Four Goals of Desegregation

1. To end or substantially reduce racial isolation in schools,
2. To increase racial understanding and respect through a willingness to interact together among children and adults of all races,
3. To improve academic performance of low achievers, and
4. To increase social equality for minorities through access to quality education that leads to better jobs and higher incomes.

Desegregation: Four Possible Responses

Business as Usual

• Maintains the same academic standards, basic curriculum and teaching methods
• Enforces the same behavioral standards
• Expects new students to adjust to traditional practices

Assimilation

• Expects students to give up their culture
• Attempts to remold minority students into White students
• Models the values of the dominant society

Pluralistic Coexistence

• Permits minority groups to coexist within the school environment with little or no interaction

Integrated Pluralism

• Recognizes the diversity of racial and ethnic minority groups
• Affirms equal value of groups
• Encourages participation by all groups
• Acknowledges the contributions of all groups
• Exposes all students to diverse perspectives
• Fosters interaction between different groups