Systemic Racism in Education

Systemic Rascim in Education

Alejandro Mancilla

Systemic racism very much exists in this country regardless many people denying that fact. There are many different forms of systemic racism. Some of the most common are systemic racism in the justice system, workplace, and housing. But the type of systemic racism that will be focused on is systemic racism African Americans face within the education system. Although school is a place where equality should be taught and promoted to students regardless of skin color, it hasn't been. 

Racism starts from the very beginning of a child's journey through their k through 12 years in school. Starting from preschool, black students make up 50% of all students suspended in that grade year although they only make up 18% of all preschoolers. Whereas white preschool students make up 26% of all suspended students while having the highest number of enrolled preschoolers with 43% of enrollment. These number raise a question as to why so many black students are being suspended. How is it that a young child who is barely starting to go to school and understanding between what’s right and wrong. It can't be right that 1 in every 2 black preschoolers is mis behaving and causing so many problems in class.

Let’s look at more numbers here. Looking at the US department of education back in 2014 it was reported that black students represent 31% of students who get arrested while breaking school rules while only making up 16% of student enrollment from k through 12. While white students make up 51% of all enrollments from k through 12 but only 39% of white students are subjected to arrest. It’s as if black students don't get warnings or a slap on the wrist, instead they face the highest punishment possible. When black students and white students break similar rules while on school grounds, black student have a 3 times higher chance to get suspended than white students. This a problem that dates back years ago. Black students face a social problem that they are seen and perceived to be older and less innocent than white students although being of the same age. 

Now going back to constant and frequent suspensions and expulsions of  black students, it makes them second guess continuing their education. Since the suspicion of guilt follows people for their rest of their life just for the color of their skin is saddening. This frequent suspicion and expulsion of black students causes black students to see dropping out the best possible solution. This then results in a lower graduation rate than white students. 

Although segregation doesn't exist anymore, we still have schools were black students and other students of color are the primary student enrolled. Although white students and black students have access to an equal education, schools with a majority number of student of color are underfunded. Apart from that, many teachers are underqualified at these schools and their academic performance is affected drastically. That is why even though some do make it to a higher education, they struggle because they were never taught lifelong academic skills. 

I decided to choose this topic because racism is something, I’ve always had a problem with racism but wasn’t aware that racism existed within the education system. Especially with the more recent events with George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, I started to do some research. I thought racism was just a form of hate by verbal and maybe physical abuse to people of color. But it is much more than that. People of color and especially black people have faced so many challenges to get to the point where we are right now. And although racism still exist within the education system, I believe we are going in the right direction.  

Refrence:

Delgado, P. (2020, June 30). Systemic Racism in the Educational System. From https://observatory.tec.mx/edu-news/systemic-racism-in-education

Systemic racism has led to education disparities. (2020, June 25). From https://news.temple.edu/news/2020-06-25/systemic-racism-has-led-education-disparities

How Systemic Racism Infiltrates Education. (n.d.). From https://www.benjerry.com/whats-new/2017/11/systemic-racism-education