Introduction
The problem of racial discrimination in modern society is becoming more acute, which makes its addressing an urgent need. Educational institutions, including schools, are the foundation for the development of a citizen’s personality, which requires attention to existing teaching practices and educational standards. Current legislation limiting racial discrimination does not focus on the root cause of this phenomenon. This letter proposes an initiative to make mandatory training on inclusiveness and equity for educators a part of teacher certification and licensing procedures in Arizona.
Discussion
Racial discrimination is a significant problem in today’s US educational institutions, including elementary and secondary schools. English et al. (2020) conducted a study among American adolescents aged 13-17 who belong to racial minorities. The researchers examined the relationship between racial discrimination and the manifestation of symptoms of depression in adolescents. The findings of the article identify “the multidimensional, quotidian, and impactful nature of racial discrimination in the lives of Black adolescents in the U.S” (English et al., 2020, p. 1). Moreover, the research by Leath et al. (2019) identified systematic racial discrimination against Black students in various school districts by both students and teachers. These discrimination episodes resulted in a negative impact on the academic curiosity and engagement of Black students. Although this problem is common in the United States as a whole, in Arizona, existing racial disparities in education contribute to significantly lower academic performance among students belonging to racial minorities compared to White peers (McDonald-Evoy, 2020). The federal and state governments are taking steps to minimize the impact of racial discrimination in education, but this is not enough at the moment.
The fight against racial discrimination has a long history in the US, although there are no specific laws addressing this problem in the educational setting. In particular, the famous case of Brown v. The Board of Education led to the recognition of racial segregation of children in schools as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1954 (Milestone documents, n.d). Later, this decision became the basis for the inclusion of a section on the prohibition of racial segregation in educational institutions and other contexts in the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution (Fourteenth Amendment, n.d). These changes have become a turning point in the fight against open racial discrimination of students in schools, colleges, and universities. However, in many educational institutions, there are hidden practices of discrimination rooted in the principles of traditional society. The Arizona government also issued a ban on the promotion of ideas of racial discrimination in educational institutions (Arizona State Senate, 2022). However, the existing problem is rooted in the educational practices of current teachers and their approach to the problems of inclusiveness.
In order to address the existing problem of racial discrimination in the educational setting, all K-12 educators should receive specific training on methods of inclusion and equality promotion. Under Arizona law, mandatory teacher training in this area may be included as part of certification and licensing. Inclusiveness and equality in the educational setting should be no less important for teachers than the quality of teaching academic material. Racial discrimination can have a significant negative impact on student performance and achievements, which is a direct threat to the quality of education.
Conclusion
Therefore, this initiative should be considered by the Arizona government. The inclusion of mandatory training on inclusiveness and equality could be the next stage in the fight against racial discrimination. Eliminating this problem in schools may contribute to the development of a whole generation for which equality is the norm. In the long term, this achievement can lead to the gradual disappearance of racial discrimination as a social phenomenon.
References
Arizona State Senate. (2022). Fact sheet for H.C.R. 2001: Racial discrimination; public education. Arizona State Senate. Web.
English, D., Lambert, S. F., Tynes, B. M., Bowleg, L., Zea, M. C., & Howard, L. C. (2020). Daily multidimensional racial discrimination among Black U.S. American adolescents. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 66, 1-30. Web.
Fourteenth Amendment: Citizenship, equal protection, and other rights of citizens. (n.d). Constitution Annotated. Web.
Leath, S., Mathews, C., Harrison, A., & Chavous, T. (2019). Racial identity, racial discrimination, and classroom engagement outcomes among Black girls and boys in predominantly Black and predominantly White school disctricts. American Educational Research Journal, 56(4), 1-35. Web.
McDonald-Evoy, J. (2020). Data show Arizona’s racial inequalities in education, poverty, prisons. AzMirror. Web.
Milestone documents. (n.d). National Archives. Web.