Urban Schools

A Senior Fellowship made up entirely of motivated experts geared to fix urban schools. Why did this become necessary? Did the United States really let their urban schools get so out of control that a fellowship was in order to write a new plan? Yes, we did, we let the urban schools fall into stereotype of race and wealth. We let the color and income of the students define how their school was going to be run and what was going to be taught. We didn't think about the fact that these students might want to have a career beyond working class or learn about their own cultures not just white history. Now because of this Fellowship, these things are being brought up.

It is important for the students to feel safe and feel free to speak up in school. Urban schools focus too much on making their students feel like criminals, with the constant checking of their bags and whether they have a hall pass or not. Safety is very important but lets make the students feel more like they are being protected versus they are the ones we need to be protected from.

The curriculum needs to be geared more towards something that pertains to them. The students want African American History and Latino History and Asian History, and why not? I personally would like to have had more information on the Irish and the french when I was in school. American History is very geared towards British coming to America. Broaden the scope, let a few more cultures in, America is a "melting pot," we need to acknowledge that and teach it.

Democracy is what is supposed to be taught in the schools; how one is going to improve the world and find their place in it. In the urban schools it sees to be understood that all the students will be working class, so college is not encouraged and trades are taught instead. Well what about those students who wants to make a difference? What about the ones who want promising careers, to go to college? We need to support those students, we need to support all the students to reach higher. The problem is the teachers settle and don't push the students hard enough. These students have potential just like everyone else, do not let financial problems get in the way of education. Show the students how to apply for grants and scholarships.

We need to understand that urban schools are not a lost cause by any means. These schools just need a little more faith so they can start to pull back up!

BLACK ROSE

The Black Rose Of Earth

It Resembles Her Beauty

Her delicacy

Understanding Teachers

Herold Hodgkinson makes some interesting points. It is only a few more years before all the races have blended together and our differences are far behind us. Unfortunately, for now, race is still a factor. I was captivated by the statistics of turnover in the classes that are on the first suburban belt. For a class to have 22 students year round but 20 of them be new students each semester will severely interrupt learning. A student will never be able to establish a relationship with the teacher if they are only there a few months. This is a result of the schools not getting the reviews they so desperately need.

No school will be able to pick up their status when they have so many students that they don't understand. As said in the article certain cultures are brought up to humble themselves and to respect their elders. The teachers are going to struggle to get these students to learn. It's difficult to know when a child is paying attention if they wont look you in the eye or raise their hand or yell out an answer. Actively listening is a trait Americans have because we are brought up that way, to ask questions and to be vocal. Other cultures don't do this and it can cause them to struggle in a class here in the states. The teachers are not knowledgeable enough to understand these differences and it prevents them from being effective teachers. This prevents the school from being able to improve itself and causes the high turnover rate.