How+does+a+school+become+diversified?


 * Research Question: How does one diversify a school?**
 * Author: Robert Pekrul**

//Include an APA citation, a summary, and a reaction for each article. DELETE THESE INSTRUCTIONS WHEN DONE//

**Editorial:** Rule, A., & Kyle, P. (2008). Community-building in a diverse setting. //Early Childhood Education Journal//, (36), 291-295.

**Summary:** This article discusses the gains and procedures of a teacher (Aubrey Rule) and the community of educators in a Montessori school. The main focus of the article is the benefits to community-building in schools and the impact of the community-building on a student's success. However, more importantly, the article displays the steps towards creating a tolerant school in regards to diversity when either students, teachers, or parents are not used to or comfortable towards a diverse setting.

**Reaction:** Although this article does not show how one diversifies a school, this article does show how a diverse school can attract more diversity and how that diversity is an advantage opposed to a disadvantage. It is quite possible that the findings that this school has produced, through its examples of innovation and community, shows a way to reduce the problem of making diversity attractive or for attracting diversity. With that in mind, the attitude and practices of this school may very well be used as a gateway towards diversification.

**CQ Researcher:** Jost, K. (2007, September 14)**.** Racial Diversity In Public Schools: Has the Supreme Court dealt a blow to integration?. CQ Researcher Online. Retrieved November 29, 2011, from http://0-library.cqpress.com.helin.uri.edu/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2007091400&type=hitlist&num=0

**Summary:** This rather lengthy article discusses the history of segregation, desegregation, and resegregation in America's public school system, as well as, the pros and cons of the Supreme Court ruling in 2007 limiting the use of race in pupil assignments. Additionally, the article delves into some of the race-neutral, and politically safe, methods to creating diversity in schools as well as the pros and cons of these new methods. Overall the article makes an unbiased outline of the issue of diversity in American schools and the arguments therein.

**Reaction:** I find the arguments against the use of race in pupil assignments rather interesting and convincing, however, the article titled "Community-Building in a Diverse Setting" portrays the success of a magnet school that uses race in its decisions of acceptance and denial of acceptance. It is a double-edged sword that can go either way. The findings do show, as was portrayed by the Supreme Court and a committee assigned to the verification of such facts, that a diverse setting is not harmful to either the black or white race and it has proven to be beneficial. The margin of benefit varies widely on region and other details, but the margin of benefit is still there.

The idea of socioeconomic conditions being the primary choice in school acceptance rates is a rather interesting concept that is a sharper sword than acceptance based on race. This idea encompasses all problems that can be present in a society. That is a tough pill to swallow and digest. However, the concept of using this for the means of creating a diverse setting of conditions outside of race can prove to be invaluable. It also does allow race to be an incognito factor. Overall the socioeconomic policy portrays itself to be a policy that can be a tremendous benefit and a great tool to societal cohesion.

**Analysis Article:** Holding, R. (2007, June 28). Can schools still achieve diversity?. //Time Magazine//, Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1638595-2,00.html

**Summary:** This article questions and discusses the consequences of the Supreme Court ruling the use of race in pupil assignment as unconstitutional. It also slightly discusses the new concept of socioeconomic factors being the new way to diversify a school and to discreetly raise different racial levels in public schools. The article argues that this ruling is not going to stop schools from using race as a deciding factor in school admittance rates and other factors.

**Reaction:** I have to agree that this ruling will hinder attempts to desegregate society, however, I can perfectly see how forcing desegregation on everyone can be deemed unconstitutional. I also can see banning this from being a mandate, however, banning this indefinitely is not fair and is rather foolish. Magnet schools have shown great potential, and as shown above, they have created effective change. Luckily this ban is on public schools only.

**Scholarly Article:** Borman, K., Haertel, E., Hanushek, E., Schofield, J., & Trent, W. (2007). Race-conscious policies for assigning students to schools: Social science research and the supreme court cases. //National Academy of Education//, Retrieved from www.naeducation.org/Meredith_Report.pdf

**Summary:** In 2007 there was a Supreme Court case in which it was deemed unconstitutional to for public school districts to use race for pupil admissions. This committee, or research team, was brought together to verify certain sources of information brought in front of the judges. This article discusses the findings and discusses the truth behind what was presented. In summary, the committee sought out to see if diversity in public schools is truly beneficial. Their findings proved it to be true in the short term and the long term.

**Reaction:** To have any form of evidence to the benefits of diversity in schools is great news to me and many others. There are a lot of "truths" and "facts" out there in the polemic world, but to be able to gain some insight and clarity is a relief. How could diversity not be beneficial? I cannot see otherwise. This article also grants great insight to race-neutral alternatives and other efforts being done to diversify schools lawfully and politically.

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Overall Reaction to Your Research
Truthfully, I found it surprising how much the government and justice system is hindering desegregation. Barring using race as a deciding factor in admitting students into a school (under the premise that the decisions will be made to better enhance the school's diversity) is a set-back to the battle against segregation. Now schools and the nation at large has to reinvent ways to battle segregation, and quite honestly the nation does not have very many ideas. The current, relevant idea is to allow socioeconomic status (found through eligibility of free of reduced lunch) to be a deciding factor in being admitted to a school. This idea may very well work in many areas, but like most things, it will not work everywhere. Therefore it is up to combing different techniques, in and out of practice, to battle segregation. The other great idea that has been in effect for about 40 decades, and has been rather successful, is magnet schools which create an academic atmosphere where the number enrolling far exceed space and the school works towards having a diverse school that matches its ideals.

Relevance in Rhode Island Schools
Banning schools from creating race agendas in their admittance rates can very well harm the diversity of Rhode Island at large. Do to Rhode Island being such a small state, it is not too difficult a problem allocate students in different sectors of Rhode Island to better enhance diversity. However, it is now unlawful to do just that. It appears that the education system of the nation, as well as Rhode Island, is in need of an incorporation of different tactics as mentioned in my research. Magnet schools as well as the usage of socioeconomic agendas can very well be what helps alleviate some of the diversity problems (as long as the two plans work symbiotically.)