My initial reaction to reading the first 3 chapters of The Flat World and Education was sadness, frustration and confusion how the state of education could become so dysfunctional.
Darling-Hammond cites data on pupal expenditure, showing that $13,000 is spent on each student in New Jersey, while only $5,000 is spent in Utah. This seems to contradict the rights guaranteed by the 14th amendment, and unfortunately entire generations of students, specifically in low income neighborhoods have felt the full blow of this inequality. The lack of funding leads to lower teacher pay, leading to inexperienced teachers in the classroom, and less likelihood of successful learning. Sanders and Rivers' (1997) analysis showed that 3 consecutive years of poor language arts instruction led to a 50 percentile points difference in test scores compared to 3 years of quality instruction. When funds aren't there, classes are larger, inexperienced teachers fumble through their teaching and the student suffers in this enveloping cycle. As Darling-Hammond points out, everyone is concerned about the achievement gap, but little system wide supports are offered. As we continue reading and discussing I hope that we are shown some reforms that have been effective. From my perspective it definitely has to do with retaining quality teachers in schools that need the most support.
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Jennifer Wade
9/18/2016 02:18:00 pm
To consider the rippling effects of what can only be seen as a strategic way in which our government has chosen to mismanage funding is infuriating, indeed. The study of California in chapter 5 is quite damning. The inequity seems to be met with a lack of empathy for those in the greatest need. It appears that those making policy do not understand the connections between literacy levels and and incarceration rates.
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zachary pasillas
9/20/2016 07:17:29 pm
I think you just described how the school to prison pipeline is sustained. That disconnection between marketable skills in the professional world, verses have none, and getting caught in a system of incarceration. For my nonprofit work, I work with CDCR inmates, and have had incarcerated students when I was teaching. This topic hits home for me, happy to say one of my favorite students who was incarcerated, only spend 3 month in juvy; now he manages a shelter connected to his church in South Sacramento.
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AuthorAs a teacher and community advocate I strive to remedy the challenges of adverse childhood experiences (ACE), poverty and violence. I'm intrigued by the motivation that is cultivated by different supportive and discouraging learning environment, and how overcoming the achievement gap can transform our society. Archives
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