Prejudice Reduction in Schools: the value of inter-racial contact
Titel:
Prejudice Reduction in Schools: the value of inter-racial contact
Auteur:
Short, Geoffrey
Verschenen in:
British journal of sociology of education
Paginering:
Jaargang 14 (1993) nr. 2 pagina's 159-168
Jaar:
1993
Inhoud:
This paper is centrally concerned with criticism of inter-racial contact as a means of improving race relations. It aims, amongst other things, to highlight the damaging implications of the criticism on practices hitherto thought useful in combating racial prejudice. The main focus of the paper is the charge that a reduction in prejudice towards individual members of a group does not transfer to the group as a whole. It is argued that whilst there is much evidence to support this charge, the acquisition of positive attitudes towards an entire racial or ethnic group is not an aim that educationalists should seek to realise. In the light of this objection, an alternative view of the purpose of inter-racial contact is proposed such that the value of contact be judged in terms of whether it helps diminish the tendency to indulge in unsupported generalisations. To promote this goal it is urged that wherever practicable, inter-racial contact, under specified conditions, should form part of a programme that emphasises the nature, and particularly the dangers, of generalisation. It is acknowledged, however, that there are some children and some forms of prejudice that will remain impervious to the potential benefits of any form of contact.
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