Please read the article linked below from the New Times about the education gap that is growing between the rich and poor and how testing and assessment plays into this issue, then post your response to the article on your blog. Remember, just as on blackboard discussions, the expectation is that your postings will not be a summary of the article but a reflection of your ideas and questions about the article. Also, don't forget to respond to the blogs of at least 2 classmates. Happy blogging!!
Education Gap
ReplyDeleteThis article had some really good points in it. Wealthier parents normally do spend more money on their kids, by putting them in sports, or hiring a tutor. Though I do not really agree with how much time the article says on kids who come from wealthy parents speed more time outside of the home. I am sure this is the cases most of the time, though in my case I was in day care from 5am to 5pm M-F. On the weekends I was with my grandmother, since my mom was always working. I did like how the article mentioned that the race divide in education is not as much as it used to be, but the income of parents played a bigger part in education.
Maddison Lindsey My Post: http://maddlin.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeletePosted to Brandi Goodrich: http://brandi-diagnosis.blogspot.com/2012/02/education-gap-grows-between-rich-and.html#comment-form
Posted to Samantha Bottoms:
http://smajbot.blogspot.com/2012/02/education-gap-assessment.html#comment-form
I thought the article was interesting. I do agree with the fact that parents need to spend more time working with their children. I think we need to look at this issue as it is... The children need to be caught up. Teachers need to work with these children in order to narrow the gap. Doing all the research into the socioeconomic status of the parents is fine, but at the end of the day we cannot make the parents make more money or make them spend the money on their children. We can educate them and catch them up with their classmates.
ReplyDeleteAshley Huggins-
ReplyDeleteI agree that a big issue is time. A low income family usually consists of a single parent. This parent spends their time working and typically they don't allow time for helping their children in their education. Hopefully this won't be such an issue one day.
Blog 1-Educaitonal Gap
ReplyDeleteIn this article I learned that the financial status of a family has greater affects on students more than the racial status. I know that how much money caregivers have to spend on a child's education, the better that education is likely to be. This is because the student will be able to afford more enrichment activities such as tutoring or student organizations. A students racial ethnicity doesn't have a very big impact on their grades like it used to.I think this is because we have fortunately moved past segregation as a society and now the main factor is a student's financial status.
Vanessa-
ReplyDeleteI always love how you get fired up! I agree that even though a household is poor, it is no excuse for a parent to neglect their child, but it does happen. It happens in households that aren't poor. I think that even though we have a gap between children, it will always be there. We are never going to have every student in our classroom at the same level at the same time. We as teachers have to learn to accommodate for those levels and help our students. Studying the so called "reason" for the gap is not going to help these students, but their teachers can! That is what we are here for.
Reply to Lindsey-
ReplyDeleteThis article did raise a big concern for me. I would like to find some research that discusses some solutions like you talked about. Just like you though, I am very glad we have been able to lessen the gap of educational achievement between different races. As a society, I think that if we can over come that, then we should be able to overcome this issue in time.
Reply to Jessica-There are SO many factors that contribute to a student's educational success. I liked this article though, because it gives a deeper insight to how the level of a family's income can contribute. It makes sense that students who come from low income families may not really get a great educational experience because they aren't able to join in enrichment activities like tutoring or after school programs. I think as a future teacher, all we can do is make the classroom a positive learning experience since we cannot control what happens at home.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I feel that income plays a major role in children's outcomes on their assessments is because their life exposures. Children who come from families with more money are more than likely going to have someone there to make sure they are studying and also healthy. Also parents who work the lower end jobs might have to be away from home more because they need to put in the hours. Children from higher incomes are going to have been exsposed to more culture. This reminds me of that movie The Blind Side, how the character Michael Ore was just getting passed along to differnt homes, but also his education. Once he moved in tith the Tuleys he had access to a full time tutor, and a family who made sure he was rested, fed, and attending school; also teachers who wanted to help him receive a good education. Im not saying all people with lower incomes are in this situation, but they have less resources.
