Self-segregation of students is taking place in high school as well as on college campuses. Student find comfort and security among their own groups but when this division occurs where individuals “ hang out” with a specific race, does this encourage racism? Should action be implemented in this event to prevent self-segregation in our schools or should we treat it as a choice where students divide themselves in groups where they feel secure, regardless to the fact that by forming groups of one color that it is directly linked to encouraging racism in our schools?
What actions can be taken in encouraging students to mingle with those from different ethnic backgrounds in demoting this act of self-segregation? Cliques and self-imposed groups should be encouraged to bring others into their groups in order to prevent racial hatred, violence and fear in most instances. We learn from Debra Humphreys who speaks concerning the self-segregation of school students on college campuses and in high schools when she explains that recent studies show that although self-segregation in going on in our schools, it’s not a problem that should take priority over all other important matters in our educational system.
She tells us that, (Humphreys, 2007) “ When students went off to college this Fall, they entered more diverse campuses than ever before. For many students, in fact, their college community is the most diverse they have ever encountered. Most students entering college today come from high schools that are predominantly or exclusively one racial or ethnic group. Given this reality, how are students interacting with one another educationally and socially in college? ” The fear of going outside what is comfortable for students should probably be looked at more closely in order to bring less division among students.
By making schools more color friendly and using means to encourage students to go outside their boundaries and become more involved with students from other races, we can slowly stop this self-segregation on college campuses and in high schools and make segregation a thing of the past. School faculty must get involved in discussions with all students where they can demonstrate their concern for the self-segregation that is taking place and bring the topic to the forefront on the conversation, where students can have a open discussion as to why they are self-segregating.
We could possibly solve the segregation problems by allowing students to offer ideas to how we can change this problems and possibly ease the fears of students who are afraid to mingle with other races. By bringing up this issues in an open forum, we could greatly reduce the self-segregation problems in our schools and hopefully prevent this problem from escalating in the future. It is extremely important that all races come together in schools in ending self-segregation and being certain that this issue is not ignored.
If students continue to divide themselves into groups of certain color, it will only promote continuing division and will allow for racial hatred to brew and grow, until it becomes an even bigger issue for future students. We must do all that we can in avoiding self-segregation in our schools where students can concentrate on their studies, instead of social issues. By talking in groups of diverse races, where each is able to express their concerns and fears and by letting each offer cures to this problem, we can eliminate self-segregation in our high schools and on college campuses, everywhere.