Unequal Lessons

School Diversity and Educational Inequality in New York City

Alexandra Freidus

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Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

New York University Press
05 August 2025

Social & cultural history; Urban communities; Ethnic studies; Black & Asian studies; Educational strategies & policy

Diversity and racial integration efforts are not sufficient to address educational inequality

New York City schools are among the most segregated in the nation. Yet over seven decades after the Brown v. Board of Education decision, New Yorkers continue to argue about whether school segregation matters. Amid these debates, Alexandra Freidus dives deep into the roots of racial inequality in diversifying schools, asking how we can better understand both the opportunities and the limits of school diversity and integration.

Unequal Lessons is based on six years of observations and interviews with children, parents, educators, and district policymakers about the stakes of racial diversity in New York City schools. The book examines what children learn from diversity, exploring both the costs and benefits of school integration. By drawing on students' first-hand experiences, Freidus makes the case that although a focus on diversity offers many benefits to students, it often reinscribes, rather than diminishes, existing inequalities in school policy and practice. The idea of diversity for its own sake is frequently seen as the solution, with students of color presumed to benefit from their experiences with white students, while schools fail to address structural inequality. Though educators and advocates often focus on diversity out of a real desire to make a positive difference in students' lives, this book makes clear the gaps between good intentions and educational injustice.

By: Alexandra Freidus
Imprint: New York University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
Weight: 417g
ISBN: 9781479827800
ISBN 10: 1479827800
Pages: 277
Publication Date: 05 August 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Alexandra Freidus is Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of Connecticut.

Reviews for Unequal Lessons: School Diversity and Educational Inequality in New York City

""Breathes new life into what had become a stale debate over racial segregation in our nation's schools. Rather than simply lament the lack of progress, Freidus delves into the complexities that arise when students from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds are educated together. Written from the perspective of an educator and parent, Freidus' thoughtful approach to this topic prevents readers from adopting simplistic positions that villainize one side or the other. Instead, she leaves her readers with much to think about as they consider what can be done to address racial inequality and segregation in our nation's schools."" -- Pedro A. Noguera, Emery Stoops and Joyce King Stoops Dean, University of Southern California