ReplyDeleteThis article: Education Gap Grows Betwen Richand Poor, Studies Say by Sabrina Tavernise was very interesting to read. Even though studies have now proven that low income based home life of students affect their school work, I have known this was true for many years. I grew up with friends who did not have a life that was easy. They were extremely smart individuals but because what went on at home and the money situation in their lives, they didn't excel in school. It is good to know the gap between black and white students has come to nearly a closure. It is sad that the recession has affected our country not only in the ways we see in our economy and everyday living but in our children. We as adults have to work hard to provide for our families to eat, sleep, and live life everyday. And if we are struggling to make the money to do those essential things for our families, you better believe it will effect our childrens' education. Children may not fully understand what may or may not be going on at home at all times, but they do feel the stress from the parents in the environment at home.
ReplyDeleteOverall, it is important we do our best to make sure the students understand no matter what school is truly important. But as teachers, we need to understand where a lot of our students' home lives are like. If a student came to school starving, and you know more than likely the child was not fed dinner, thats we need to go the extra mile and give that student a snack to start their day. We need students' to be learning at the fullest potential... no distractions. If you know a student is having home life issues with parents or siblings, etc; it is important you talk to them... figure out the best way to help the child deal with the situation or problem. Basically, GET TO KNOW YOUR STUDENTS AND THEIR HOME LIVES! If we do not know what the students' experience and see outside of the classroom, we will never be able to FULLY help the student succeed to their best potential.
GO THE EXTRA MILE! Great teachers not only teach..... THEY REACH! :)
In the article, "Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Say," by Sabrina Taverise it talks about the education gap between the rich and the poor. It does not suprise me that there is such a gap. It does suprise me however, at how much at gap there it. But I've always known there were a gap between them the wealthy and the poor. Those who have a higher income, have the money and time to spend with their children and to focus on their education. Those who have a lower income, usually are a single parent family. With a single parent, the child or children may not get as much time spent on them or on their education as a child or children from a two parent household might get.The article talked about how family income's effect on education is more of a cultural aspect of America now. I think it's unfair that children from lower income families don't have the same opportunities as those from higher income families.Though, like the article said there's not a lot that can be done about this situation and the education gap will most likely continue to grow. On another note,it is encouraging to know that the gaps in education based on race is declining
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ReplyDeleteReply to Shawna's Blog
ReplyDeleteI complete agree. I come from a single parent home. My mother did not have enough money to pay all the bills. Though my grandmother was a huge supporter in helping us pay the bills and help me out in school. I agree that it does not matter the money but the parents themselves in some cases.
I would say parent's love, involvement, encouragement, guidance and teaching are the most important contributors of success in a student's life. On the same note, many of these characteristics come about from parents when money is present. This article explains significant information about children's success. Family support systems are extremely important for student's growth in knowledge and success in the school system. Without a home support system, success in life simply comes harder.
ReplyDeleteMoney is the difference for success in children at school, as the article states. If parents have more money, they have more resources for their kids. If they have more money, they also have more time for their kids. Then their kids are a lot more likely to be successful and provide for their own well. Poverty is a big issue in our country. I would say that most times, people grow up in poverty and can't find their way out. It's a lifestyle, just as students with rich parents are more likely to do what their parents do, students with poor parents are likely to imitate what they see.
There are no true solutions, as the article provides. Free money clearly won't help. However; there has to be some small ways we can work toward diminishing poverty. For example; something that could help is providing educational programs for students with parents of low-income in the school system. I'm pretty sure ECU still has a program for schools in the area like this. This could be a good way to introduce students to more hands-on learning, trips to new places, and more educational experiences. This may also encourage them to go to college, make more money, and provide their kids with better learning experiences. It starts within communities I believe, then as each community is reached, the nation lives better as a whole.
@ Ashley Huggins- Ashley, as you indicated, I think time and educational experiences are a big factor in student's success. Single parents just don't have time or money to provide their kids with these experiences many times. Like Misty said, I think we adding educational opportunities in the school system gives children with low-income parents opportunities that they might not otherwise have.
