Nia: Does Integration Matter?

Student integration in schools matters in order to ensure educational equity.  The question is not asking what is the most important, or what should be done first, but simply if integration is  needed to ensure educational equity.  Saying that, I think the largest cause for education inequity is an unequal distribution of resources.  This unequal distribution is caused by funding being largely influenced by schools’ demographic and location.  I think that the most immediate course of action in promoting education equity would be remedying that injustice.  However, in the long run, the segregated school system is not something that can be ignored.  You can’t just throw money at previously under funded schools and expect all your problems to be solved.  Integration is essential to complete educational equity.  Certain stereotypes are so deeply ingrained in American culture, that even ensuring equal funding for all schools will not guarantee educational equity.  Student integration would help in eliminating prejudice against certain schools and it’s students.  It would eliminate the misconception that  predominantly Black and Hispanic schools are bad, and White and Asian schools are good.  It would help to bridge the achievement gap more quickly.  It would work towards destroying the deeply unequal stereotypes supported statistically today.  I think it’s safe to stay that both a more equal distribution of resources and student integration is necessary for educational equity.