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.