Diversity and discrimination in schools

In a broader perspective, diversity can be defined as the distinct elements that people have based on gender, race, social status, religion, age, education, social orientation, or even national origin (Barak, 2016). In the context of a school set up, diversity has been notoriously associated with discriminatory acts, stereotypes, sexism as well as ageism to be more specific. The main argument offered for this is the struggle that goes around a diverse environment, having to cope with people from different backgrounds. On the other hand, other scholars argue for diversity, arguing that it has served a central purpose of preventing discrimination in the greatest sense. The discussion concerning the evils of diversity in schools, have revolved around its effect on the clusters based on the commonly shared characteristics.

This has breaded asymmetric relationships that have intensified the discriminatory actions. The feeling of ‘us’ being better than ‘them’ has led to the common stereotypes than have been used to generalize a given population without examining their innate differences. In a study on racism in the US, it was discovered that black population are discriminated upon in the workplace, given subordinate positions regardless of their qualifications, since they are misconstrued to be less capable (Riccucci, 2018). Off hand, the debate for diversity in schools have equally gained roots, with many scholars in support. Diversity has closely been associated with promoting harmony, through minimizing the conflict between ‘us’ and ‘them’. In an example of an institutionalized discrimination, it was established that most students of color find it very hard to cope with the curriculum which they believed to have biased content (Swearer & Hymel, 2015).

When students of color don’t see the content incorporating their culture and experiences, and to an extreme denouncing their culture, they feel so left out. This has breaded disinterest, with most of them greatly detached. In another practical curriculum discrimination, there have been cases of literature failing to capture diverse perspectives. This has the consequence of fostering the biased testing questions, that leave the students demotivated. Taking a practical example of the US society, schools are highly diversified. In an example of a math class, girls tend to be less challenged than boys, as such presenting them as incapable. Blacks on the other hand are misconceived to be incapable, and as such perceived as failures. Such tendencies have fueled the issue on discrimination on funding based on racial lines has been a concern in the present American society.

Schools that had people of color received less funding compared to that of the whites. Social work practice is majorly concerned with handling different people, with different challenges, and different personalities. When social workers are exposed in diverse work settings, they enjoy the advantage of learning to interact with people from different backgrounds, as such making it easy for their efficiency and effectiveness in their work. This will make it easy to be inclusive of people with varying distinct elements such as language, beliefs, social and economic statuses, religious beliefs, among other defining factors (Harvey & Allard, 2015). Being conversant with such elements makes it easy for them, sharpening them for excellence in their work. Cultural competency is another major benefit that social workers get in diverse environments.

Through this, they can actively support legislations that are geared towards protecting human rights, in an attempt to ensure a healthy society. Diverse environments are very important for social work practice. This is argued on the premise that there is the need to exemplify high moral standards for social workers. A diverse setting is important in providing room for such growth through learning how to honor minority, and treat them with respect and fairness (Ravazzani, 2016). Such settings with different people from different backgrounds are very good for sharpening those skills, since learning is a continuous process that needs practice. This therefore calls for the need to embrace diversity, as it breads more desirable outcomes in the social work practice. Social workers should be positive in highly diverse situations, so as to sharpen their skills, that are central in enhancing their efficiency in their work.