Talking Points 6: Wise or ?...You decide!

Talking Points 6: Tim Wise on The History of Race

Talking Points 6: Study conducted by Century Foundation in Montgomery County, Md

     I know it is only one study but just think about it. If the people in power are grouping the poor into the same neighborhoods, schools, and districts aren’t the children attending the schools destined to fail to the circumstances of their surroundings? One key thing that came from this study is that: "By the end of elementary school, students in public housing who attend more-affluent green zone schools through the inclusionary housing program cut the achievement gap with non-poor students in the district by one-half in math, and by by one-third in reading." http://tcf.org/media-center/2010/in-montgomery-county-maryland-economic-housing-integration-promotes-academic-achievement

                    “Separate and Unequal”
    “Educators know that it is very difficult to get consistently good results in schools characterized by high concentrations of poverty. The best teachers tend to avoid such schools. Expectations regarding student achievement are frequently much lower, and there are lower levels of parental involvement. These, of course, are the very schools in which so many black and Hispanic children are enrolled.”
 “Separate and Unequal” by Bob Herbert http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/opinion/22herbert.html?_r=3&src=tptw  

     Although schools are no longer legally segregated, but because of residential patterns, housing discrimination, and economic disparities aren’t the ones in power still to this day segregating the schools in those places?  ”On May 17, 1954, the Court stripped away constitutional sanctions for segregation by race, and made equal opportunity in education the law of the land.” http://americanhistory.si.edu/brown/history/index.html

Talking Points #5 "In the service of what the politics of service learning" by Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer

   This piece was a breakdown of two cases of service learning, Mr. Johnson's government course and Ms. Adams class. Mr. Johnson allowed his students to pick their own service learning project while Ms. Adams had her students identify issues of common concern and then voted to focus on the issue of homelessness.
   This work examines the moral, political, and intellectual goals that motivate those who support service learning. In my eyes this is pointless to argue over whether it is labeled as 'giving' or 'caring.' Service learning is just that. It is a service you perform and learn from. I think that this project is a extremely beneficial part of education. It is also beneficial to be involved and useful in one's community. This project can change student understanding of knowledge in the field and the social and cultural issues with which they are a part of. Everyone benefits from service learning. The people being served, the students, the elderly, and the homeless. Many schools around the country are implementing where each student is required to complete 75 hours of volunteer work in order to graduate. One can only come away from a project like this feeling better about themselves and about the community they live in. Completing my service learning in the city of Providence has opened my eyes. I am looking forward to continuing because I need this just as much as the third grade class I am working with. This is beneficial for all of us.