ReplyDelete@ Samantha Bottoms- Samantha, I didn't think the educational gap from income was that wide either.I do believe it's a matter of culture as well, not just a matter of income. I agree with you about the thinking of "here and now" in low income families. Families with more income are more likely to plan for the future.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this article, it was shocking to realize how the big the gap is between students that have more money compared to the students that do not have much. It has always been there, but as the article says it is continuing to grow. This is a problem that needs to have a solution. I think it is great that they acknowledge that there the gap, but my question is how are we going to fix it?
ReplyDeleteIn the end I agree with this article. Just giving the low income family money is not going to fix the problem with the gap. The families need to understand that continuing their education is what can help them. Yes, some people can make more money without a college degree, but it can help out tremendously if you do have a degree.
@Lindsey Elliot - I agree Lindsey, this is a growing problem that future teachers will have to deal with. And I think you make a good point about testing with an empty stomach. Students just cannot focus when all they can think about is needing something to eat, so I agree with your statement about the accountability of the testing.
ReplyDelete@Samantha Bottoms - I agree with you Samantha, some people will make more money than teachers even if they do not have a degree. I also agree with not just giving low income families money. I do not think that would solve anything either.
ReplyDeleteI am very intrigued by the topic this article from the New York Times written by Sabrina Tavernise entitled Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Show, presents. This study concerns me because, with research on the issue, there still doesn't seem to be any solutions to this dilemma teachers find themselves facing. They are being forced to try and make up for the time lost with single parents that fall under the low-income status. To me, this sends a red flag in my direction when our education classes start to warn us about the accountability testing we are seeing all throughout the U.S. It isn't the teachers fault that their student with a low-income family goes to bed hungry or is home alone for a long period of time until their parent or guardian can get off work.
ReplyDeleteI am very glad to see that the achievement gap between white and black students has narrowed significantly over the past few decades. With this being such a huge issue years back, I feel that by the new issue arising and being addressed by President Obama and some of our republican Presidential candidates, this is just the first step in recognizing the issue and finding a way to move forward.
I think this is a big concern for future teachers too. How do you really make up for a child's home life? I think one of the keys is communication with the child, you have to build a supportive and caring relationship. I am glad to see the income gap being addressed by politicians. I don't believe there is a quick fix for there of these but maybe over time they will both get better.
Delete@Jessica Fixico- I too want to make it my goal to create a safe environment for both my students and their parents. Communication between parents and teacher is key to a child's success. While there are many issues and factors that contribute to the education gap, I believe knowing a child's home life and being able to be sensitive in that area and producing ways in which their life after school isn't bombarded with homework with be just one way in which the gap can be narrowed.
ReplyDelete-Lindsey Elliott
@Angela Dansby- I like how you address the issue as it is. The research doesn't change the fact that all of these things wont still continue. This key factor is proof of the importance of our early childhood educators doing their best to produce lessons that will also help give the students basic skills and knowledge so they won't fall too far behind.
ReplyDelete-Lindsey Elliott
Original Post by Danna Borntrager
ReplyDeleteA recent article in the New York Times exposes the gap in educational success between children from high-income families and children from low-income families. It's no secret that families with a higher income tend to have more time and resources to devote to student success. The article goes on to explain that because lower-income families are often headed by a single parent, time and money are stretched. Unfortunately, the gap between the rich and the poor is growing.
I was brought up in a middle-class home. Both of my parents worked very hard to provide for my family. Neither of my parents graduated from college. My mom went straight from graduating high school to the workforce. My dad started college, but was diagnosed with cancer before he could finish. The chemo made him very ill and ruined any chance he had of finishing school at that point. He recovered, but with three children, a wife, and a hefty stack of medical bills, he set out to find a job. My dad always regretted not being able to finish school, and my heart ached for him. Despite his disappointment, he encouraged my siblings and me to excel in everything that we did. Now that my siblings and I are grown, my dad has gone back to school and is excelling in every class he takes.
