Kasey Cambrelen

English 210

Racism in Schools

Stemming from the beginning of education, there is an obvious disparity between minority children and white children in the system. Although it might seem repetitive, the first we learn about this is the Jim Crow Laws that separated these during segregation time. There are many powerful images that can be shown through these lenses of racism in school.

This particular photo is obviously one from a protest in the early to mid 1900’s. The time period is key to know due to the fact that there were many protests going on at the time and this issue was a hot topic. School segregation is something that this whole audience would be familiar with. A time period when white students and minorities were separated and given different education standard. While the protestors were aiming at the government and the school districts at the time, this photo highlights the struggle in the beginning to even have some sort of “equal rights” for school.

In addition, the resemblance between schools and prisons have become uncanny. Majority of high schools in New York City, especially the predominately minority areas resemble jails. There is no coincidence, especially when the schools in wealthier neighborhoods, such as Scarsdale and New Rochelle, have the funds to upgrade and “take care” of their schools.

Now from these two images, can you guess which one is predominately white? And which one is in a lower income community? Scarsdale High School and Stevenson High School, both house the same age group of students, but the only difference would the population by race. Why is it that Stevenson High School was the first school to get metal detectors in the Bronx? All these kids in NYC Public High Schools are treated like prisoners, with a high level of security guards and an unpleasant learning environment. Due to the fact that majority of minority children live in lower income areas, there isn’t the same amount of drive and financials that go into schools in upper-class neighborhoods. When racism is prominent in school systems, it disengages and steers minority students into a future set out for them.

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