Is student integration necessary in order to ensure educational equity? by Aaron Zephir

"Equity is the process, equality is the outcome" is a common phrase used to explain the difference between the two terms. As the educational system stands now, schools that succeed are given more funding an resources compared to schools that are struggling. However, that makes little sense due to a variety of reasons; one of which being that the schools that succeed already have the necessary resources to succeed. The issue of this classic "rich get richer, poor get [poorer]" (Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby) variety is often looked at as a racial issue and one that more integration could solve because the schools that are succeeding (and are thusly receiving more funding/resources) are often predominantly white, as opposed to the struggling schools' often consisting predominantly of minorities. At first, I disagreed with the notion that integration was necessary to ensure educational equity. I thought, "Diversifying schools would not ensure equity because schools are not given funding/resources simply based on how many black or white children attend the institution. So how would adding more children of a certain race to a school get it more funding/resources?" However, that is a somewhat naive way to perceive the issue and integration's roll in solving it. The simple color of the hypothetical applicants' skin is not what's important, but rather the general privilege (or lack their of) that comes with the students' race. By adding more white students to a school, statistically, the school is getting students who can afford tutors for classes, tutors for standardized testing, and could afford better pre-schools. As a result, that school's averages will rise and so will the funding. Unfortunately, this also happens in the reverse (more minority students in predominantly white schools). :( However, "the night is always darkest before the dawn" (Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight). Eventually, after equity is achieved, a students' race will not be a factor in his/her's success, only work ethic and natural-born intelligence will. So, in short, integration is necessary in order to ensure educational equity.

                            "The real death of America will come when everyone is alike."

                                                              -James T. Ellison