Nancy A. Madden

School Practices That Improve Race Relations

This study used questionnaire data collected by the Educational Testing Service in 51 high schools to discover which school practices improved racial attitudes and behaviors in desegregated schools. Data were analyzed at school and individual levels using multiple regressions. Results for whites indicated strong, positive effects on racial attitudes and behaviors of assigning students of different races to work together and through individual participation on a sports team with students of another race. Weaker effects were found for class discussions of race. For blacks, assignment of students of different races to work together and teacher workshops on race relations had effects on one behavioral variable, and individual participation in biracial work groups or sports teams had strong, positive effects on racial behaviors and attitudes. Few effects for either race were found for teacher workshops, use of multiethnic texts, or tracking. Results were interpreted to indicate that programs involving cooperative interaction between students of different races are most likely to improve race relations in desegregated schools.