Ironies of School Desegregation

Desegregation? It seems strange that the focus of this paper, in mid-1977, is concerned with the issue of public school desegregation. The fact that it is stands out in sharp contrast to the assurances and declarations of the nation-that all men are created equal, and that all citizens shall have equal protection of the laws. But here we are, with societal controversy still centered around the question of desegregation (including public school desegregation) twenty-three years after the Brown decision, mandated that imposed segregation be ended, and that equal educational opportunity be provided for Black youth. What is desegregation? As a process, it is a reversal, or undoing, of segregation. The public policy of mandatory segregation had imposed on America the separation of the races (including separation in schools), and discriminatory practices against Blacks and other nonwhites had imposed on them grossly unequal conditions related to education, occupation, income, housing, and life chances. Thus, desegregation as public policy is designed to abolish forced racial segregation; end discriminatory practices related to education, occupation, income, housing, and life chances; and to remedy grossly unequal conditions. Desegregation is necessary, though not sufficient, to full and open access to all parts of the society, with the means to participate fully in that society. With respect to schooling, it was expected that desegregation as policy and process would provide equal educational opportunity for Black youth. Equal educational opportunity is conceived as being a primary means of equipping the young with the mental and attitudinal tools, as well as the body of knowledge, necessary to later gain full access to all parts of the society, especially in occupation and income. In practice, it is ironic that school desegregation is, and has been, a mixed blessing, since it has both positive and negative overtones for Blacks and whites. As a result of these

Desegregation · Mathematics education · Political science · Diverse Education Studies and Reforms · Psychology · Public Administration · School Choice and Performance

• Role of the Counselor in Desegregated Schools

  Open Access•Elsie J Smith, Lee N June•Journal of Black Studies•1982

  Add to list