Cultural Context

Being in education for over 25 years I have found that teaching is a profession that you must stay abreast of social culture.  It is reality that schools are secondary for many students no matter their race, survival is their first priority. Society is constantly changing and schools are charged with generating and guiding social change.  The constant in society is school. It is should be safe, secure, and welcoming place for all students to attend. Education is still the leading force for many out of poverty, gangs, violence and abuse.  I believe as many philosophers do that education has the power to lead society down the right path.

Teachers are on the front line, they are our Calvary for helping students keep their cultural context in perspective.   Teachers must be knowledgeable about cultural influences and how to prepare students to integrate education into and influence their life.  Teachers make a positive contribution in helping students understand the democratic process in contributing to positive social change.

As Dewey states, society does provide for significant learning situations, but schools are capable of leading society down the right path because of its influence on social culture.  Teachers who have the same color of face or same language help us fight the cultural forces that are pulling students away from schools every day.  Teachers can still impact and influence students even if education were a secondary agency in society.   Even in the toughest of times at home, thousands of students are resilient enough to make their way to school. Schools are not the only hope some students have but we certainly fill a role that so many are missing.  Schools and classroom stand for many positive things such as; positive adult relationships, positive reinforcement, acknowledgement, acceptance for who they are, affirmation, and empathy.  If school were a choice, I truly believe that we would still have full classrooms.  We are the only opportunity many have to change their class system. 

It is my belief that teachers and schools battle being secondary in many students lives on a daily basis.  Our focus should remain on educating problem solvers who experience real world learning opportunities, which allow more students to choose to make education a priority.   

Tozar

Our text says that equity means equal and equality means fair.  Our Society and our schools sometimes choose when to implement support these rights.   The Civil Rights Act forced our government to look at equity in education; it found children of color in entered school behind their white peers.  Today some fifty years later our urban schools are our lowest performing schools.  These schools serve our most at risk populations, the impoverished, students of color and immigrants.  Equity in education means that every student has the opportunity to succeed in schools.  In urban settings public or low income housing is prevalent so is poverty.  The biggest challenge is preparing these impoverished children to start school with the academic and social skills necessary to forge their own path to equity.  I see social factors, such as poverty inhibiting the success of students in schools no matter their color. 

Our text speaks about students who come to school with social issues knocking on their door every day and research supports that these children do struggle in school.  Our best teachers do not raise their hand to teach in these schools, why?  Perhaps this is where the inequity lies; those who are willing to teach in these schools cannot overcome the social issues students bring to school with them. Drugs, violence, malnourished, abuse are only a few factors that distract these children from getting a fair chance at staying up with their middle or upper class peers academically.  Ruby Payne says that poverty in our nation is at crisis level, that crisis spills over into our classrooms.  In middle class homes regardless of race, children are reading at night, parents are helping with homework; and parents are involved in what is going on at school.  In impoverished homes parents are surviving one hour at a time, and many are illiterate; homework or school for that matter is not the priority, survival is.  The parents and the schools do not see the value of school through the same lens.

It is my belief that race is not the deciding factor in the success of students in school, but I do believe that socio-economic status is a determining factor in under-achieveing students.   I see it in my own district, students who are on free lunch aren’t in band or athletics or national honor society.  They are leaving school to take care of siblings, going to work, battling homelessness and fighting to survive.  Poverty crosses all racial lines, this is why society needs to seek solutions for the impoverished.  Head start centers across the nation are making a difference, but not every child who qualifies enrolls in these programs.  Perhaps making this a requirement in order to received federal assistance is a solution to break this cycle.

Race and gender inequities are seen in schools, but are overcome more easily than one’s socioeconomic status.  The documentary Country Boys demonstrates very clearly that life is harder if you are poor; it is a mentality that is hard to shake in children.  Both boys are smart young men, but the structure of school is very difficult for them to navigate.  They both have great dreams, all of which they understand starts with an education.  Parents want more for their children, schools and teachers are only a part of helping children prepare for success in school and life.    

Post #3

I truly believe that it takes a village to educate children and implement education reforms.    A commitment to positive and systemic change must be priority from federal, state and local stakeholders.  In school reform common ground must be reached so that reform goals can be communicate and achieved.   The NCLB reform is a prime example of forcing school change without hearing input from state and local entities. The premise of this reform was that our school systems were broken and the federal government could force solutions.  A top down approach will not solve a school reform issues, it will mask it, but not change it.  Local school boards and communities need to have a voice in reform efforts.  NCLB identifies many schools as failing, yet academic growth is not rewarded in this system.  Parents are misled by the label forcing the local district to do damage control. 

Local boards, parents, teachers, and student should have proactive voice in reform issues, and not limited to a reactive voice after the reform is implemented.  These groups have been held at bay at one time or another in our history.  In education we strive to build learning communities for the betterment of the education of children, the voice of teachers, parents and students, strengthen that purpose. 

I believe whoever the stakeholders are they must be advocates for children and their moral compass must direct them towards the best decision for all children, not just those that surround their communities.  Those who are the voice of children must speak with an influential voice, seek collaboration from all levels of government, and build trust with those they are working with.  For reform to have an impact, trust must be established. 

The David school is refreshing, students have a voice and adult are listening.    I would describe this school as inclusive and willing to meet the needs of all students.  Both Chris and Cody have expressed their opinion and it has not fallen on deaf ear.  Each has fallen behind and received help, and they have received praise for effort and growth.  There is more to reform than an accountability rating – the David school is succeeding.

Opportunity

In my opinion the David school is inclusive to all.  It is obvious that the school stands for the opportunity to complete and value education.  I see the school culture as being very accepting, nurturing and open to creativity.   The school supports students who want to take creative risks and is there to help keep the broken pieces in check.   Every student has the same chance to succeed, albeit it at their own pace, they still are afforded the opportunity.

I do not see Augustine’s legacy apparent in schools today.  Gender roles are certainly defined in schools as they relate to program and activities but education is inclusive for young women today.  I do see conservative attitudes in many of the communities that surround us as it applies to young women and their role in the community.  I see religious influence defining roles conservative roles for many young women.  The Hispanic culture accepts many of Augustine’s beliefs, such as the women being submissive to their spouse, nurturing care givers, and homemakers.  Young Hispanic women are faced with teen pregnancy as acceptable in their culture and many times choose the role of mother over school.  I do not believe this falls into Augustine’s platform about women, I see it as a cultural expectation.

In our country women are afforded the same rights to an education as young men, yet in other countries we see that this is not the case.  Women in America still battle the conservative views on the professions they choose to enter; it has taken us centuries to accept women in political office and in many board rooms across the country.  Education has been the platform that has afforded women the opportunity to evolve into leaders, doctors and lawyers while fulfilling the role of mother and wife. 

Blog 1

If Rita were the Principal I feel she would be as compassionate as the current principal is about her students.  In reading about Rita's desire to seek input and data prior to forging change, she would only implement needed change.  The school has many good qualities from what I have viewed and is certainly the last stop for many of the students who attend.  She would strengthen the program because of her inclusive thoughts and desires for students. She would allow for creativity in students and perhaps command that teachers learn to sense what makes these students work daily to be successful.