to fix this?I think we need to put more resources into making neighborhoods safe and the schools within them.
ReplyDeleteHi Willow! I really enjoyed how much you went into depth on this weeks blog! Right off the bat I can already agree with your statement that people of color are having to deal with these difficult issues the most. Although it seems like we've come a long way, there is still definitely room for more change! As I was reading the part about Redlining, it made me realize how crazy it is that people actually come up with these things to deny black neighborhoods, and home loans. It seems as if nothing is ever going to change for the people of color. If it is a fact that black students tend to do better on standardized tests, then why is it that black students are being treated the way they are in today's society? I think it is important that we look at the bigger picture and BE the change for our students not only inside the classroom but outside as well.
ReplyDeleteHi Willow, I enjoyed reading your blog and I would have to agree with your first statement. I too, believe we have come a long way with segregation in schools, but yes, we are still facing with some difficulties today. Redlining put me in shock. Because of the way the black neighborhoods were rejected to so many things. Also the fact that they were left in poverty that they had no control over. All because they were on the wrong side of the line. One quote that stood out to me in the video, "The Disturbing History of the Suburbs" was when the dad said he didn't get to choose to be which color he wanted, and Adam replies with, "Ya, no one does". Which is true! Children don't care what color they are, but they care about why these certain things are happening to their color only.
ReplyDeleteHello Willow, I really liked your blog it was super informative. I can tell that you really did your research for this blog. We have come a long way with segregation but there is always room for improvement! It makes me so sad to read about how people that need the most assistance with things for example with loans don't get any help, so they are stuck in these hard situations, in poverty, and attending high poverty schools. There should definitely be more help for those that are struggling. You've addressed the issue, how would you go about improving it ?
ReplyDeleteHello Willow, Great post this week! You highlighted many important facts from the module this week. This module was extremely informative and gave important information that everyone should be aware of. In High School, I learned about redlining in history class, but this was the first time that I learned the effect that it had and continues to have on our school systems. Since schools are funded by property taxes, students who live in poverty have less funding for their schools. Because of the effects of redlining, many Black Americans are still living in poverty. It is true that students of color are paying the price of the redlining, and this is why segregation is still present in our school systems. We need to come together as educators and come up with a plan to better support students of color and give them the resources they need to succeed. Since the system is rigged against these students, we have to ensure that they feel valued as students regardless of the funding of the school.
ReplyDeleteHi Willow! I really enjoyed reading your blog, I changed my attitude about the idea that segregation in schools is a thing of the past. Although we have come along way, segregation is still seen in schools now it is just in a different form. Often black students are the majority at schools in areas of low poverty because of zoning. This gives white students an advantage as the schools they are zoned too are often in richer areas with better schools. For example, schools with better supplies, more funding, ex. This is in itself like you said is a result of systematic racism and we as future educators need to recognize it as such. When reading your blog I also became more aware of the history of segregation in schools in this county. I have heard about redlining but never truly understood it until reading this blog. These were laws that directly implemented segregation. Now although we do not have these laws that does not mean segregation in schools is still not taking place. As an educator I think it is imperative that we are aware of how segregation in schools used to be enforced and how it still exists today. I also became more aware of the true inequities that standardized testing hold. Firstly, standardized tests are in my opinion not a good measure of an individual or a group of students intelligence. I also think there are many unfair advantages students especially white students have when it comes to taking standardized tests. After reading your blog it really solidified for me my dislike of standardzed testing.
ReplyDeleteHello Willow,
ReplyDeleteI had no idea what redlining was until the module. It is unfortunate I was not educated about any of this during my school career. You did well in highlighting the key points of why white people fill the suburbs and funded schools. You also explained why white children are seen as "highly funded" or very "well educated". Throughout history, they have been given a variety of opportunities to succeed. While, as you pointed out, black families were left in a cycle of poverty. Segregation in schools is still present. Someone of color is seen as less educated as someone who is white but that is because the situation they have been presented. These tests that students are forced to take does not prove the intelligence of a student. They could be overcome with anxiety, having a bad day, or any other reason. Yet, these tests seem to show everyone if a student is "smart" or not.