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August 05, 2004
1990 State Study of Racial Climate in Davis Schools
Urged Reforms Largely Unmet by the System
The 1990 California Department of Education study of DJUSD, commissioned by then-superintendent Darrel Taylor, recognized growing racial and ethnic strains in the school system. The report urged Davis school officials to take immediate steps to improve the educational and racial climate through a number of reforms, including increased diversity in hiring.
Nearly 15 years later, data clearly show that progress has been minimal at best. And it should be cause of concern for Davis parents and children of all backgrounds and races.
Four years ago, for example, a total of six African-American teachers were employed in a system of 473 teachers (1.3 percent). Today, that figure (6) remains the same, even as the total teacher work force has grown to 491.
The number of Latino teachers has actually declined from 32 to 29 over the same period. Since 1990, the proportion of white students in the system has declined from 75 percent to 69 percent, a reflection of growing demographic diversity in the community. Yet the percentage of white teachers has remained steady at 85 percent. (Source: Educational Demographics Office, California Department of Education.)
Davis High School, which has experienced significant racial and ethnic turmoil in recent years, currently employs no African-American teachers. (In its 80 year history, the school has hired two black teachers. ) The school currently has an opening for a social studies teacher, a circumstance offering a terrific opportunity to improve the racial climate by hiring a teacher with significant expertise in racial and mulitcultural issues.
The 1990 report, whose warnings were echoed this spring by a remarkable student report on the racial climate in Davis schools, can be read at the following link in pdf format. (Size 188k. )
Posted by Neil Henry at August 5, 2004 11:18 AM