Racial profiling and stereotyping are creating negative effects on the racialized students and thus costing some students their education. Profiling can impact the individual mentally, psychologically and sometimes physically. Many schools today have diverse classrooms which means changes in the stereotypes should be made however they are not, causing the students to suffer under the labels placed on them.
School is where most students of colour face discrimination even though education is a human right for all individuals to receive. Our schools are suppose to be a safe place for students to learn, grow and develop for the future. It is a place that provides promising opportunities for social and academic growth. The classroom is the first place that students are able to interact with one another and build connections for their future. Teachers play this pivotal role in initiating respect and trust with students. Thus, teachers are elders of authority and with their guidance, students learn to build a perception of themselves in the future. Yet, there are many concerns of racial profiling and stereotyping within the educational system. Many students including those of African-American descent are stereotyped as being delayed in learning and aggressive with others according to the OHRC article. Therefore, when a racialized student is involved in a fight they are the first ones to be accused and receive punishment. School Boards have recently implemented a Safe Schools Act in which a zero tolerance policy has been put in place. This means when a racialized child is involved with any conflict in the school, they are affected immensely as education could be taken away from them. Loss of education is the biggest impact with this act as the child now experiences a defeat that may cause the student to act out and potentially take part in further negative encounters. This might also cause the student to see individuals of authority in a negative light and will not trust them in the future. If the child gets expelled from school it may potentially damage any success for the future, as the child might not feel worthy enough to receive further education or employment.
I remember talking about racial stereotypes in my university course CHYS 2P38. It is difficult for society to break out of these labels and judgments as they have been around for centuries. Thus stereotypes came from African Americans as they were known to receive inferior education in the past due to fewer resources being provided. Schools were not accommodating as most of racialized students were seen as being from a lower class income family.
As a future educator, I would like to see a change in the stereotypes for racialized students, so that they are not scared or afraid of attending classes. Instead they can be excited to step into the classroom and learn for the future like every other student. It will take a long time before this issue is rectified and I look forward to the day where all students are being treated equally.
Do you think labels and judgments of racialized students could ever change? If so how can we get this racialized stereotype eradicated?
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