The Problem of Equity: Culture, Class, and School Essential Question: What is the Role of School in Society?

The Problem of Equity: Culture, Class, and School

Essential Question: What is the Role of School in Society?

Jonathan Kozol: Savage Inequalities and other titles.

Disparity in American Schools

Good Schools

Motivated students

Bad Schools

Disinterested students

Parent Involvement

Interesting learning

Parent Absenteeism

Rote learning

Highly Qualified Teachers

Less qualified teachers

State of Art Facilities Dilapidated Facilities

Race and Racism

Biology – difference is normal for human species.

Race and Racism are largely socially constructed phenomena.

United Nations definition in text: “Any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or

preference based on race…which has the effect of nullifying or impairing…human rights and fundamental freedoms….” (Breitborde & Swiniarski, p. 323).

Achievement Gap

Quote from the New York Times for consideration.

Study of Literacy and its relationship to SES – Socioeconomic status.

Disparate Performance

Biological ExplanationsCultural ExpectationsVoluntary and Involuntary ImmigrantsPolitical ExplanationsUnequal School ResourcesTeacher Expectations EffectsAbility Grouping / Tracking

The Boarding School

Native Americans & American Education

Genocide Cultural Eradication Forced Schooling BIA Pratt and Boarding Schools Forced Assimilation

Judicial Precedent

Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896).Supreme CourtSeparate but EqualLegally SanctionedDe jure segregationDe facto segregation

Brown vs. Board of Education

Topeka, KS 1954 “Separate educational facilities are inherently

unequal” “with all deliberate speed…”

10 years after Brown, 91% of African American children in South still attended all-black schools.

Civil Rights Movement

1964 Civil Rights ActTitle IV – desegregationTitle VI – funds linked to anti-

discriminatory policiesBusing remediesDetroit busing crisis (film “School”)

The Problematic Melting Pot Metaphor

The Tremendous Diversity of Experiences

Hispanic Americans Mexican Americans Puerto Ricans Cuban Americans Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Chinese Americans Filipino Americans Asian Americans Japanese Americans Southeast Asian Americans Arab Americans

Relevant Terms

Model MinoritiesAffirmative ActionQuotasReverse-DiscriminationMulticulturalismDiversity

Gender

Role of Women in K-12 SchoolsSchools for girlsAttitudes toward female studentsTitle IX 1972Sex-role stereotypingGender and Culture have profound

interactions within American schools

Culture and Language

Cultural Discourses influence language Family discourses influence language SES discourses influence language “Multiple literacies”___________________________ Immigrants, English Language Learners (ELL)

and policy. Many variations, but import is clear: Educators need to understand how language is learned, and the impact of culture and class on language use and acquisition.

Teaching Practices -- Classroom

Addresses achievement gaps Displays multicultural curriculum in non-token ways Respects cultures / community Discourages Segregation Teaches skills for full participation in society High academic expectations Teachers move to students critical pedagogy Cooperative Education: students and community Displays are culturally relevant, responsive (See Breitborde and Swiniarski, pp. 361-363).

The Social Role of the Schools

Teachers and schools are agents of social messages, for good or ill.

Critical Pedagogy is a philosophy of reflection and practice. What can educators do to promote the best society that is possible?

American Schools

How big are our problems?Global contexts?Egalitarian Principles?Policy Directions?Funding Issues?Demographic realties?