Saporito, S. , & Lareau, A. (1999). School selections as
a process: The multiple dimensions of race in framing educational choice.
Social Problems, 46, 418.
This article covers the topic of the increasing choice being
presented
to parents and students and how they go about deciding which
schools and
areas to choose. The authors are addressing the role that race
plays in
the decision of where to go to school. The authors clearly show
"that
racial motivations of families are a clear and powerful force
in shaping
school selection for whites, but not for blacks. "(Saporito &
Lareau,
1999: p. 419). This article, School Selections as a Process illustrates
the processes that whites and blacks use when going through the
selection process and that these procedures are distinctly different
for
each race. The authors are attempting to discredit the belief
of school
choice proponents who say that choice decreases inequality, which
includes racial inequality. The results of the studies performed
by the
authors reveal that whites avoid "black" schools as well as considering
the school's racial mix before even considering a school. African
American families on the other hand, do not place any significance
on
school racial composition when selecting a school. As a conclusion
to
their study, Saporito and Lareau resolve that a choice program
in the
school system will only exacerbate the problem of racial segregation.
I chose this article because I have been hearing a lot about
school
choice in my classes here at OSU. I was never very clear on how
school
choice would affect the public school system, just that many
of the
poorer students wouldn't be able to participate in such a program
because of the costs involved. This article was a real eye-opener
for
me in that I never thought that school choice would in fact promote
racial segregation. I feel that this will help me to make more
educated
decisions and arguments when faced with this topic in the future.
Some questions I have are:
1. In Oregon, are there very many school choice programs existing?
2. Is Oregon moving towards a more school choice view and attitude?
3. How can we ever overcome racism if these white parents are
teaching
their children to avoid racially mixed environments?
4. Has there been any other research done on this subject?
5. Why does the government and other leadership groups feel that
school
choice is the answer to all our problems?
Tanya Klann
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