2. Discrimination in Schools Today
• “Discrimination always helps somebody…”
– Asians are good at math.
– Jews are good with money.
– African-Americans are good rappers.
• “…how people are excluded or deprived of
rights or opportunities as a result of the
normal operations of the institution.”
(Nieto,44)
3. Schools reflect communities.
• Despite desegregation of schools,
schools are even more segregated
due to the mobility of population with
higher economic status.
• Less funding available
• “Rigid Tracking”
• Less experienced teachers
• Lower expectations
4. Students reflect their
environment.
• Students rise to teacher
expectations.
• White teachers have less eye
contact with nonwhite
students.
• Different standards for female
students
• Public racial embarrassment
• Lower expectations for
students of low socioeconomic
status
7. Being LGBT in School
• Student experience high levels of
discrimination within the school environment.
• LGBT students are at high risk
• Drug Use
• Alcohol
• Suicide
8. Being LGBT in School
• True Testimonials from Students who were either
Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual (Transgender student
not available)
• Discriminated for being LGBT
• Usually kept it a secret from family
• Came out and told friends, or other LGBT
individuals
• Many teachers did not support or agree these
individuals
• No support groups or programs in or out of
school
9. Being LGBT in School
• Cognitive , Emotional and Social Isolation
• Identity assumptions– Adolescent Men Identified
earlier than Adolescent Women
• Increase Awareness and Sensitivity
• Professional Training for educators and school
personnel
• Services
• Curriculum development
12. Ebonics
• Vernacular spoken by many African American
• It is the language of their ancestors and
caretakers.
• According to Delpit “it is the language through
which they first encountered love, nurturance
and joy”.
• It is part of their identity and community.
13. The problem
• Students who do not have access to the
Standard English are less likely to succeed in
school and guarantee a future of
unemployment.
• Due to the perception that students can’t
handle challenging curriculum, many times
teachers water down the curriculum.
14. Fox News and Black English
Link if the above video fails to play
15. Cultural Responsive Instruction
• Culturally Responsive Instruction - It is
important to learn as much about the families’
culture to more accurately interpret the
meaning of the children’s behavior and prevent
cultural stereotyping or unrealistic expectations.
• Culturally Responsive Teaching- respect
student’s linguistic diversity and values, beliefs
and builds curriculum around mutual respect
and trust.
16. In conclusion
• According to the author, “ it is the teacher’s job
to provide access to the national Standard
English as well as to understand the language
the children speak sufficiently to celebrate its
beauty”.
Water is to fish……as language is to
humans.
18. Discussion
Institutional discrimination is a reality in
our society and is reflected in our
school system. Teachers expectations
are formed by the environment they
teach in and students rise to meet, but
not exceed, teacher expectations.
With this in mind, how have you
experienced discrimination either as an
educator or student?
