What place does race have in education?

It is no big surprise that blacks are outperformed by their white counterparts on tests in many cases. Upon first glance, it would appear that whites are smarter than blacks. The media puts so much emphasis on performance as it relates to race. It would seem that there is a racial gap in intelligence. Well, there has not been a study that has supported the relationship between race and intelligence. As of recent, there hasn't been a study that has found direct genetic evidence for or against the theory that the black-white gap is innate, because we have not yet identified the genes that affect skills like reading, math, and abstract reasoning according to the writers at
http://www.brookings.edu/articles/1998/spring_education_jencks.aspx.

It seems that the more possible reasons would be those that relate to economic status, living conditions, and other factors that may directly affect the education of students. It has been shown that students in low income families will most likely attend lower performing schools which will produce low test scores. Although, blacks' financial status has greatly improved, the truth is blacks are still those amongst the lower social-economic status. Also, the fact that schools blacks attend have less resources, tendancy to have higher student teacher ratios, and a less demanding curriculum must also be considered. In many schools, the focus is on passing state tests to keep the doors open. This means that the lessons are based on building up test scores and not learning to build thinking skills, abilities, and reaching potential.

Based on these few facts, it would seem that we should take the focus off of race and focus on the real issues that contribute to the gap of performance. It would appear that race of an individual does not predict the true potential of that person. A black person can do just as well as a white if given the same opportunities. You would think that a country such as the US would be proud to provide equal education for all of her citizens. Afterall, we have the same hopes and dreams. We all want to raise our children, work, live, have fun, etc.

According William L. Bainbridge and Thomas J. Lasley II in their article POVERTY NOT RACE , HOLDS BACK URBAN STUDENTS at http://www.schoolmatch.com/articles/poverty.htm. It is not race that is the factor contributing to lower academic performance, it is the financial status that has a much higher bearance on the type of education children receive in school. Also, the education level of the parents and other adults in the child's life also can determine school success. Parents with higher education tend to have higher social status. higher vocabulary (which they use in the presence of their children), more access to out school learning experiences, and so on. All of these factors can lead to better learning experiences and higher school success. So, as I stated previously, maybe we should stop referrring to performance based on race and focus on the factors that have been proven to matter.

Could a longer school day help to improve the educational gap in America?



Well, this question has been on my mind for a while. We have discussed it in many of my courses and I have talked about it with my friends. Last week, I went to get my daughter's report card and we had to fill out a survey. On the survey, was a question about if we would need a longer school day. I feel that a longer school day would be exceleent only if the studfents are indeed engaged in meaningful activities after 2:30. As we all know, anything after the normal school hours is considered babysitting to some people. I read Failing Schools See a Solution in Longer Day in the New York Times at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/26/us/26schoolday.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2&ei=5087%0A&em&en=44b5bae90175362c&ex=1175054400.



The article was about schools that were considering having longer school days. I felt the article provides viewpoints from various which allows others to constructively weigh their options. One point mentioned in the article was that year round schools would take away from family time. I personally do not agree with point because many families are not together until later in the evening anyway (if at all). Another point was that children would have to walk home in the dark. Well, I see children outside anyway snd they are not doing anything constructive. I would prefer if a child has to be out, they are doing something worthwhile. Besides, a longer school day could just mean going to school until perhaps 3:30 or even starting school earlier. I do not believe children would be in school until 5 or 6 pm everyday.

I also visited http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-922/year.htm. This article, too, was about the longer school day option. This article goves breakdowns on many subjects that may prove to of interest to those who are considering a longer school day. One point, I felt very relevant was thta an additional 60minutes of reading instruction can help improve test scores. The article says many of the points I had previous stated. The longer school would only be beneficial if the hours were used wisely. If the students are simply just socializing or doinng their homweork, well it may not be as effective. If the teachers impovised their lessons accordingly and the state supported teachers, then the idea would definitely have a great impact. Afterall, the USA has one of the shortest school days in the world and our children are not being prepared forthe masses, so if it takes an extra hour a day to bring the USA back to the forefront, I say go for it .

OSF's that can effect the education of children

In reading the article Poverty and Potential:Out of School Factors and School Success by David C. Berliner, I felt he really hit the nail on the head in his research and writing. Being a product of the public school setting on the lower end of the SES, I believe the article is relevant in shedding light on topics that seem to be ignored when it comes to designing educational experiences for our students. The article covers everything from racial contributions to food consumption. I feel it is imperative that we take into account all the factors that may contribute the learning or lack thereof of our children not matter how minute or large. It is next to impossible to believe that teachers and other professionals that work with children can make miracles in the classrooms. Children come to classrooms from an array backgrounds, belief systems, families, and so forth. What may be effective for most will not be effective for all. It is up to us as members of society to properly educate our youth. It is not conducive to believe that one teacher can successfully reach 30 students with varying needs, abilities, and potential in roughly nine months. These nine months are interrupted by holidays, half days, and breaks. Also, in Illinois, we have one of the shortest school days.

I feel that the factors mentioned in the article greatly reflects the state of our economy and society today. Because the high unemployment rate and the number of families are at or below the poverty line, it is next to impossible for families to provide what many would consider a viable living for their children. Our students are being raised in neighborhoods that have high crime rates, no community services for families, and gangs that are preying on youth. It is an uphill battle for many students to rise above their surroundings and "make it out". Many families can not afford adequate medical insurance or medical insurance period. There are free services and free insurance for qualifying families, but there is such a large portion of people who still are uninsured or underinsured for diverse reasons. One factor, I hadn't greatly considered was pollutants. Children are becoming ill just by breathing, eating, and drinking. Pollutants, such as mercury, can affect the behavior and health of students. One thing i found disturbing in the article was the mention of how schools are aware of the relationship between a calorie rich and school performance. It was mention that schools that provided a calorie rich diet on test days achieved higher test scores. Having this knowledge, schools provide calorie rich foods on test days, but fail to continue through the remainder of the school year. It is quite sad that we know how to help our children and it is as simple as providing proper meals, but we choose to put this knowledge in the closet and use it when we need it; meanwhile our children our suffering.

In short, there are many factors outside the classroom that contribute to the learning process. It is up to society as a whole to help our children. We must find ways to make our children's basic needs are meet: food, shelter, medical attention, clothing, and safety. We must take accountabilty for providing services such as family outreach programs and afterschool programs for students and their families. We need to break this segregation of our school. Our school population should reflect society as much as possible. In other words, classrooms should be composed of diverse races and students from different ethniticities, religions, and so forth. I believe in order for us to grow and move towards a better tomorrow, we must start getting prepared today.

I looked at http://www.parenting-ed.org/html/html/Creating%20a%20Home%20Environment%20Handouts.htm. This page provides parents with information I feel is useful for them. Although, many of the items mentioned are so simplistic in nature, they still are imperative. Parents/caregivers are important to the learning process and need to take that role seriously. I think if parents are better prepared, they can better prepare their children, thus increasing achievement in school and in life.