I grew up in a very fortunate home. Although my parents couldn't afford to pay for my college, their never-ending support helped me succeed in school. Sadly, many students don't have that support at home. As an educator, I will make it my goal to reach out to those students who lack home-support. Whether a student has more than enough support at home or not quite enough, I hope to inspire all of my students to excel in everything they choose to do.
Danna Borntrager
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@Marybeth
ReplyDeleteI agree that learning opportunities should cost as little as possible for all students. No child should be left out because of an inability to pay. I also agree that schools do what they can in the way of providing low-cost/no cost activities when possible. Unfortunately, it seems like more of those learning opportunities are being cut every day.
Danna Borntrager
@Maddlin
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about how starting a child's education earlier than normal would be a benefit of having a higher income. Eventually, they would most likely pay for a college education. Why not get a head-start? Sadly, families with lower incomes are not always able to afford the same start for their children.
Danna Borntrager
It is encouraging to know that the gaps in education based on race is declining. However, family income seems to be playing a larger role than ever. The statistics from all the studies listed in this article are alarming, but not unimaginable. I can understand this because so many families today are struggling just to make ends meet. Familys with a larger income are not worried about paying the bills and have more time to spend with their children doing extracurricular activities and planning for college.
ReplyDeleteThe article gave examples of how family income's effect on education is more of a cultural aspect of America now. This gap is making it seem as though students from lower income families cannot overcome the barriers found at this stage. However, as a teacher, we must strive to provide all our students with an equal education. We must be mindful of the situations at home, and provide appropriate attention and help to our students.
@Vanessa Patlan ~
ReplyDeleteYou are very right, there are many people such as yourself who overcome the ideas and barriers that others have already assumed just because of family income. Good for you!
@Ashley Huggins ~
ReplyDeleteYou are right, so many parents do not have the time or do not even attempt to give time to their children. This is one of the biggest problems I have seen in my classroom observations this semester. It is very sad, and as teachers we must be there for out students as much as possible.
After reading this article I believe that there are those students out there who struggle from day to day because they come from a low income family. I feel that those students will be lacking a lot of things compared to the high income families. However, I think that the majority of the problem with students today are there parents. I think that a parent should be very active in their child's life. I think having a parent involved makes it more likely for a child to succeed. I have seen many students that come from a low income family work extremely hard on their academics because they were being pushed by there parents! I realize that this is not a perfect world and not all students will have a parent involved, but I feel most teachers try to give a child support and encouragement that they are not getting from home. And I think it is important that teachers are always supportive and help students see the importance of having an education!
ReplyDeleteThere are many issues that contribute to the education gap. This article looks specifically at how the education gap correlates with the gap between rich and poor families. The recession of the economy seems to have contributed to the widening gap in education. The income inequality has become one of the themes for the current election. High income parents are now spending nine times as much per child then low income families. I agree with the article in that a child's experience before school, family culture and degree of poverty effects how the child does in school. I can see where these things would affect a child's test score as well. A child who is brought to school late or hungry or doesn't feel safe at home or is sick a lot or misses a lot of school or has to take care of siblings in the home the night before, while the parent/parents work is not going to be too focused on learning much less be able to focus on a test. As a future teacher I think it is very important that I am aware of my student's home life and try to make them feel safe and secure at school. I also want to be sure that I meet with the student often to see how they are doing. I believe that if I show them that I am there for them and I care then they will be more likely to share with me any problems they are having at home. This response is based off of this article I read.
ReplyDeleteWhile I am pleased that the gap between ethnicities has narrowed, the widened gap between rich and poor students saddens me. The New York Times reports that students raised in affluent homes are more likely to be successful in the classroom. Students who are raised in single-parent homes have less of an opportunity to learn from outside their home such as visiting museums or participating in sports and the arts.
