Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Equality in schools is usually a touchy subject. There is definitely inequality within and between schools. I think this inequality is more about money than about culture or race. Some sources we have read believe that the education system may be racist, only having curriculum to help white students but not others. If there economic difference is thousands of dollars per student, there is obviously going to be differences in resources and therefore curriculum.
If it is a money issue, how are we to change the problem? Some school districts will have more money because those districts have more money coming in from taxes. When it comes to redistribution of the taxes for public schools, is that any more of a fair issue? My father owns a farm in the Postville school district, and therefore pays taxes for that school. A side note is that his children didn't even go to that school. That's fine to him, he doesn't mind paying taxes for other people's children, all children need to learn. What the problem is is that my father pays for children's education who's parents don't pay anything. Because many of the hispanic children's parents are illegal aliens, they get paid with U.S. currency, but get out of the taxes. Because places like Postville have many students but few tax payers, there is obviously a money issue. How should we fix a problem like this? The only way to fix it is to take more money from the people who pay taxes. This may be just as unfair as the present issue. All people have the right of education, but people also have the right to the money they earn.

Some people say there is equality in schools because the teacher quality is not as good in some districts. "If those teachers would teach what they are suposed to do it wouldn't be as big as in issue." I have a friend who is in "Teacher America" program teaching middle school biology. Like many teachers, he went in with a great attitude thinking he was going to change the achievement gap problem of inner-city schools. He was going to teach what the students have been unable to get. He worked hard to get his lessons plans ready for the first day of class. To his surprise, his biggest issues of the first week were not whether the students were learning what they were supposed to or not. After seeing an 8th grade boy beat a 7th grade girl to the point of hospitilization, he realized that the biggest issue in inner city schools may not be the achievement gap. He says there is regular violent fighting, students dealing marajuana in the hall way, smuggling knives into the school, and stealing materials from the school. He also said one of the biggest issues during the middle of the month, when many of the student's families have run out of food stamps, is making sure his kinds have enough to eat and are not hungry (not their test scores). How is even a quality teacher suposed to effectively teach students in this environment? During class, teachers much of the time need to be worried about all the hands above the table rather than teaching material. I think some problems like school violence need to be solved before you can actually concentrate on academics. For people, like myself, who have not experienced anything like this, i think it is unfair for us to attack the quality of teaching in these areas.

2 comments:

  1. You make a lot of interesting points. I agree that the quality of teaching is just one of many factors in the success of public schools in America. Their hands can be tied in many situations, and I think it is a challenge to stay motivated in these situations. But when we lose heart and give up no one benefits.
    You also talk about the tension between giving up what you have earned as a result of your own hard work versus giving every child an equal opportunity at success. One thing to think about is all the factors that lead to people being in the situation they are in. Their parents well being, education, work ethic, economic standing, political clout, etc often greatly affects how people are able to succeed in life. Often times if I have a nice house and enough food and a good education, it is because my parents had all those things. Is it fair to expect someone who did not grow up with the financial and familial support that I did to achieve at the same rate? Do they need help? Who will provide it? Where do we draw the line between equal opportunity, and equal outcome? Many great questions you bring up here.

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  2. I agree with you in that it is unfair for us to attack the quality of inner city teachers, when we have not experienced what their teaching lives are like. I have a lot of respect for inner city teachers, because I know that I would not be able to do their job. Your blog post was very thoughtful and interesting to read!

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