Kozol: Hyperlinks
Kozol reveals great needs for equal educational opportunity in an article "Still Separate, Still Unequal" and one of the discussions Kozol raises is astonishing low graduation rates in large cities in the United States. According to Kozol, not even half students in the 100 large districts, where black and Hispanic concentrate, graduate on time. This reminds me of an article, One in Three Kids Drops out of School by Colin and Alma Powell, that I found in USA Weekend on February 26-28, 2010 that discusses what can be done to reduce the high dropout rates in large cities in the United States. According to the article, the lowest graduation rate is 30.5% in Indianapolis and the next is 34.4% in Cleveland (Source: EPE Research Center, 2009). In order to reduce the high dropout rates, Gen. Colin and Alma Powell work with America's Promise Alliance that assists students in succeeding in school with "five promises": caring adults, safe places, an effective education, a healthy start, and opportunities to help others. Kozol's article speaking for underprivileged students, while describing the inadequate conditions of facilities and course requirements not allowing students to succeed in college, forces us to examine the existing education system that fails to provide equal educational opportunities.
This was interesting, especially the 5 Promises. They echo ideals discussed in SPED 513. The trick is to find ways for districts to consistently deliver on these promises. Loved the suggestions for way for people to get involved.
ReplyDeleteI found it very interesting when you shared your thoughts in class on Monday night about the education system in Japan. It made me wonder exactly what it is like in comparison to the American system. Is creative thinking and hands-on activities encouraged like in the affluent school systems here in America, or is education more on the side of absolute control (one way to do things) in the classroom? Or, maybe somewhere in the middle?
ReplyDeleteKiyomi: Thanks for the sobering statistics and the links. I remember seeing the Powells' story in the USA Weekend edition but didn't get to reading it before it ended up in the recycle bin! Thanks for reminding me of it and rekindling my interest.
ReplyDeleteThe "five promises" are very important to a child's education. If even one of these is tampered with it can totally discourage a student from school, or even not allow an appropriate education.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting what you wrote about the high dropout rates. You wonder what is going on in those cities where a third of the student population is dropping out? I wonder about the crime rate? Poverty level? Average level of education of people living in those cities?
ReplyDeleteHow valuable are the 5 promises to assist students to succeed! I often wonder if marginalized kids had a knowledgeable advocate what kind of difference it would make in the life of the student. Sometimes the parent loves the child but doesn't know how to navigate the system, or is timid or fears reprisal, or can't speak the language or help with homework.....Also opportunities to help others are so needed and so empowering. It can take the feeling of being a victim and trade it in is for being a hero.
ReplyDelete