Changing demographics, economic disparity and societal tensions foster climates of distrust and fear among people who lack the knowledge and skills to be successful in a pluralistic society. The potential for conflict, discrimination, and scapegoating is high when prejudice and stereotypes go unchallenged or are ignored. Biased behavior is learned behavior. Left unexamined, biased attitudes can lead to biased behaviors, which have the potential to escalate into violent acts of hate.
Biased behavior can be subtle or overt.
In schools, name-calling and acts of social exclusion are the most common examples of discriminatory behavior and prejudicial thinking. In an attempt to minimize the development of prejudice, well-meaning adults often teach children to ignore differences and focus only on similarities. As individuals with significant direct contact with school-age children, educators have a particularly important role in influencing juvenile attitudes and behavior related to bias and hate. Bias reduction is an ongoing journey that people can begin at any age, but research and professional experience demonstrate that the earlier this work begins, the greater the likelihood a person will come to regard individual differences as strengths, rather than problems. Enhance students' self-esteem by creating school climates where youth feel secure, accepted, independent, and responsible.