ReplyDeleteParents who raise their children in single-parent and/or single-income households may or may not be concerned about their child's education. Regardless of income or the lack thereof, parental support and encouragement of their children to learn is important for all students to be academically successful. Financially struggling parents are working to provide food, shelter and clothing for their children. I don’t believe that the majority of parents are unconcerned with their child’s education. I believe they simply do not have any additional funds to provide their children with different learning opportunities and lean on the school to provide that instead. All parents have the power and obligation to instill positivity towards education. We all know and understand that children learn and mimic what they see and hear the most. When parents are negative toward education and their children, our students will not see and probably will not want to see the benefits of education. I believe that this can happen in any household, at any income level.
However, I do believe that some students can learn from their parents’ mistakes and want to have a better life for themselves. As teachers, we are to help our students understand the importance of education and how it can help them provide a better life for themselves and their own future family.
Sunday, February 19, 2012I think it is about time that people have realized this issue. There is definitely a gap in education between poor and rich people. One thing I would like to say though is that it is not just people. Smaller schools are greatly affected by not having enough money too. The majority of their students are also low income families so that does not help either. This article does make two arguments about why there is a gap. I believe it is a mixture of both problems and more as opposed to just one or the other.
ReplyDeleteJanelle Birney original blog post
Education Gap & Assessment
ReplyDeleteI've always known that children who come from better off homes have a tendency to do better, but I didn't realize how huge a gap it was. Comparing the gap between income and race had a huge effect on me. It makes me disappointed in today’s world to realize that this is still happening today, just because of a different factor.
The article stated that college was one of the main factors in making money today, and I have to disagree with this to some point. There are many fields that people can go into and still make more money than I will every make being a teacher. My brother, for instance, is an assistance manager at wal-mart and makes a little over 50,000 grand a year. He has one semester of college, which he flunked, under his belt.
I agree with the article towards the end. I don't believe that just throwing money at low income families is going to fix the problem. I think it's a matter of culture. Those who are in low income families have a tendency to think about the here and now. They don't think about how exposing their children to education early could benefit them in their secondary schooling later. What needs to happen are parenting classes to help those parents learn to help their children succeed.
Samantha Bottoms original blog post
To Ashley Huggins on education gap and assessment
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with the two of you. Time is a huge problem as well as education in the first place. When we think about low income parents today with think of young parents, parents who don’t have a lot of education, and this leads to why they don’t have great jobs and are low income. They don’t know about raising a child and they don’t know how important early learning is to their children.
Samantha Bottoms
To Rachel Skimbo on education gap and assessment
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article I believe that there are those students out there who struggle from day to day because they come from a low income family. I feel that those students will be lacking a lot of things compared to the high income families. However, I think that the majority of the problem with students today are there parents. I think that a parent should be very active in their child's life. I think having a parent involved makes it more likely for a child to succeed. I have seen many students that come from a low income family work extremely hard on their academics because they were being pushed by there parents! I realize that this is not a perfect world and not all students will have a parent involved, but I feel most teachers try to give a child support and encouragement that they are not getting from home. And I think it is important that teachers are always supportive and help students see the importance of having an education!
Samantha Bottoms
Monday, February 20, 2012Education Gap
ReplyDeleteI can clearly see why researchers say that one reason for the growing gap in acheivement could be because wealthy parents have more time and money to invest in their children with sports, dance classes, camps, tutors, etc... These families usually have two parents and both parents work, therefore there is more income coming into the family's bank account versus a low-income, single parent family. Many single parents work two or even three jobs to be able to support their child. This in turn causes the parnet to spend little to no time with the child. This child will most likely not get to partake in extraciricular activites or weekend sports because they have no way to and from these activities because the parent is constantly working.
Posted by Megan Garvin
@Caitlyn James
ReplyDeleteI agree with you also Caitlyn. One big reason I want to become a teacher is that I want children to feel that my classroom is a "safe" place for them. I want them to feel that they can forget about whatever problems they are having at home the moment their foot steps into my door
@Vanessa
ReplyDeleteI agree that parent involvement is huge! This is actually something that scares me to death when I think about having my own classroom. I already get so frusutrated at just the thought of a parent that doesn't care what their child is doing.
