Empowering Children through Fairness: The Role of Schools in Reducing Discrimination and Bias

In a recent essay, University of Maryland Professor Melanie Killen discusses the importance of schools in teaching children more than just academic skills. She argues that schools also play a crucial role in teaching children about the importance of fairness and the harm of excluding others. Killen, who specializes in human development and quantitative methodology, highlights research from the College of Education that focuses on reducing prejudice and promoting justice in schools.

Many children experience anxiety and misery due to discrimination, which can hinder their learning. Killen believes that schools have the potential to be more inclusive and welcoming environments for all students. With decades of research on children’s moral development, Killen and her colleagues have identified ways to help children navigate the tension between their desire to be fair and the pressure to belong to certain social groups. They have found strategies to assist children in understanding and expressing their views on issues like unfair exclusion, stereotypes, and biases.

Through their research, developmental psychologists aim to create a more supportive and equitable school environment. By helping children develop critical thinking skills and encouraging them to stand up against injustice, they hope to foster a sense of empathy and understanding among students. To learn more about this research, you can read the full article in Scientific American.