Ethnic minorities: high achievement a threat

A new report has found that as pupils from ethnic minorities achieve more in the classroom their white peers become ‘less tolerant’.

"As soon as minorities assert themselves and become as competent as the majority, the latter may well become defensive and intolerant. It seems that the ethnic minorities are only accepted by majority pupils if they stay in a subordinate position.

"This may be down to competitive anxieties; ethnic groups may not be perceived as a threat when they are struggling to succeed but as they increase their status and become more adept at finding their way in society this seems to change." Report author, Dr Janmaat said.

Dr Jan Germen Janmaat, of the Centre for Learning and Life Chances in Knowledge Economies and Societies (LLAKES) research into the relationship between tolerance and classroom ethnic diversity suggests that young white people are ‘less well-disposed towards immigrants when minority ethnic groups are doing well’.

It reveals that the greater the "civic competence" of the ethnic minority children, the less tolerant their white classmates appear to be - civic competences refer to the knowledge and skills that citizens need to participate effectively in a democratic society.

The study for Institute of Education, University of London found that white students performed better the more diverse the classroom, which the report says contradicts the commonly held belief that diversity undermines the performance of white British students’.

"This study prompts the need to look again at the issue of tolerance so that it is compatible with the principle that British people whatever their background are all full members of the nation and deserve equal treatment". Dr Janmaat stated.

White Britons' 'competitive anxiety' is heightened when the economy is healthy and grows even stronger during periods like the current downturn, the report also revealed.

WGC