Afterward they completed questionnaires. Viewed both teens with a stroll higher in aggression than when they used the standard walk. Perceived the teens with a stroll as more likely to need special education services than when they used the standard walk. Similar judgments were made by the teachers in her study, she says, who judged the white student more harshly than the black student. Neal's research did not include the race of the teachers as a variable.
More research is needed The study has drawn cautionary comments from educators.
I know we do have a disproportionate number of minority kids in special education. I'm glad to see that research is being done. But I think we need to make sure that whatever research we are doing on it is based on some real, solid data gathering. And not just the white staff. Black teachers and support staff learn to assume behaviors, too.