Decision-making in school racial conflict

What is it about?

This case portrays administrator, faculty, and student responses to a race-related incident that occurred in a predominately White, wealthy high school. The scenario underscores the challenges involved in educational leadership during emotionally intense, divisive periods of heightened public scrutiny about racism.

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Why is it important?

Claims of racist speech, behaviors and harassment in schools are not uncommon; yet, educational leaders repeatedly seem caught off-guard when complaints of racism surface. Too often these incidents are viewed as anomalies within otherwise well-functioning educational systems. This case, based on real events, examines the decision-making and actions of school leaders who respond to a student upset by racist behavior in a public high school. It is our hope that studying this case will encourage the adoption of alternate perspectives when dealing with racial conflict—both overt and underlying—thereby illuminating, and perhaps preventing, further incidents like the one presented here.