June 19, 2008 — vol. 43, no 45
[X]
Roving Camera
What are some of the obstacles preventing minority students from achieving academic excellence? |
||
 |
The lack of equal access to quality educational opportunities. |
Garland Johnson School Principal Chicago |
 |
Part of it is the disconnect between teacher and student. When a kid comes into a classroom, a lot of their actions are misinterpreted, so they get misdiagnosed and thus pigeonholed. The result is that many students are tuned out by the third grade, and then it’s down the slippery slope. | Henry Luvert NAACP Eugene, Ore. |
 |
There’s an inability to give the kids the means to visualize their future and the ability to attain it. | Scott Lipton Central Office Administrator Austin, Texas |
 |
Teachers are not willing to enthusiastically teach our children basic math, reading [and] writing with joy and love and then challenge them to excellence. | Katherine Boles Senior Lecturer, Harvard University Brookline |
 |
We’re failing to provide children, particularly poor and minority children, with anything that remotely resembles a quality teaching force. | Jason Snipes Urban Education Researcher Washington, D.C. |
 |
I think the school system nationally fails kids when we deny the issues of race, class and culture and [their] import on student achievement — “we” meaning the federal government, who historically designed schools not to serve our kids. | Arbrella Luvert District Administrator of Schools Eugene, Ore. |
| Jun 20 15:23pm by Denise Baker-Bradley, LSW [146.243.4.157] | |
| "I want to challenge everyone who is involved with shaping the life of children and youth.....they NEED us to hold them to accepting the possibility that they too, have a footprint to leave in the world. We have to nurture them and guide them to know that challenges are merely a chance to learn and grow.....THAT'S ALL! Unfortunately, Children and Youth are not challenged to accept the task and work on it to completion. We label them in School and in the Community, however, we are not as quick to hold them to a higher standard. Also, Teachers are not able to teach to a Global Student and therefore are using outdated methods of learning which does not allow Teachers to learn to teach to each child's learning style. WE, owe children the ability to LOVE LEARNING, however, we fail as Adults to open our minds and hearts to look at the individual child and find out what motivates him or her. Instead, we want to drill or teach with antiquated tools and resources that are merely theory that just does not work in a global society!!! I am hopeful that as Adults, we too, will learn to be the Teacher as well as the Student" | |
