Unnoticeable
September 15, 2008
The students in urban America are continuously failing and the numbers are constantly increasing. Carolyn Pippen states in her article We don’t need no education:
“You have heard the stats before: Fourth graders in low-income schools are on average three grade levels behind their higher income peers, and only 50 percent of them will graduate high school by the age of 18. But I think it’s rare for students to truly grasp what these numbers mean. Imagine if in your preppy suburban elementary school, old Mrs. Humperdink had taken four full years to teach you what all the other kids learned in the first grade.”
Education in this country is at its worst and many people are not fully aware of the set backs that have developed since the NCLB act was created. I was not aware of the problem until I went to observe a school during the beginning of the school year and the teacher of the class expressed to me the difficulties which she had with the standardized testing. She told me of the frustrations that she endured with the students not knowing a large amount of testing information, the way in which the test preparation procedures were to be conducted, and the over all time during the day spent prepping the students. Until I experienced this, I was in dark with the NCLB act and the constraints that it put on the schools, teachers, and students. Public education is failing our students and it does seem to be a major concern. I think that is primarily because it is not happening in the richer areas in this country. I really do not want bring the race card or ethnicity into the issue, however why is it that mainstream America continues to downplay the failing urban schools. I do not think this issue will ever become a problem until it hits middle class America and until then this will carry on to be a minor matter. I believe Pippen also implies in her article that NCLB are taking steps towards the betterment of our schools but schools are proceeding to step even though many students are not prepared to take that step.
By The Vanderbuilt Hustler
14 September 2008
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1.
laurensibula | September 22, 2008 at 3:57 am
So, do you think that the reason underprivileged schools in America don’t get the attention that they need is because they are filled with minority students?
This could very well be the case. Though, I think it is ignorant (not that YOU said this, but others HAVE said) to assume that our government isn’t concerned with a student’s learning if they are black, Asian, or Mexican. I think it is more likely that the government understands the facts; that families who inhabit these areas are less involved with their children’s education.
Certainly, if a well-to-do school in Connecticut suddenly started dropping in it’s standardized test scores, there would be a huge call to action. Why? Because the PARENTS of the students would throw a fit. It is almost assumed that if a student is going to an inner-city school that they are going to get the short hand of the stick.
I am not sure what has to be done in our country in order to turn this cycle around. I hate that teachers are stuck with NCLB because they can’t explore ways to help more kids learn. Instead, they are forced to teach students how to fill in the bubble sheets so the school can be certified.
How can we give teachers the freedom to explore with their students and help each student learn in their own individual way while making sure that students across the board are getting the proper education? I think that there should be some sort of testing in our county to make sure each student is getting a proper education.
I don’t like NCLB because it basically handcuffs teachers. Though, I don’t disagree with its basic idea. I think there should be some sort of standard test to keep schools on track.
2.
kennedad77 | September 23, 2008 at 3:36 am
Sigh. NCLB is a bummer. But I think we could both agree that at the very least, NCLB was an aggressive move to help improve our schools. It was completely backwards in its thinking, but at least something was done. Our educational system is in a sad state of affairs. I do not claim to be super educated on its plight or all of its problems but I am interested in it. Urban schools are badly under performing that is definitely true. They need to work out the funding issue. It seems completely unfair and sad that different schools should receive different amounts of funding. I guess maybe im naive but it just doesn’t make sense to me. I think the federal government needs to play a much bigger part in the fiscal levels of public education. Its really just an incredibly frustrating topic and as im sitting here im sort of at a loss of what to write about thats not negative and pessimistic. I feel as though one thing we need to do that is not talked about much is reestablish the prestige of the teacher. From what I hear, we do not treat our teachers particularly well. Having standardized testing attached to income and funding makes administrators put pressure on the teachers to teach to the test. This causes a distressing split between the administration and its teachers. The administration should support its teachers. We can just hope that the next presidential administration can help fix these problems.
3.
Elizabeth C | September 23, 2008 at 6:43 am
You are bringing up a very valid point, how is it that we can compare inner city schools to others. Obviously inner city schools will have behavioral issues, cultural issues, in other words a lot more things to deal with than lets say a private upper class school. I too think you shouldn’t compare, for instance, pillows to ice. The two objects are drastically different it’s hard to say a pillow is wet or hard like ice and ice is soft and warm like a pillow. So how can you compare a private upper class school with little discipline problems and cultural issues to a school swarming with such issues and more? This question along with many others have been eating away at many people in our communities. Maybe some day this question will be answered or perhaps a resolution made to fairly compare schools to one another.
4.
hubbardj87 | September 23, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I find your article very interesting and relatable. I was confused as to what NCLB was until I referenced your article but a clearer picture is now in my mind. I do agree with your point that the issue of failing and unprepared students is not going to be a significant matter until it hits more upper to middle class areas. It is unfortunate that the problem is in some ways being ignored and that students are therefore suffering because of it.
The article and your response made me question what are methods we can do to change this problem? Or to get more people to recognize the problem? I am still a little confused on NCLB but it was very interesting to hear and learn a little more about it. I look forward to reading more of your posts and of the information to come
5.
coachk97 | September 23, 2008 at 2:20 pm
When I was a Freshmen in college I was able to volunteer at an inner city school. In a fourth grade classroom, interestingly enough, and I saw so many kids that were struggling with very basic skills that it made my heart ache. The teacher expressed to me that this school was to be shutdown within the next couple of years because of the lack of numbers in the student body, and that many of the kids are going to join a new school and be behind when they enter. If I remember correctly there were only two-three kids that were at or above a fourth grade reading level and those same kids were the only ones who scored well on their standardized tests. She said that it was just a complete lack of resources within the school. There was no money for new computers, books, calculators, or any other new equipment that was necessary to develop a child’s mind. The teachers began to buy these things themselves helping in anyway they can, but due to the lack of money they are paid within that district that help was severely crippled. This school I helped in has since been shutdown and I am always wondering about those kids that I met, kids that came from broken homes, were behind in their studies, and some immigrants that didn’t even have a teacher to teach ESL! Yet these same kids were forced to use a computer and type essays with the help of one child that could speak both English and Spanish.