Blootstelling en die vermindering van vooroordeel en stereotipes : 'n gevalstudie by 'n spesiale skool

M.Ed. (Multiculturalism and Education)When this special school opened its doors to all races in 1995, it was the first time this exclusively white school was confronted with racial conflict. Both teachers and pupils found themselves in a situation totally new to them. This led the researcher to question whether exposure of groups would, over a period oftime, reduce prejudice and stereotyping. The literature pertains that social contact between members of different racial and ethnic groups as a method of reducing tension is beset with a great many problems. Under certain conditions social contact can increase tension rather than reduce it. According to some studies done in South Africa contact between whites and blacks have had no effect on reducing negative stereotypes and prejudice and in many cases contact between these groups has increased stereotyping and . prejudice. The findings of this study indicate that at this school exposure between children of different racial groups led to an improvement in tolerance and acceptance of one another. The findings also indicate that inter group relations did not improve. The children formed homogeneous groups and kept their social distance. A recommendation for further research is that research should be focused on the problems of inter group relations between pupils at schools