"We cannot expect the composition of our neighborhoods to alter the composition of our schools anytime soon," she wrote. "Therefore, educators must be intentional in working to address the limitations created by racial isolation in our elementary and public schools."
White children need an integrated school setting to combat stereotypes and encourage their understanding of social justice issues, Tatum said. And black children need access to the resources and opportunities that often come with a more integrated environment. And teachers of all colors and cultures must be willing to reflect on their own experiences with race and be open minded about others to create a more inclusive atmosphere for students.
Desegregation must be more than a symbol from a forgotten era, Tatum urged.
"Fundamentally it was a struggle for equal access to publicly funded educational resources," she wrote. "Clearly that struggle continues."
On the Net:
See Dr. Tatum’s comments on the recent Supreme Court ruling in the transcripts of the Diverse Live Chat Event: “The Supreme Court and Desegregation” at the link below:
http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_8196.shtml
- Associated Press
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