"Is My School Racist?"

In Brian Willoughby's article, "Is My School Racist," racism within the educational system is looked at from a systemic societal level, rather than viewing racism as being perpetuated by individual people. Willoughby's article reminded his readers of the prevalence and potential for racism within every type of school - private, public, charter, etc. - and at every level - district, administrative, or classroom. The importance of recognizing the potential for systemic racism helps to removes the pride that reduces some privileged people's ability to admit the presence of racism. In doing so it also maximizes the potential for antiracist professional development.
This reminder to look at the systemic levels of racism supports the text in chapter 3 of the Nieto and Bode, where they wrote, "Too often, prejudice and discrimination are viewed by many people as individuals’ negative perceptions toward members of other groups. Unfortunately, some definitions of racism and discrimination obscure the institutional nature of oppression," (p. 64). The text as well as this article encourage education systems to continually evaluate standardized tests, curriculum, and the classroom management methods used with a critical eye in order to continue to create more antiracist educational settings. Also, this article serves as a reminder to check one's privilege and personal perspective at the classroom door. For instance, a list of four questions written by Pollock, the director of the Center for Research on Educational Equity, Assessment, and Teaching Excellence were included that asked things such as, "Am I seeing, understanding and addressing the ways the world treats me and my students as members of racial groups?" By consistently checking and analyzing the content of methods of instruction and assessment, many occurrences of institutionalized racism could be removed.

http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-45-fall-2013/is-my-school-racist