I agree with Kozol’s point of view in terms of society having some responsibility as to why children’s academic performances are so low. As we discussed in class as well as other readings numerous times, I think it is mainly because society does not see education as being really important. Most importantly, they do not think tax money should be going to education. This is a problem because society does not understand that education and being in school is where kids are prepared to take on the challenges that the economy is going to face in the future. In other words, they will be the ones who will determine how the economy is shaped. Without looking looking at the consequences, society is not realizing the damages that are being done to the future generations.
Society complains how our education is falling behind but they do not understand that it is their wrong doing, especially in areas where poverty exist. these are the areas where drop out rates have increased dramatically. The reason is mainly because these kids do not see the importance in education with the lack of resources given to them. Most importantly, knowing that their families are working 20 hours a day to provide bare minimum, education might not be a child’s first priority. One of the greatest examples would be the movie “Freedom Writers”. It is about kids who live in the ghetto who are given minimum resources in school such as ripped up books and chalk broads. Meanwhile kids who are white and considered “intelligences” get brand new textbooks and marker boards. It is because of these differences that students recognizes that they are being looked down upon. Therefore, it wouldn’t be a surprise that they would want to shy away from that kind of school environment. Therefore, do you think by giving these schools equal resources with decrease the drop out rate?
Aside from the financial investments that should be put in schools, parents should also invest more time in their children as well as their education. Kozol made a very important point about parents taking part of their children’s school life. Parents’ often come up with excuses about them not having enough time because of trying to provide for their families, or that they do not have the education background to be helping their children. However, they do not understand that simple things can make a big difference. Coming from an single parent immigrant family, my mom was not able to help me with my school work because she was not brought up from a well educated family. However, she was able to provide encouraging words whenever I seem to need it. It made me feel that she was trying her best to understand the stress I was going through. That being said, families do not necessarily have to contribute to the homework part but just by letting their children know that they are being cared about might just be what the children need. Therefore, do you think that the problem is beyond that?
