The Importance of Racial Diversity in American Education

Diversity in American society has been widely talked about for the past few decades. Equality activists have pushed for diverse populations in every aspect of American culture. With this trend comes the topic of racism, which is wound into almost any diversity conversation. Diversity may matter greatly in some areas, like equal opportunity employers or political offices, but the debate has raged in the educational world as well. The question at the center of diversity in education is as follows: Is racial diversity in the classroom essential to a good education? The argument for diversity in schools parallels many other pro-diversity arguments; the more diverse an environment, the better for everyone involved. Janet W. Schofield, professor of psychology at University of Pittsburgh, claims that contact between races in schools naturally reduces prejudice. She also argues that diversity in schools increases social cohesion across racial boundaries and increases the students’ likelihood to engage in a more diverse adult work environment. Citing the report “What Work Requires of Schools” from the George H. W. Bush administration, Schofield states that “the ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds is a fundamental workplace skill” that, in her eyes, comes from racial diversity in schools. Sam Fullwood III, who was instrumental in the Los Angeles Times Pulitzer Prize winning coverage of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, vehemently promotes diversity in schools because “students who are not exposed to racial diversity in schools lack other exposure to interact with students from different racial backgrounds.” The benefits that diversity advocates lean on are mostly immeasurable gains and ideological hopes. Others respond that while racial diversity is never a bad thing in schools, it is not necessary to a good education. Abigail Thernstrom, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, argues that if a good education depended on