September 30, 2010 | 2:00 PM | By

Race and Education Reform

FILED UNDER: Education, Race and Class, Schools

Wayan Vota

D.C. Charter School

The always eclectic PostBourgie blog asks “Should We Avoid Race When Discussing Education Reform?”

…in so many discussions about education reform — a topic that seems to be inescapable right now — the issue of race is avoided…

You can see this at play in the documentary Waiting for Superman, in which the achievement gap is mentioned, but only as it pertains to class. But there are racial disparities in student achievement, even when controlling for parental income. In fact, when the movie talks about the halcyon days of American education in the 1950’s and 1960’s, there’s no mention at all of school segregation or desegregation or how they’ve impacted how American schools function.

I’d also add that bringing up race means inviting one of those predictable conversations in which the problems facing youth of color are chalked up to dysfunctional pathology. Still, it seems hard to ignore the role race plays in the achievement gap, as the disparities in performance often persist even when when the black and brown kids are middle class with college-educated parents.

About the author

DCentric was created to examine the ways race and class interact in Washington, D.C., a city with a vibrant mix of cultures and neighborhoods. Your guides to the changing district are reporters Anna John and Elahe Izadi. View all posts by Anna →

  • Anonymous

    It's highly controversial and politically incorrect territory to start going into education/learning disparities along racial lines, that's why nobody does it except the Human Bio Diversity crowd and they get a lot of flak for it.

  • Anonymous

    'I missed this one, '' Still, it seems hard to ignore the role race plays in the achievement gap, as the disparities in performance often persist even when when the black and brown kids are middle class with college-educated parents.''

    Not all brown kids right? Desis seem to be doing quite well, correct?