No one doubts the
importance of educational diversity in our public schools. It is a crucial tool
to opening our eyes at an early age, providing children with an early exposure
to the differences that they will see prevalent in their society. As useful as
diversity and integration are, however, they are not necessary for a quality
education in that a quality education can be had without diversity. Educational
equity will not be solved by transplanting white, privileged students into the
underprivileged schools found in the underprivileged neighborhoods. While this
might provide exposure to differences that may prove to be beneficial, it will
not improve the quality of education in these poor public schools. Regardless of
the racial composition in poor schools, these schools will still be poor and
the educational issues will still exist. These schools provide a lower level of
education not because their students are minorities but because they don’t
receive enough funding. If the racial composition of the school changes,
slightly or even drastically, the schools’ problems will not magically be
solved. There will still be educational inequity because these schools will
still be underprivileged, understaffed, underfunded and under-appreciated.
Having more white students will not change this.
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