This article is about the school-to-prison pipeline and how
this is a form of institutionalized racism. The school-to-prison pipeline is a
trend in American education that students are sent straight from the classroom
into the prison system. This phenomenon is based in strict policies in schools
that criminalize certain behaviors, such as graffiti or even just violating the
dress code. Many times there are police on campus to monitor and oversee these
violations. Most students who are affected by the school-to-prison pipeline are
minorities who come from low-income backgrounds. The school-to-prison pipeline
becomes a form of institutionalized racism as it mostly affects and targets
minorities in poor neighborhoods. This school-to-prison pipeline is taking
young minority students out of school and into the prison system. Therefore removing
them from society and taking away their chance for education.
This article reminded me of Mills’ “The Racial Contract” in
which he describes how racism is actually institutionalized and our society is
structured on racism. Although this school-to-prison pipeline does not seem
like it would purposely target students of color, that it would target everyone
who commits these violations it equally, it does not. This police surveillance
and harsh policies are much more likely in schools that are in more low-income
areas. Also as a result of institutionalized racism it is often times
minorities who live in these low-income areas. They, therefore, are the ones
who are getting caught up in the school-to-prison pipeline. I personally think
it is crazy that a student should get a criminal record and face jail time for
something such as breaking the school dress code, or other minor infractions. This
school-to-prison pipeline takes that violation and makes the student become a
part of the criminal justice system, instead of just dealing with it as a
school issue. This results in a huge number of students being taken out of
schools and put into prisons.
I definitely agree with Hyla that it is wrong that minorities are targeted and criminalized for infractions that their white counterparts would barely get reprimanded for. I think Mills would also say that because their is a lack of equality within the education system there is also a lack of freedom within the education system. Also, how equality only exists in our social contract for white people, which relates to Mills' other point that this racist contract is a historical reality. For a long time our white dominated society blocked black people from receiving an education as slaves and even after they were freed. The school-to-prison pipeline is a more modern example of how this is still perpetuated
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great example of institutionalized racism. MOst of the time, correction programs that involve jail are put in areas where there are a great number of minorities. Thus minorities are usually the ones who get locked up and have a hard time beating the system that promisises them success if they work hard.
ReplyDeleteInstitutionalized programs are often put into place and they mainly affect the minorities or the oppressed races more than the majority race. I think it is also an institutionalized racist thing to assume that dangers will more so happen in low income areas where there are minorities as well.
DeleteI agree with the above comments. I feel like this is something that should definitely get more publicity, as what a lot of the public sees is only the outcome of this system and not the discrimination behind it
ReplyDelete