ABSTRACT
PLURALISM My notion of pluralism is contrasted with three other ideas: assimilation, hierarchy, and intolerance." Assimilation means that one thing is absorbed into another; differences disappear. Complete assimilation means no pluralism because there is only one kind of identity. At some points in the history of the United States this has been the ideal-people would eventually be "just Americans." Therefore, the notion of pluralism at least implicitly rejects complete assimilation and homogeneity. Maintaining some forms of distinctiveness is a goal or value, but this does not necessarily imply the rejection of all, or even most, forms of commonality. Many white prep teenagers choose to listen to rap music. Even ardent supporters of a distinctive African-American subculture do not usually discourage black young people from learning algebra, using a computer, or aspiring to become a professional major-league baseball player. Nearly everyone is for some degree of commonality, but the notion of pluralism implies that this is not the only goal or value. Hierarchy implies different ranked social identities; social groups are not just different, but some are definitely better or worse, higher or lower than others. In an ideal-type hierarchy the ran kings are formal and not just a matter of opinion. Usually they are associated with enforced differences in power, privileges, and disabil-
ities. In the the U.S., the ranking and privileges of blacks of opinion and choice; they were backed To the degree that different identities there is not pluralism.' Intolerance means "refusing to accept people who are different or live differently," and often implies enmity and hostility toward those that are different." Tolerance, however, does not necessarily imply camaraderie or mutual appreciation, but rather, some minimal level of civility. The three dimensions of pluralism can vary independently, though of course they are commonly correlated. In the ideal-type case, pluralism means (l) distinctive social identities, (2) equality, and (3) tolerance. Few social systems, and not many U.S. high schools, fully match this ideal-type model of pluralism. Increasingly, however, some high schools come closer to this ideal-type than the traditional hierarchical one. This concept of pluralism is intended as a hypothetical benchmark useful for characterizing and comparing actual high schools. Two forms of pluralism are relevant.
