SOAPSTone By: Reilley Graves Date: 10/19/14 Subject: The subject of Margaret Talbot’s “The Best in Class” is that the system that stands today for choosing who will be valedictorian is causing many problems in students’ lives. Some problems the author believes this current flimsy system is causing that students are cheating, allowing ties between multiple qualified students, and anxiety among students, parents, and teachers. In the essay, the authors says, “I wanted to make sure the school knew how traumatic something like this could be-thinking you’re competing under on set of rules, and having and expectation because of that, and find out your competing under another.” This quote proves that this weak system is missing with these high
Assess the importance of school factors such as racism and pupils’ responses to racism in creating ethnic differences in educational achievement The differences in educational attainment between different groups of pupils have been a major focus of much sociological research. These differences can often be seen to be largely due to different social class, but also gender or ethnicity. Social class is the most significant and dominant factor when looking at these differences, but ethnicity also has a relative impact on educational achievement Education has a key role to play in eradicating racism and valuing diversity and it a responsibility for all educational establishments, including those with few or no ethnic minority pupils. Promoting racial equality demands a whole school approach and commitment from all those who are involved in the life and work of their school. Racism is linked to the educational achievement of minority ethnic groups, however the connections are complex.
Courtney Rosenthal Mrs. Crowe AP Lang- Period 3 25 March 2014 American Ignorance American high schools have changed for the worst since the evolution of the education system; initially, it was about actually receiving an education and gaining knowledge. But in today’s society, American high schools have developed into a flawed system that has adverse effects on its students. There are flaws in the inadequate system such as heavy testing and the teaching of irrelevant information. In order to mend these issues the education system needs to be reshaped and refocused to create a more constructive system. Throughout my personal career in high school, as a current eleventh grader in the public school system, I’ve found the testing
Week 5 Journal This week’s essay key points in the assigned readings has us discussing what was the most surprising fact that was discovered during our research on the topic of multicultural education, and why multiculturalists are working so hard for reform of curriculum in our schools as well. I would have to say that the most surprising fact that I have discovered during my research on multicultural education was the ignorance and intolerance that the school system had on handicapped children, and the fact that multicultural was not thought to be made mandatory for all teachers. This ultimately means that ignorance needs to stop to exist. In order to teach our children right from wrong, we need to show them and/or provide them with the appropriate and proper knowledge because we as teachers should be able to function on all levels. As human beings, we know that prejudice and stereotyping is not going to stop because this is the way of the world.
High-stakes Testing Before I had researched the topic I had been given concerning the effect high-stakes testing has in public schools, I had no idea the controversy was so prevalent. High-stakes testing is so named because the test outcomes are used to make important, life altering decisions. In some cases, the outcome of these tests may shape the path to your future, and it all depends how well you do on them. As of 2008, the law “No Child Left Behind ” has been enforced by every state in the U.S. It is the main reason why we are required to take part in standardized testing.
There is usually bullying in schools, but something that not everyone knows is that there is also racism going on in schools everyday. There are students and teachers that are racist and that should not be acceptable. A very popular racist phrase is “go back where you came from” that phrase is disrespectful in so many ways. America is supposed to be the land of opportunities not the land to be bullied because of your race. Kids go to school to learn and be successful, but how can they achieve anything when they are constantly being bashed on.
The ideal was to establish a set of basic academic standards that all students should achieve, hold the schools accountable for meeting these standards for all students, ←and→ then give educators the choice of how to meet the standards. The way NCLB is currently being administered must be fixed, otherwise we will have both new ←and→ seasoned talented teachers leaving the profession in droves. Although reading ←and→ math tests would remain in the administration's proposal, schools could also include student performance in other subjects as part of overall measurements of progress. Critics say that the current education law has narrowed the curriculum for students:→ Many teachers zero in on math ←and→ reading at the expense of other subjects to help students prepare for the required tests. (Douglas) Students need a well-rounded education," the blueprint declares, and it cites disciplines including history, civics, foreign languages, and the arts.
I do believe that the media can be held partially liable for the discrimination against African-Americans in the school system. Since I have witness much discrimination against the African-Americans, I wanted to understand their perspective and why there was so much animosity. In the African American population the amount of discrimination that takes place can steer them into poverty. Olzak, (1992) stated
NCLB was influenced by low educational levels amongst underprivileged children, which was first addressed by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and educational differences between minorities and whites. NCLB has been influenced through our nation’s history by the many challenges dealing with improving poverty stricken schools, in which formed a gap in education between unfortunate children and their counter-peers. The main cause of this educational gap dates back to 1896, involving the case of Plessy vs. Fergusson, the ruling of “equal but separate accommodations for the white, and colored races.” (Separate but not Equal Brown vs. Board of Education) This division caused inequality in the public school system, therefore leading to the case of Brown vs. The Board of Education in 1954. In this case, the courts “strikes down the "separate but equal" doctrine of Plessy v Ferguson in regards to public education and mandates the desegregation of schools across America.
e. For example, educators can be known to boost the students test scores in order to keep their job or get an increase in pay (Koch). f. In the last yearly study 80 percent of 700,000 top students in high school admitted to cheating (Koch). g. Students tend to cheat when they are under stress to pass a class or simply that they didn’t bother to study for the exam. h. Educators and students are both cheating in schools, but at the same time the school administration is allowing this to happen. III.