Education Curves Racism
A recent study conducted by Education Digest indicated that
77 percent of teenagers believe that there is racism at their
school. Another staggering 75 percent said that the student body
at their particular school is socially segregated. More
remarkably, the survey indicated that over 86 percent of high
school students feel that there is racism in their communities.
The magazine, which circulates 500,000 copies to over 1,900
schools, polled 285 high school juniors and seniors across the
country. The poll shows that racism is not just a problem among
adults; rather, it is a problem for youth as well (Schroeder, 67).
A common misconception is that children are not capable of
prejudice at early age. Yet, this is not true. In 1984 a study
by Darlene and Derek Hopson showed this. The study replicated a
famous 1930's study, where both black and white students were
given dolls of various colors and asked to state which doll was
the 'bad' doll, and which was the 'good' doll.
In the study, 74
percent of the preschoolers, between the ages of 2 and 5,
stated that the dark colored doll was the 'bad' doll (Cole 88).
The survey shows that children can develop opinions through a
variety of sources, even at an early age. According to the
Hopsons these sources include the media, what they pick up in
their own homes, and from the culture in general (Cole 88).
The preceding examples illustrate that there is a need to
educate students when it comes to racism. Affirmative action and
other current programs designed to solve racism only solves the
symptoms, not the problem itself. In order to stop racism it is
necessary to attack racism at its very roots. Since racism can
develop at an early age, it is best...