Separate But Not Equal
By Aleia Fernández and Ella Zak
“I think that school segregation is unfair because it does not provide equal opportunities that should be needed in America and anywhere else.” says Mark Szirtes from 601.
When we asked Jorell Jimenez if his elementary school was segregated he responded, “In my school, there were many types of races…There were African Americans, there were Muslims, there were Jews, and Hispanics. So, my school wasn’t segregated.” Like Jorell, all of the kids we interviewed said that their elementary school wasn’t segregated. That might be because Queens is very diverse, but there are problems with school segregation everywhere.
A lot of times, when we talk about segregation, we tend to only talk about race but it also includes the amount and quality of resources, accepting identity, and all kinds of relationships. Learning how to give fair consequences, without putting students in prison, and making sure that all kinds of teachers are represented. Whether it’s about race, experience or sexual identity.
Kids all over this city are facing school segregation which is a problem and it will keep on getting worse. If you want to stop segregation in schools then try to make an act of change. You can learn more about Teens Take Charge at this website, and maybe even join too.
Real Integration
Just like our title says, some schools are separate but not equal. But before we dive in, let’s talk about what school segregation even is.
School segregation divides people who are struggling financially from people who aren’t. As a result, people of color are the ones who might not have access to the best resources when it comes to their education.
Starting in the late 1900s, segregation divided people not only by race but by their education too. In 1954, the Brown vs. Board of Education arose which provoked the government to make school segregation illegal. Now, you might be asking yourself, Why is school segregation still even a thing? According to the Hulu original, The Weekly, segregation didn’t quite end in 1954, and a lot of people rebelled against the new law. So here we are, with the most segregated school system in the country.
The fact that it is still going on today is alarming. Here’s an example of some situations that are happening to schools all over New York City.
School segregation divides people who are struggling financially from people who aren’t. As a result, people of color are the ones who might not have access to the best resources when it comes to their education.
Starting in the late 1900s, segregation divided people not only by race but by their education too. In 1954, the Brown vs. Board of Education arose which provoked the government to make school segregation illegal. Now, you might be asking yourself, Why is school segregation still even a thing? According to the Hulu original, The Weekly, segregation didn’t quite end in 1954, and a lot of people rebelled against the new law. So here we are, with the most segregated school system in the country.
The fact that it is still going on today is alarming. Here’s an example of some situations that are happening to schools all over New York City.
According to Politico, Pace High School in NYC is made up of 90% black and hispanic students and there are only eight sports teams. In contrast, at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, a much smaller school where 66% of students are white, there are 16 sports teams.
Schools like Beacon High School’s students have had sit-ins to try to make a difference. Students there have many complaints about how their school is lacking diversity. As reported by School Digger, Beacon’s racial makeup is 50.3% White, 19% Hispanic, 13.6% African American, and 8.6% Asian. On the contrary, when looking at the statistics on all of the public schools in NYC, the diversity is totally different. The schools are 40.6% Hispanic, 25.5% black, 16.2% Asian and 15.1% white. They also add that 72.8% of students are economically disadvantaged.
Schools like Beacon High School’s students have had sit-ins to try to make a difference. Students there have many complaints about how their school is lacking diversity. As reported by School Digger, Beacon’s racial makeup is 50.3% White, 19% Hispanic, 13.6% African American, and 8.6% Asian. On the contrary, when looking at the statistics on all of the public schools in NYC, the diversity is totally different. The schools are 40.6% Hispanic, 25.5% black, 16.2% Asian and 15.1% white. They also add that 72.8% of students are economically disadvantaged.
As reported by Patch, Beacon junior Adrian Perez, said, “I think that, as students, we have no choice but to hold each other accountable, and the first step to solving this issue is to change the culture at Beacon, I referred to it in the administration meeting, that Beacon has cancer…the racism in the school is a tumor, and until we diagnose that tumor as a community we will never be able to surgically remove it." The thought that a student was smart enough to say that shows us that we can make a change.
Are we trying to make an adjustment and do something about it? Students? 100%. Adults, especially ones who have enough power to make a difference? They are pushing for change, but there hasn’t been much of a result.
Chancellor Richard Carranza, has been going to schools, trying to make a difference, but students don’t like that he has no immediate plan of action.
We interviewed some students at HPCMS and got their opinions on school segregation. Chiara Orpianesi from 604 says, “I think it’s really not fair that people of color get into not very good schools. And I think that we really need to change that. Where people grow up shouldn’t determine what they get to do with their lives.”
Are we trying to make an adjustment and do something about it? Students? 100%. Adults, especially ones who have enough power to make a difference? They are pushing for change, but there hasn’t been much of a result.
Chancellor Richard Carranza, has been going to schools, trying to make a difference, but students don’t like that he has no immediate plan of action.
We interviewed some students at HPCMS and got their opinions on school segregation. Chiara Orpianesi from 604 says, “I think it’s really not fair that people of color get into not very good schools. And I think that we really need to change that. Where people grow up shouldn’t determine what they get to do with their lives.”
“I think that school segregation is unfair because it does not provide equal opportunities that should be needed in America and anywhere else.” says Mark Szirtes from 601.
When we asked Jorell Jimenez if his elementary school was segregated he responded, “In my school, there were many types of races…There were African Americans, there were Muslims, there were Jews, and Hispanics. So, my school wasn’t segregated.” Like Jorell, all of the kids we interviewed said that their elementary school wasn’t segregated. That might be because Queens is very diverse, but there are problems with school segregation everywhere.
A lot of times, when we talk about segregation, we tend to only talk about race but it also includes the amount and quality of resources, accepting identity, and all kinds of relationships. Learning how to give fair consequences, without putting students in prison, and making sure that all kinds of teachers are represented. Whether it’s about race, experience or sexual identity.
Kids all over this city are facing school segregation which is a problem and it will keep on getting worse. If you want to stop segregation in schools then try to make an act of change. You can learn more about Teens Take Charge at this website, and maybe even join too.
Real Integration
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