This achievement gap is a social problem in the education system since this is affecting many schools in the United States. As a response to this social problem, the No Child Left Behind Act was passed to assist in closing this achievement gap by holding schools more accountable for the students’ progress. Unsuccessful, the No Child Left Behind Act was ineffective as a social response since schools were pushed to produce high test scores in order to show a student’s academic progress which in turn, pressured teachers and students even more to do well on these tests. Throughout the nation, education inequality affects many minority students that have low-income which reinforces the disparity between the rich and the poor. The amount of children that have a socioeconomic background of poverty in the United States is estimated to be 32.4 million (National Center for Children in Poverty, 2011).
The common core state standard creates extra pressure on teachers, puts our students at a true disadvantage, and removes parent involvement from our student’s education. Teachers are our hidden gems. Although not treated as such, they are a resource that is overlooked and underappreciated. In my opinion, there are three types of teachers: The driven teacher with a passion to educate students, the... ... middle of paper ... ...repeat itself. With the new standards our children may take a test that seems confusing and they may even get a little discouraged by feeling that they have no knowledge over the subject when they truly do/ Is that what the common core was created for?
Katherine Baird explains “this occurs with America’s low educational standards: by setting the bar low, students both underperform and are misled about the skills and knowledge required for future success” (31, 32). This is occurring because “there is a strong but misplaced belief among many that low expectations reflect our commitment to the disadvantaged, and that strengthening them would harm the most vulnerable youth in our society” (Baird 118). Albeit a good reason, by lowering the standards for all students instead of helping those who are “disadvantaged” by helping them overcome their disadvantage and encouraging them to try their hardest and rise up to the high standards that they are capable of reaching, public schools are hurting their students instead of helping them. The public school system is not only flawed because of the low standards, but also b... ... middle of paper ... ... to determine how intelligent their students are. In fact, research shows that students who do well on tests often fail to show mastery of the material tested outside of school.
Because they aren’t happy with their salaries. Is it important to solve their problem? Absolutely yes, because the whole country is relying on schools to educate children and adults. That is, if teachers are dissatisfied with their job, the quality of teaching is likely to be poor and, in turn, students will gain poor education. Now, what are the areas that can be affected by poor education at schools?
One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to a student’s academic success in poverty stricken schools is that they are unwilling and unable to learn. This is not the case. Yes a child can determine their own education by choosing to do their work and be willing to learn, but you must take into consideration their circumstances. Most of these schools are very diverse, which leads them to be exposed to gangs, drugs, and violence. The achievement gap between these schools and more fortunate schools is wide.
This trust although is contradicted by the public system of education’s current shape. Much of the schools in the United States are either deteriorating, or failing all together. The drawbacks of public education create an unhealthy environment for student learning. Many people think public school can dip their hands into the public treasury for funding if they are ever in need of money; however many schools do not qualify to get these funds. “The disparate funding for public schools and between states and within metropolitan areas has turned some public schools into meccas for affluent students and others into decaying infrastructures with overcrowded classrooms and soaring drop-out rates” (PBS).
Then to compensate poorer districts, the state provides sufficient funds to lift the poorer districts to an estimat... ... middle of paper ... ...eets. The lack of equal quality education is producing a generational cycle of poverty in the country that is casting a gloomy burden on our schools and society for the future. Many individuals stay in poverty because they don't know there is a choice and have no one to teach them how to overcome it and become successful. Schools are the only place where students can learn the choices of other social classes. The chances of them overcoming the heavy obstacles that await them without the skills the need are very slim.
Time for Teachers to Take Responsibility Identifying the problem. In today's society, many factors contribute to the academic failure in urban education. As time passes, however, schools and teachers are placing more blame upon the students for lack of potential, discipline, and motivation to learn. In reality, however, this scapegoat allows many teachers' to relinquish any responsibility for their students' not learning. Many students in urban schools live in poverty, have learning disabilities, or come from bilingual backgrounds where English is not their native language.
Without knowledge, people would be confused and lost with the decisions to make in life. I believe that many people, including myself, are seeking to be interested in education and become more successful in life. In “Against School,” Gatto argues that in our current school education system, boredom is a major component. I agree with him from my own experience. Both students and teachers are bored in schools today.
Laws, such as No Child Left Behind, that threaten failing schools with punitive penalties if test scores do not meet a standard are fueling the growing pandemic that is the failing urban schools of the United States. It must be understood that education in the public school system cannot be solved with an old fashioned cookie cutter approach; not all schools should be treated the same. The fact is all schools are unique because they are filled with individuals stemming from their own unique cultural background. Motivation and personalization is key; by tapping into their interests and lifestyle, teachers can bridge the gap between success and repeated failure.