ETHNICITY AND EDUCATION FORUM - WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES DIFFERENCE MAKE

For over sixty years, the pages of the Harvard Educational Review have provided a forum for authors to discuss, debate, and share their idea s about important educational issues. On December 12, 1996, six distin guished scholars gathered in a live forum at the Harvard Graduate Scho ol of Education, entitled ''Ethnicity and Education: What Difference D oes Difference Make?'' The participants responded to questions about i ssues of ethnicity and their connection to education. They approached the topic from several disciplines - ranging from sociology, psycholog y, and ethnic studies to elementary education - which provoked a multi faceted discussion that reflected their particular strengths and areas of knowledge. This edited transcript of their discussion highlights t he current debates about ethnicity, race, culture, and identity. The s peakers address the following questions: What is ethnicity? Who decide s? How is ethnicity connected to education? What does it mean that rac ial minorities are sometimes referred to as ''ethnics''? At a time whe n the student body in the United States is becoming more culturally, r acially, and ethnically diverse, and the faculties of our schools rema in mostly White, this debate is both timely and crucial.