Racism in schools "underestimated"

Most Australians still believe that because there is the ever-popular slogan of Aussies giving someone else a "fair go" that racism is something which exists overseas and not in Australia. All too sadly that is not the case, as so clearly demonstrated by the popularity of Pauline Hanson and many of her policies and ideas - now "adopted" by John Howard & Co.

It would seem that racism in schools has been "inderestimated" as this article in The Age reveals:

"The effects of racism experienced by Arab-Australian students have been underestimated, according to Deakin University researchers.

The study on attitudes at three Melbourne secondary schools since 2003 found that schools and teachers needed better training and resources to manage cultural diversity.

While racism between students at the multicultural schools was not a significant problem, many students reported poor relationships with teachers in the project's initial stages. Boys in particular felt that teachers made little effort to understand them culturally."

The analysis thrown up by the survey is interesting - and as the full article, here, clearly shows, whilst some things are changing for the better, we still have quite a way to go to eradicate racism and stereotypes.

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