Racism in School: Why Educators Need to Intervene & How They Can Help Prevent It

Written by Ruaridh Blyth Edited by Mathias Habal-Shore

Over the course of the last century, mankind has made great progress in ways once unimaginable. This includes efforts to propagate broader equality and acceptance and eliminate, or at least minimize, what many deem antiquated views and treatment of those of different races, religions, and color. Yet, discrimination persists, especially racism which remains prevalent throughout the world. In fact, it is our technological progress that has served to exacerbate it, specifically via the internet. On online social media platforms, so-called keyboard warriors troll behind the safety of screens and people unwittingly read propaganda masquerading as news while connecting only with like-minded people who confirm their biases and pre-conceived notions creating their own echo chambers. Consequently, discriminatory attitudes and behaviors have thrived leading to grave consequences. We’ve seen a deep polarization of political views and affiliations around the world along with a growth in ideologies favoring nationalist populism and authoritarianism, and a concomitant increase in anti-immigration sentiment and hate crimes.

The reality is, our world is contaminated with unconscious biases and misguided beliefs in “superior” races. It is also full of privileged bystanders who tolerate the bullying and discrimination of others. Every day, children and young adults are subjugated and ostracized solely because of matters over which they have no control: their race and skin color. When you add to the mix other characteristics which engender prejudice: gender, appearance, socioeconomic background, and disability, to name a few, the alienation is even worse. So many young people are expected to succeed in a world wherein the odds are stacked against them from the very start, where education and economic systems favour the privileged, and where they often have inadequate support systems, both at home and at school. The truth is the adages “life is unfair” and “life is cruel” are truer for some than for others.

A school environment can, in many ways, be seen as a microcosm of the world at large where many of the same dynamics are at play. Except is it arguable that young students are especially impressionable — and vulnerable. They are making their way through an important developmental stage and still figuring out who they are. In fact, the prefrontal cortex of their brains — responsible for judgment and impulsive behavior — isn’t even fully developed yet, or fully linked with the part of their brain that controls emotion. Additionally, the human tendency towards natural inherence bias is especially pronounced in children. Inherence bias is a psychological principle that posits that when we see a person or group behave distinctly differently than others, we assume that person or group is inherently different. As children struggle to understand racial differences, this bias is obviously especially harmful. This is why it’s so important to intervene early to teach children that race is not biological but cultural. Fortunately, the research is compelling that honest discussion with kids about the realities of racism is effective at reducing prejudice.

Therefore, it is incumbent upon educators to foster a safe and inclusive environment at school where young students spend so much of their time. Students should be focusing on learning, not distracted by the anxiety and angst that comes with being discriminated against. Educators must start teaching students early about the realities of racism. This may entail having to push back against parents and lawmakers with their own agendas who are attempting to prevent educators from teaching about systemic racism and other forms of discrimination. But it is imperative that educators lead the way and stay committed to teaching young people the truth, not propaganda. It is their moral and professional responsibility.

This kind of strong education grounded in truth, diversity, and inclusivity is vital for creating capable, confident adults who will positively impact our future. Positively impacting our future means fighting to maintain the democratic ideals so many fought so hard to achieve, being able to contend with the very real threats the world is facing from climate change, the deleterious effect of rising income inequality, and the constant threat of war, specifically nuclear war.

The good news is that there are signs of real progress. Movements such as Black Lives Matter are helping bring public attention to the pervasiveness of racism in every facet of our lives and emphasizing how it is systemic in nature. In addition, many educator-led groups have been established to raise awareness of the importance of combating racism in schools and adopting anti-racist curricula. We are working to help spur this progress by sharing our experiences with racism and the knowledge we’ve gained as we endeavor to understand how we can most effectively promote acceptance, diversity, and inclusivity. This is a process that will take a lot of time and effort but one well worth undertaking.