Closing the achievement gap is a contentious problem that has been around for so long, that I wonder if it is possible to truly ever close the gap. Albeit there are examples in which there is empirical data that show that the rate is/was closing, I feel that the data is based on situational occurrences, and therefore does not apply to the entire country.
Although I am skeptical about the ability to solve the problem, I feel that there are several steps that we as a society can take to try to be proactive in fixing the problem. Firstly, centralized funding will help to ensure that every school is receiving an equal distribution of resources. Secondly, strengthening federal programs/acts like "No Child Left Behind" or Headstart programs through increased federal funding. Thirdly, financially rewarding schools that make an active effort to integrate, and keep integrated, schools. Fourthly, and possibly, I think that we as a society must work hard to put an end to racism. We can accomplish this by endorsing integrated neighborhoods, by electing governmental officials that pledge to work hard on solving this problem, by funding programs such as Big Brother/Sister or Project Uplift, that help minority students achieve, or programs like AVID, that help students motivate themselves.
I am cynical that some people are searching for a panacea for this problem. I think that this is issue will stick with us until we as a country decide that we are tired of it, and take an active stance in defeating it. I believe that it is also imperative that we reach out to minority children, and help them realize that unless they achieve, they are only perpetuating a cycle that they are victim to.
About Me
- Ashton
- Southeast, United States
- My name is Ashton, and I am a researcher at a major research university in North Carolina. I am extremely interested in the debate on closing the achievement gap between minority and majority students. There are many different views on this topic. I believe that if this problem is solved, we further promote equality in United States
4 comments:
This is Sherene!
Ashton, you bring up great points on how to improve the situation. Currently schools do get extra funding if all students do well on standardized test and I know that a lot of schools divide up some prominently african-american or minorty neighborhoods to diversify schools but you are right. You can not make kids hang out together, you can not force an understanding. All you can do is raise awarness and hope one day it sinks into some thick skulls! However, we have come a long way over the past decade, although racism is still there it is not as strong! I am very interested to see where you go next!
You have a great theory here Ashton; really good ideas to help America close the achievement gap. But i was wondering how your theory poses we are going to get this funding from to support these programs and incorporate incentives in schools? Along with this issue, there are hundreds more that our government is currently dealing with that is taking away our resources for support. For example, the war in Iraq has cost us billions of dollars and shifted the working class. Who is going to pay for these programs? Do you think the solution is to raise taxes? I believe you are correct in that we as a country need to take action together in order to solve this issue. But how are we going to get certain people to change their racist beliefs and support something that is totally against them? Since we live in a country where its people strive for wealth, how to we get them to take action in supporting these programs, sacrifice a portion of their salary or time, to better our American culture?
Sherene,
I appreciate your comment and input. I do agree that schools are getting financial aid for doing well, but I am suggesting that we find new and more accurate ways to identifying their success. I wonder if their success is the product of a high achieving majority covering up the low achieving minority? My idea would, first make sure that the schools are integrated, and that the school as a whole is succeeding, not just certain parts or parties.
Krista,
I appreciate your comment especially the difficult questions that you asked. Unfortunately, funding plays a large role in the efficacy of ideas. For my ideas to work, we would have to rework the way that we view federal funding of education now. I propose that we have a centralized funded education system. That would mean that the federal government would pay for all of the cost that are associated with education. Therefore, when a school reached a standardized benchmark for success, they would have extra money added to their budget. It would be similar to the way that we give schools money for doing well today.
The question about "how are we going to get racist people to change their beliefs" is a good question because it brings reality into my idealistic approach. I believe that because racism is still around today, and will continue to be for a very long time, that we start to take small steps now, starting at with very young children. By creating situations in which interracial interaction to some extent is unavoidable, we can hopefully start help people learn that all people are equal, hopefully eliminating racism in the decades to come.
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