Racial diversity in American schools remains a contentious political issue. Should public schools go out of their way to attract minority students? Does the government have a serious interest in the balancing of racial populations in education? Does a racially diverse classroom support educational goals? These questions are at the heart of the debate over affirmative action.
The institutional practice of slavery, and later segregation, in the United States prevented certain racial groups from entering the school system, particularly systems of higher education, until midway through the 20th century when the Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education forbade racially segregated education. The Court ruled that school segregation stunted the educational development of minority children. Though Brown became law, most counties in the Southern United States did not fully integrate their schools until the 1970s.
Affirmative action programs in higher education are, of course, different from the desegregation programs of the mid-twentieth century. In affirmative action programs, the state goes beyond ensuring de jure equality for racial minorities in public education and makes strides to create conditions for de facto equality. Supporters of affirmative action believe that these types of proactive programs prove that all students benefit from racial diversity in the class room, and that institutional forms of racism have precluded members of the minority community from entering spaces of higher education. Some believe that racial and ethnic diversity in schools fosters understanding of new cultures and beliefs systems, dispelling stereotypes held by the majority population . Since the mid-twentieth century, researchers have found that benefits of racial diversity in schools range from higher reading levels, increased likelihood of high school graduation, positive impact on work aspirations and higher educational attainment, greater interaction with other racial groups and creation of interracial friendships in adult life, and higher desire to live and work in racially diverse environments.
Diversity in Education
Supporters of affirmative action programs posit that all students benefit from diversity in schools.
In addition to the perceived legal obstacles to the implementation of affirmative action programs, some opponents of affirmative action believe that race-conscious approaches to diversity in the classroom are harmful. They perceive little correlation between racial diversity in the classroom and increased performance by minority students. These theorists believe that focusing on race in diversity policies creates a heightened awareness of racial difference and perpetuates discrimination. Rather, these individuals usually support colorblind policies to instill the norm that skin color does not matter.