Achievement/opportunity gap, segregation in schools, and the importance of diversity!

 

We are entering the stage of discovering why there is an achievement gap in our society or used to be? In America schools have been segregated since before Martin Luther King times. In the article “The achievemnt gap in education: racial segregation vs segration by poverty” shows how much the black community weren’t valued as much as the white community. “Segregation’s effect on current racial gaps are largely due to segregation by poverty, rather than segregation by race” and the reason being is the myths that surround poverty. In “The Myth of Poverty” by P. Gorski shows how teachers/society can view poor people as the “problem” or the “bad flower” in the garden of Eden. They have encountered a stereotype for these people and more so for the children. Poverty has established a myth that they are weak,unmotivated, do drugs and they have no interest in participating or being part of an education. 

Is that really the case? What about treating students differently because of their color or being viewed as something while you are not or don't have the same opportunities like the other kids. 

In the article it states, “Racial achievement gap comes from the fact that Black students are much more likely to go to schools with impoverished classmates, and not from the fact that they go to largely Black schools.” The reason being that the impoverished community does not benefit the kid to have a great education. The achievement gap of education can also be the segregation in schools even though the article says it may not. The reason being that diverse schools provide a range of cognitive and social benefits. Being in integrated schools students help the achievement gaps because it helps students in their financial and resource needs. In the article, “More recently, black and Latino students had smaller achievement gaps with white students on the 2007 and 2009 NAEP when they were less likely to be stuck in high-poverty school environments” meaning that there was more help towards these students. Also not being in a segregated school reduces racial bias and counter stereotypes, seek for more integrated settings, and help boost their intellectual skills. That is why we have to enforce a more diverse and integrated school than segregated schools because in segregated schools students are limited to only communicate within their circle instead of reaching out to other minds from other races. 

What about hispanics or those bilingual students who have that achievement gap too but in this case it’s the language. Language is one that can divide the student education to the better or to the worse depending on the environment and the teachers. One myth for these minority children that have a language barrier is that "One of the most persistent myths about language minority children is that their first language (or dialect) and culture represent "deficits" or deficiencies" to be overcome by the school. This view holds that the language and culture of minority children are unsystematic, illogical, and sometimes even "unAmerican" obstacles to their education.” Teachers usually step away from that challenge when a student cannot comprehend the language which is a bad way to approach the student because then we are creating that achievement gap. They won't be able to participate or won't interact with the class because we have created a usafe and racial bias. As teachers/educators have to understand that these myths or stereotypes should not define the student because there are cases where a bilingual kid can be taught better than a monolingual or that student of color has more interest to learn than the white student in the classroom. Reason being equity and equal opportunity for each child is important to have a less percent of achievement gap and there is an increase in diverse schools. Live in a society where the importance of diversity is aware and a key for success.

Articles:

https://tcf.org/content/facts/the-benefits-of-socioeconomically-and-racially-integrated-schools-and-classrooms/?agreed=1

https://www.albany.edu/lap/Papers/myths.html

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2020/01/20/the-achievement-gap-in-education-racial-segregation-versus-segregation-by-poverty/