Should America abandon racial integration in public schools?

No

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by Joshua Henry

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Abandonment of integration, this far along into Americas history, would be a total disaster. Races of people seperate themselves into groups, tribes who stick to their own. Long ago, it was the geographical layout of our planet which determined race. And we're genetically predisposed to stick with whom we feel comfortable. Familiarity, who we relate more to. It's human nature to do so. Though to force segregation back onto people would be a catastrophe. Especially in the schools.

In America, we're taught that knowlege is power and education is the key to our future. We're taught that we all have what it takes to succed in life. And in the early years of school, we all do feel equal. The way we're taught should be changed, not who we share our classrooms with. Going into any high school classroom, I'm sure you would witness the little groups and cliques. Spanish, African-American, Caucasian, Middle-Eastern, Asian, etc etc, all sticking to themselves. Going back to the lower levels to school, you'll witness less and less. What about ''growing up'' is seperating our children? We're being taught that we are all different. The Pledge of Allegiance doesn't have to be said. You can live here, attend school here, but you don't have to salute our flag, and what our country stands for. Different children are catered to differently.

We're either all equal, or we're not. But, keeping us all together is a start. To force seperation warrants arrogance among children. One group would feel superior to another. Whether we would have seperate schools, or just seperate classrooms, it would create a tension you wouldn't be able to cut through. For the most common example of ''White and Black'' we see how, in mixed race schools, tension develops. The teaching of slavery and past racism, though it's to help children understand and more forward from past mistakes, often leaves them confused.

A child spends his earliest years in school learning how to spell, do math, solve problems. That child isn't concerned that their classmates are of a different race. He or she doesn't see them as different-they just see them. Once they're taught about such occurences of the past, they start to question who they're supposed to be. Do white children feel guilt and shame that members of their race, owned slaves? Do black children feel anger and hostility that members of their race, were slaves and oppressed for so long?

A child shouldn't have to deal with such responsibility to themselves at such a young age. Before we're taught that we are different, we're just taught. Pop-Culture is irrelevant, we don't know some kids to listen to this and some kids dress like that. We just want to get along. Racial tensions are a very, very dangerous thing. A serious problem which threatens todays youth.

Seperating a child and filing them all by race, signals the end of days. By doing so, we admit that we have failed our children and have failed as a country. The Divided States of America. How irresponsible would we be to send multiple races through different forms of education. One race feels a sense of entitlement, while the other feels they can't fit in. An entire race of children feeling as though they've done something wrong. Like they aren't good enough to sit with other children. What kind of men and women would they grow to become. Does America really want to create the next Hitler? School is supposed to prepare us for life in the world. What sort of life would exist in the world if we were all seperate.

The racial divide is a dream come true to different radical groups. White Supremacists would finally feel their beliefs are justified. I mean, afterall, if our country couldn't teach our children together, then we were meant to be seperated, right? The idea is ridiculous. We may all fit in where we can. We might choose, or feel comfortable sitting with people like us at the lunch table. But the idea of equality is still there. America, finally came to realisation that we all deserve a fair shake. Let's not take that away from our children.

Race, creed, culture or religion, America is built on the principle that we're all free to practice what we believe and be who we are, yet still receive equal opportunity. Segregating our schools again is a recipe for disaster. Children may choose to stick to their own, of their own free will, but at least they have the option. To change how children grow up and act in the world, it starts with how they're taught. The number of individual races attending any one school has nothing to do with it. People who feel they are different, that they are better, that they deserve more, are just justified when you seperate them.

Sheltering people, especially chilren, will not work out well. Do they plan to put walls up? Barriers seperating the races? Different books with information altered to specifically teach them? Let's not give up on our children by reverting back so many years. Let's help them by teaching what's important for their future. The past is gone, and relives itself for no one. Let's keep it that way. Look to the future, for our future.

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