The gap with wealthy and poor students across America is quite unfortunate. Before I even read the part that talked about the reasons why this issue might be, I knew the answer. The lower-class will continue to get lower with cost of living expenses on the rise. Due to this, the amount of time available to spend in the home becomes less and less. Single parents must work two or three jobs just to put food on the table.While the upper class have more and more time to do what they want in their free time. It must be nice to actually have that free time!
ReplyDeleteOne problem is that people are living above their means. Maxing out credit cards only leads to more problems.Society has come to the norm of needing everything. Every channel available on TV, new car, nice house, however, these luxuries come at a cost. Sometimes in order to pay for all of this requires more than one job, which directly influences how much time is available in the home. Now of course, this does not apply to all of the parents working multiple jobs, but some. Because these luxuries have become so important, the trade off is less time with their children.
Lower-class people need help to better themselves or the cycle will continue to just get worse. I know, they are getting help currently, but they need more help. Now of course this brings up the question of where will the help come from. That I do not know, and couldn't even begin to know where to start to figure it out. But the issue remains, hopefully not where it appear to continue to remain.
@Misty Raymo
ReplyDeleteI agree. Also, it seems that the more the issue attempts to be resolved the worse it gets. The financial needs of the parents unfortunately, with this economy, probably aren't going to get better any time soon. Recovery takes time, this applies to the parents as well as students' education.
@Lindsey Elliot
ReplyDeleteI too am glad to see the gap closing with the white and black students, and we all know how many years that took! I sure hope that this issue doesn't take so long to remedy itself. Teachers can only do their best with what they have to work with. Hopefully, this too shall pass.
Education Gap Grows Original Post
ReplyDeleteI believe that this study is correct. I have also found that children who come from more wealthy families tend to do better in school. I think a lot of this, like the article said, is to do with the financial ability to provide their children with more educational experiences. For example, the more wealthy parents are able to afford to take their children to museums or pay for a private math tutor. However, those children who come from families with just a single parent can often not provide such luxuries. Most of these single parent families are struggling just to buy their children basic school supplies.
I do believe that most people who go to college make more money, but this is not always the case. For example, as a teacher I know I will not make very much money although I am required to have a degree from college. So there is hope for those who cannot afford to go to college. Also, there are many scholarships and grants out now that also help with the cost of college.
I do not believe that this widening of the gap is right, but I do believe it is a reality. I think a lot of this has to do with our culture today, like the article stated. The phrase “keeping of with the Jones’” is still present in our society. I am not even sure if these affluent parents realize that for example taking their children on vacations to Europe is educational. I think most of them are just trying to “keep up” with the other affluent families. However, these experiences can be very educational. As the more wealthy families continue to race each other in providing the best of the best, the less wealthy families struggle to provide the bare necessities; this in turn makes the educational gap between high-income and low-income families greater.
Education Gap & Assessment Response to Samantha Bottoms
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I think your idea about offering parenting classes is a great idea. However, I do not think just offering classes will solve all the problems. For example, how will a single parent who is working two jobs in order to pay the bills, even if they have the information needed due to the classes, have the time or money to provide their children these educational experiences?
Education Gap & Assessment Response to Shawna
ReplyDeleteI agree. Even though by nature more wealthy families can offer more experiences due to their financial status, low-income families can also provide educational experiences. The low-income parents just have to put more effort into providing these experiences. There are some educational experiences that can be provided for free. For example, my mom used to take me and my sister to the public library where they were always offering fun and educational activities for the public.
Reply to Samantha Bottoms,
ReplyDeleteSamantha, I liked your idea about offering parenting classes instead of just throwing money at the low income families. I agree, that way isn't going to help anything.But I also agree with what Ashely said, only offering classes, isn't going to solve everything. Some parents may not have the time, because they may be working two jobs to pay the bills.
Reply to marybeth Sieja,
I agree that it would be great if schools would allow funding for educational programs for every student. It would be a great start in helping closing the educational gap