Opinion Column

Stereotypical School 

By: Mohammed AL Hammadi  

School is one of the most important institutions in our modern society, as it can aid in the success of a person and in the society itself. Societies with weak institutions are prone to downfall and failure, while societies with strong institutions are more inclined to rise and develop even further. Now specifically for school, it is the institution that educates its inhabitants (AKA the civilians: human), the institution that helps advance the society with wonders, such as new technology, a better understanding of history and culture, and can create different impressions to art which can add meaning to life and society. With this type of responsibility and the power to change and influence the world, you would expect that schools would teach the participants (AKA the students) based on their OWN innate skill and preference to a subject. However, in the case of a lot of children, this is not reality. And this is because of ethnic backgrounds and stereotypes.

Racial or ethnic stereotypes are never good for a society, and especially has a negative, sometimes a lasting, effect on the racial or ethnic community. While a person could fit a 'good' stereotype, it still has a negative effect on the community the person is in and can still have a negative effect on the person, albeit it being considered 'good'. An example would be all black people are good at basketball; a black person could feel happy about themself for fitting that stereotype, but soon enough, they will realize that is what they'll only be known for and that they will be heavily stereotyped with negative stereotypes of a black person. And if a black person were to be bad at basketball, they would be degraded because they're not 'black' enough and would devalue the person themself. In fact, there have been instances where people of the same (racial) community would devalue each other because they don't fit the same stereotype or characteristic.

The unacceptable thing about this is the fact these types of stereotypes and social acts are integrated into school and its system. Based on a student's ethnicity and race, a teacher could treat the student differently. While they could treat them purely because they find the race inferior is for another discussion, this article is more focused on how the teachers, for the lack of a better word, teachings change depending on the student's ethnicity. An example would be gearing and influencing (Eastern and Southern)-Asians to focus more on the maths and science-based subjects while hearing them away from art-based subjects. This, of course, comes from the “Asian are good at maths” stereotype, so innately they would lack in art and English based subjects and succeed in the math subjects. However, one can put into perspective that this specific stereotype was developed because you would see a number of the ethic“Asians” in careers that heavily rely on math. But the problem with is is the fact that perhaps that these “Asians” entered those careers due to the heavy influence of society and their education. 

Teachers influence their students in the specific subject or career with many techniques. Most of these techniques, which just happen to be the most effective ones, mention and relate to society. They could say that there is a social demand for the student to enter the specific career; they devalue the students independent thoughts and have them interpret as that ‘society’s demand’ is much more important than their aspirations— these demands can range from the economy to the social stigma behind it and etc.. In a more in-depth look at the social demand and stigma behind it, teachers would persuade the student that they would not be accepted and implement negative thoughts towards them. This can lead to unpleasant and aggressive thoughts towards society for not allowing them (the student) to venture into what they want to be in and can lead to harmful actions towards themself and to society. And correspondingly, when students excel in subjects that would somehow relate to their ethnic background (I.e. “Asians” and math), teachers would encourage the student and give them positive feedback to them. Again, they (the teachers) would implement society in the teachings. Teachers would convince the student that members of society would accept them and that perhaps they would she privileges. 

Of course, this goes without saying, teachers must not implement this type of teaching into their, and again for the lack of a better word, teachings. It’s unacceptable and shameful, students and children should have the freedom to become who and what they want to be, free from any limitation, whether it be racial or ethnic or economic. But sadly, this is the current reality we live in. And I add emphasis to “current” because we all can all change this type of teaching and diminish this existence of “social stigma” and “stereotypes”. We can do this by checking on our children: On their school status and their aspirations. In order for our children to have a better future, we must ensure this by looking out for them.