Misconception #105: Minorities would benefit by reducing the achievement gap in schools

Over the years, I have been writing about misconceptions regarding the schooling process. The purpose of these posts is to explain why I disagree with various comments that I have heard people make about schooling. These are meant as personal thoughts rather than conclusive proof, and I will admit that I'm not always the best at explaining my thoughts. Regardless, I have decided that I should be willing to share these posts when I encounter someone online who makes an argument that I have already discussed.

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Although we still have a student achievement gap, that gap has been substantially reduced among races. We have viewed this gap as a disadvantage to minorities, and the key to equality has supposedly been to eliminate the gap. Unfortunately, there are no signs that reducing the gap has been beneficial. There are even some signs that this has been counterproductive.

One problem with our attempts to close the gap is that we are strengthening and enforcing the flawed and inequitable concept of credentialism. We are strengthening the argument that people should be judged on the credentials they obtain rather than their ability to contribute. This approach also fuels credential inflation. In other words, our attempts to ensure that minorities receive a high school diploma has resulted in a substantial devaluation of the diploma. Many jobs previously available to high school graduates now require a degree from a college.

Technically speaking, these issues reflect socioeconomic status more than race, but issues relating to socioeconomic status disproportionately impact racial minorities. Regardless of how much we try to reduce the gap, it will always be easier for families that are well off to invest the time, money, and effort required for credentials. As I have said before, a credentialist arms race will never benefit those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

By narrowing the achievement gap, we are not helping minorities. Instead, we are devaluing the abilities of some incredible people in favor of pieces of paper. We are enforcing the idea that everyone, including minorities, must learn in a single rigid schooling environment. This greatly diminishes the opportunity for individuals to pursue the education that is right for them.

If we want to narrow the gap between races, we can't simply narrow the achievement gap. This approach only shifts requirements in an upwards direction. Instead, we need to change our approach. We need to allow minorities to pursue the education that's right for them, and we need to put the value of ability over the value of paper. We need to allow individuals to earn success rather than just buy it.