Social Issue Research Project

ETHS 2410--Spring 2014

By Shannon Griswold

Discrimination can have damaging effects on
students and it is my goal to help eliminate
prejudice in schools today.
While completing the media journal assignment, I
discovered that discrimination is currently well alive.
The documentaries A Class Divided and Dark Girls*
Local racism issues in school (link)
I am majoring in Elementary Education, so I am
determined to make a positive change in our
educational system.

Overall, the research I completed was aimed
toward identifying the mental, emotional,
and physical effects of discrimination.
Article 1*
This article informed me of the rate of perceived
discrimination in schools and its negative effects on
students mental health.**
This article encouraged me to educate future
teachers about this information; I envision meeting
with teachers and discussing ways to develop a
multicultural classroom environment.
Article 2*
This article taught me that there are physical health
issues that are related to discrimination**







After reading this article, I envisioned creating a
workshop for educators. We will discuss the
damaging effects of discrimination on human health
and explore ways to support children in elementary
schools, and how to assist them in developing
positive self-esteems.

Article 3*
This article informed me of the statistics of Black
students criminal activity and the unfairness of the
justice system. I also learned about the critical roles
of school personnel.







This article has encouraged me to organize an
intervention to educate teachers about what they can
do about these shocking criminal statistics. I intend to
raise awareness of personal biases and the importance
of family-school collaboration.

In collaboration with Frankie Condon*,I will
organize a one-day workshop for college
students who are Education majors.
The Outline:
Whatworkshop with interactive lessons and
simulations to demonstrate racial discrimination**
WhoEducation majors/general public
The Goal--To educate future teachers about the
effects of racial discrimination and how to prevent it.
Cost--An estimated $1,500, covering food,
transportation, and advertisement costs

Racial discrimination and racism is a
touchy subject for many people, so there
will be some resistance against my
intervention.
People who might resist: racists, individuals who do
not believe that there is a problem of discrimination,
SLCC school board.*
To address this resistance, I will continue to stay
motivated and encourage people to attend the
workshop. I will make posters to raise awareness. I
can also use authoritative figures who support my
intervention to promote the cause.
People who have experience with or are
knowledgeable about racial discrimination
will be supportive.
My family and friends, SLCC Education and Ethnic
Studies professors, and many African American families
are all people who will support this intervention. *
I interviewed Dr. Marlin Clark, the Assistant Vice
President for Student Life and Dean of Students at
SLCC. He is an African American man who has
experienced racism and discrimination throughout his
whole life, so he is an authoritative figure that is very
supportive of my intervention.
As a lasting impact of my intervention, I would like to see
African American students succeeding more than ever in
school. I would like to see them thriving emotionally,
mentally, and academically.
This is important to the African American community
because this would mean that White students are no longer
benefiting from systems of advantage; equality of treatment
and opportunity would reign and improve the overall
lifestyle of Black families.
Coker, T. R., Elliott, M. N., Kanouse, D. E., Grunbaum, J., Schwebel, D. C., Gilliland, M., & ... Schuster,
M. A. (2009). Perceived Racial/Ethnic Discrimination Among Fifth-Grade Students and Its
Association With Mental Health. American Journal Of Public Health, 99(5), 878-884.
Krieger, N., Waterman, P. D., Kosheleva, A., Chen, J. T., Smith, K. W., Carney, D. R., & ... Freeman, E.
R. (2013). Racial Discrimination & Cardiovascular Disease Risk: My Body My Story Study of
1005 US-Born Black and White Community Health Center Participants (US). Plos ONE, 8(10),
1-15.
Ward, S. (2014). Racial imbalance feeds school-to-prison pipeline. ABA Journal, 100(4), 1.
Pictures:
http://theviewspaper.net/rash-racism/
http://www.mckinleyryan.com/areas_of_expertise.aspx
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/21/schools-
discrimination_n_5002954.html
http://www.vectorfree.com/cardiac-vector