NCCRESt

The Carnegie Corporation's initiative, established in 1996 to create a "new generation of tolerance," included grants to 16 institutions for cutting-edge research in various social science disciplines. Some themes are presented from the second meeting of project leaders for these research efforts. Most of the themes relate to the roles of schools and teachers. Changes in U.S. society mean that schools, communities, and even families are more diverse than they were decades ago. In spite of the new diversity, there remains a sort of "conspiracy of silence" surrounding issues of race. A national dialog about race is as necessary in the schools as in the larger society, since schools have enormous potential as the locus for improving intergroup relations. Current research supports the value of multicultural and antiracist teaching and the importance of cooperative activities in building positive race relations. Because schools play an important role in communicating values, the practice of tracking must be examined in light of the effects on student self-esteem and the limited opportunities for intergroup interaction that research suggests it provides. Teachers generally have little experience in fostering positive intergroup relations, and for this reason, they need skills in conflict management and sensitivity training. Like teachers, parents have great potential to influence their children in learning tolerance, and efforts to support parents in this task must be encouraged. Other themes discussed were the importance of media as an agent for social change, some international approaches to the study of intergroup relations, the possibility of integrative work between researchers in intergroup relations and those in conflict resolution, and the need for establishing a stable, well-funded research base. In discussing improving intergroup relations, war metaphors were frequently used, which is appropriate because the meeting participants agreed that the country must fight against inequities that block full participation in American life. The conference agenda and a list of participants are attached. (SLD)

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Carnegie Corporation's Youth Intergroup Relations Initiative. Report of a Meeting Convened by Carnegie Corporation of New York (New York, NY, October 15-17, 1997)

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