Blog 4: School system punishes poor

In the article “School system, punishes poor,” it reports that that the school systems are in a competitive mode.  This competition is playing a major role in children’s academic achievement because schools are being segregated.  The segregation is due to socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity and academic abilities. Due to the inequality of resources parents of higher social status are more selective about where they send their children to school which is also causing more segregation.   Disadvantaged students are being steered down the path of less academically oriented paths as stated in the report.  Australia is trying to create equality in the school systems because the disadvantaged schools are lacking resources and funding.  Australian educational officials are trying to make low socioeconomic status schools just as acceptable as the high quality schools. The report stresses the fact that educational routes have an impact on students’ future, so the push for equality will give students equal opportunities.

This article brings awareness to the inequality in education.  This does not only exist in Australia, but worldwide.  Goldsboro High School in North Carolina is a prime example of the inequality in education.  Goldsboro High has a predominately black population and is also a low performing school.  This school merged with the Wayne School of Engineering.  These two schools are in the same building and on paper act as one, but in reality they are segregated. Wayne School of Engineering is mostly white students with far better resources.  Goldsboro High does not have any access to anything dealing with the School of Engineering’s educational resources, yet they are allowed to share athletic programs with the “poor” school. Even though Goldsboro High students are not even allowed to pass through the two tall double doors that separates them.

It is safe to say high quality schools tend to have better resources and more high quality teachers.  On the other hand, in areas of low socioeconomic status they tend to lack resources needed for students to get the same equal education.  Students are sometimes being grouped based on their academic achievement and with people who identify with them based on social status and race.  These inequalities in some school systems are setting “poor” schools up for failure.  More funding is needed for disadvantaged schools, so they can have better teachers and more educational resources in order to get the same quality education. 

http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/school-system-punishes-poor-says-report-20120209-1rxar.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124584047