Test Essay:

The Shame of the Nation:

President Obama

In Jonathan Kozol’s The Shame of the Nation , he focused a lot on improving and questioning the quality of education for all children. Not matter their race, or social standing. He states early on in his book that “Racial isolation and the concentrated poverty of children in a public school go hand in hand, moreover, as the Harvard project notes. A segregated inner-city school is almost six times as likely to be a school of concentrated poverty as in a school that has an overwhelming white population” (Kozol page 20). I agree with Kozol when he admits that the more a school is in poverty the more likely it will be segregated. Now this is not something that has happened in a flash, but also is not something that has been flashing colors either. The separation of race, social standings, and recourses has happened over time whether we choose to realize it or not. Something needs to change.

I believe that one of the largest reasons behind residential and school segregation was because of “white flight”. You will have those people who refuse to believe that this still takes place today, but be honest if a huge group of projects with lots of crime moved into or right next to your safe neighborhood would you feel any inclination to move? I don’t believe that it still happens because of a race issue, I believe it happens because people don’t like change, that is if you are perfectly happy with your life before the change. People these days tend to not deal with the issue of poverty or equal education because they remove themselves away from the situation. “Very few people who are not involved with inner-city schools have any idea of the extremes to which the mercantile distortion of the purposes and character of education have been taken or how unabashedly proponents of these practices are willing to defend them.” (Kozol 97) If something is out of sight then it is out of mind. “Distance makes it easier” (Kozol 69). The more the schools segregate the more the Matthew Effect will come into play, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

We as people know that not all schools are the same, why do you think parents will pay extra money to send their child to a top private school to get the best education. “ Most parents recognize that certain things that matter in a child’s education do require hard work and well-organized sequential processes for learning and expect their children’s teachers to provide the framework in which this is possible.” I strongly believe people do not separate the schools by race anymore, but that doesn’t mean it has gotten better. People now a days are separating by social class, which in their mind is fine. Most people who are in the wealthier schools and neighborhoods have the mind set that they worked hard for their money and the right to pay extra to give their child the best education and the best recourses. They are not saying their child is more worthy of this privilege, but it’s benefit of their hard work. To improve the equality of education throughout this country I believe it must start inside every person. The wealthy need to be more understanding that not all people will get the opportunity to succeed as they did and to find a way to share their wealth. Maybe not giving them as much government funding if their taxes could support them support their school just fine. If all the lower, poverty schools had adequate teachers who were able to keep those students on the same path as the ones in the higher testing schools, then the gap would slowly start to shrink. It would have to be the government’s job to make sure all the teachers are getting paid the same amount no matter what school district. Most teachers would like to teach where the pay is best, but if all were the same then all students would get the same high quality of education. We as a nation need to remember segregation has not disappeared; it has just changed its face.

Joy,

Kelly Harris

Race Matters: chapters 5-8

5) Towards the beginning of this section of reading he talked about blacks finding their identity and their relationship with the Jewish community. I was surprised to hear about how the blacks and the Jewish people did not get along or how it had such an impact. He then moved into talking about sexuality and a person knowing who he or she is and how that was mixed in with the Caucasian race. He talked about how the black people had the “upper hand” when it came to sexuality compared to the whites. In the last chapter West talked about Malcolm X and the growth of the black community.

4) Page 93: “ The fundamental crisis in black America is twofold: too much poverty and too little self-love. The urgent problem of black poverty is primarily due to the distribution of wealth, power, and income.”

Page 107: “In the present era, blacks and Jews are in contention over two major issues. The first is the question of what constitutes the most effective means for the black progress in America. The second major area of contention concerns the meaning and practice of Zionism as embodied in the state of Israel.”

Page 109: “In turning their heads form the ugly truth of Palestinian subjugation, and in refusing to admit the falsity of alleged Jewish conspiracies, both sides failed to define the moral character of their Jewish and black identities.”

Page 120: “ The major cultural impact of the 1960’s was not to demystify black sexuality but rather to make black bodies more accessible to white bodies on an equal basis.”

3)

Page 98 when it talked about black bourgeois preoccupation?

