Why Are Schools Still So Segregated?

Summary

This video script discusses the resurgence of racial segregation in American schools, despite the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling over 60 years ago. It highlights how the average white student attends a predominantly white school and the increase in high-poverty schools with mostly Black or Hispanic students. The script also touches on the historical resistance to integration, the impact of white flight, and the differing perspectives on the importance of diversity in education. It raises questions about the long-term effects of segregation on students' opportunities and the role of government in promoting school integration.

Takeaways

• 📚 If you've taken a U.S. history class, you've likely seen photos suggesting school segregation was resolved and is now a thing of the past.
• 🌍 Today's school-age population in America is more racially diverse than ever before.
• 🚸 Despite this diversity, schools are reportedly becoming more racially segregated.
• 📊 The average white student attends a school that's over 70% white.
• 📈 The percentage of high-poverty schools with mostly Black or Hispanic students has more than doubled since 2000.
• 🗞️ Stories in the news highlight increasing school segregation.
• ⚖️ Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark Supreme Court decision over 60 years ago that aimed to end school segregation.
• 🚌 Southern schools integrated in the 1970s and 80s due to programs like cross-district busing, significantly improving Black student achievement.
• 🚪 The end of forced busing programs and white flight have contributed to re-segregation in schools.
• 🏫 Hyper-segregated schools, with almost no white students, have tripled nationwide.
• 🗺️ School segregation is now worse in northern states like New York, Illinois, and California than in the south.
• 📜 Segregation based on race is still illegal, but many communities are self-segregating.
• 🏘️ Some argue this self-segregation is about parents wanting the best for their kids and choosing neighborhood schools.
• 🤝 Diversity advocates argue that integrated schools benefit all students and that re-segregation harms low-income Black and Latino students.
• 💡 Segregated schools often have fewer resources, less experienced teachers, and lower achievement rates, impacting long-term student success.

Q & A

What impression might the photos from a U.S. history class give about school segregation?

The photos might give the impression that school segregation was a big problem in the past, but it has been resolved and is no longer an issue.

What is the current racial diversity situation in America's school age population?

Today, America's school age population is more racially diverse than ever before, which might lead one to assume that classrooms are more racially mixed.

What recent data indicates about the racial composition of schools?

The most recent data shows that the average white student attends a school that is more than 70% white, suggesting increased racial segregation.

What was the landmark Supreme Court decision that made school segregation policies illegal?

The landmark Supreme Court decision was Brown v. Board of Education, which was over 60 years ago and ruled that racially separate schools were inherently unequal.

How did federal courts initially respond to the Brown v. Board of Education decision?

Initially, many white communities in the south fiercely resisted the new rules, and it wasn't until about a decade later that federal courts forced districts to de-segregate.

What programs were implemented in the 1970s and 80s to integrate southern schools?

Programs like cross-district busing were implemented, which brought students from different communities to the same schools, leading to increased integration.

What was the impact of school integration on Black student achievement according to historical studies?

Historical studies show that school integration had an overwhelmingly positive impact on Black student achievement, with no negative impacts for white students.

What led to the decline of school integration programs and the rise of re-segregation?

A new generation of conservative judges rejected the idea of federal involvement in local school integration, and phenomena like white flight contributed to the decline of integration programs and the rise of re-segregation.

What is the current trend of school segregation according to UCLA's Civil Rights Project?

According to UCLA's Civil Rights Project, the number of hyper-segregated public schools across the country has tripled, indicating a significant re-segregation trend.

Why do some people argue that the current trend of re-segregation is a natural change?

Some argue that it's a natural change because parents from diverse backgrounds want the best for their kids, which often means attending a neighborhood school without long bus rides.

What are the arguments from diversity advocates regarding the impact of segregated schools on students?

Diversity advocates argue that segregated schools negatively impact low-income Black and Latino students, who are more likely to attend schools with fewer resources and lower achievement rates, affecting their long-term opportunities.