Page 126 the “brazen”?

Page 145 “cultural hybridity”

2) on page 97 it talked about how it was a quest for blacks to get involved with self respect, and self love to grow. I think it is very true, like my sisters students they have to set their own standards sometimes and know who they are and who they want to be.

On page 112 it talks about the underdog leaning on the old underdog for help. Everyone has been the “new guy” before. This year with teaching it was so nice to have the inters their to ask questions and too go to for support. We all need to help each other.

1) How is the black and Jewish relationship now, is it still a big deal to either parties?

Race Matters; Preface-chapter 4

5)

These few chapters that I read talked about how in the past and even to this day race still matters. As much as we would like to say people are not judged by their skin color, or even have thoughts about their self because of it, we are lying to ourselves. West gave many examples from the past that our still happening to this day. The change must start with us. It needs to happen from the inside out, and each person needs to take action.

4)

“No other people have been taught systematically to hate themselves psychic violence-reinforced by the powers of state and civic coercion-physical violence-for the primary purpose of controlling their minds and exploiting their labor for nearly four hundred years.” Page XIII

“Black people consume 12 percent of illegal drugs in America yet suffer nearly 0 percent of its convictions!” Page XV

“If cultures are in part; what human being create in order to convince themselves not to commit suicide, then black foremothers and forefathers are to be applauded. In fact until the early seventies black Americans had the lowest suicide rate in United States. But now young black people lead the nation in the rate of increasing in suicides.” Page 24

“Quality leadership is neither the product of one great individual nor the result of odd historical accidents. It comes from deeply bred traditions and communities that shap an mold talented and gifted persons.” Page 56

3)

- Page 20; nihilistic threat?

- Page 55; talked about sending children to Howard and Morehouse?

-Page 84; machismo identity?

2)

Page 21 there was a quote that black people could have the same sucsess if they were given the same resources. I have talked a lot with my sister about this who works for a private school for the projects in Dallas. It is very true, the more resources someone has and higher expectations, the better they will become.

Page 11 “the most value source for help consists of ourselves.” I agree, if I want anything changed I need to have a passion for it inside before true action can take place

1) After reading and watching the videos, has there been any theories to help the “doll” test be less shocking?

The Shame of the Nation: Chapters 11 and 12

5) These two chapters were an quick look into the school and how the teachers impacted the students. Some of the schools put a child on their test score number and drilled that practice into their life. Other had a more open mind, they did more hands on activities to pre-pare. Like Mr. Bedrock who had the respect of not only his children, but of other teachers. I feel like the outcome of our schools and how our children learn starts with us, the teachers.

4) Quotes:

Page 266: “All children can learn! If the officials who repeat this incantation honestly believe all kids can learn, why aren’t they fighting to make sure these kids can learn in the same good schools their own children attend? To isolate the victim and shortchange the victim, and then tell him he can “learn to his potential” if he and his teacher try hard enough, is one of those bizarre political performances.”

Page 270: “ Most parents recognize that certain things that matter in a child’s education do require hard work and well-organized sequential processes for learning and expect their children’s teachers to provide the framework in which this is possible.”

Page 282: “ At the same time that graduation rates for black and Hispanic students remain frozen or have gone into decline, the enrollment of minority students at a number of our most prestigious public universities has dropped alarmingly.”

Page 287: “ But nobody tells the children that their test results define their worthiness or that these numbers measure their identities, or that the limited forms of learning that are tested by a standardized exam are more important that the ones to which a governmental number cannot be attached.”

3) Key Terms:

Page 269: “organic spontaneity”

Page 270: “when he is ready to read he will let us know?”

Page 279: “incentivizing, acquisitional”

2) Connections:

1) The fist connection I found was when the children were talking about a school they would “love to go too”. I had a wonderful schooling experience and enjoyed going to my school district. I was able to have wonderful recourses and ample opportunity.

2) When the teacher said she “mustn’t laugh” on page 288, I had this today. One of my students said something that was inappropriate and funny, not knowing what he said. I had to fight not to laugh.

1) A Question:

What made Mr. Bedrock such an amazing teacher, and how were his test scores?