Better Late Than Never

[This post is very late and was started several days ago but an impending “academic review” and issues with my connection made it hard to post for a couple of weeks. I thought I would post it anyway to try and get back on the Blogging horse.]

Over the last few days I have attempted to get caught up on the goings on in the edu-blog world and I have found it a touch, overwhelming after such an absence. Instead of trying to wrangle thoughts on all that has gone on out there while I was internetless I’ll just talk about a topic that seems to be popping up all over the place including my own district, school and social circle.

An Article written by Dan Seligman titled Gapology 101, appeared in Forbes .Com before Christmas break. In the Article Seligman states that “It is not possible to close the achievement gap.” Supposing that he means that it is not possible by 2014, the deadline set by NCLB, I agree with him. It would take much, much longer and very real and drastic change in the way our education system works to truly close the “gap”. That does NOT mean however that the task should be abandoned as the tone of the article seems to suggest. Without an education system that strives to make sure that all students are getting the best education that we can provide them regardless of socioeconomic status and any other obstacles in the way of that education we might as well chuck the whole thing and go to an entirely private system that caters only to those who can afford it (hmm I guess for the rightys out there that’s likely the point).

In my brief four years as a certified teacher in a public school I have found that SES is a factor in how much a student gains from their public education experience. It does not however mean that they cannot learn and succeed at the same level as the middle and upper middle class students. We just have to admit that SES alone is a major road block and that it has to be addressed in a way that would likely look similar to the way we treat LD kids. After all a low SES can be a disability. Because I am a teacher and should be writing unit plans right now instead of reading and writing about my profession I can only offer a specific limited example from my classroom to attempt to give my opinion legs.

I teach at a school that is economically and racially diverse. Computer and internet access outside of school is not universal among my students. The limits this puts on the lower SES students are considerable. They cannot take advantage of the easy research that others have via the internet for projects. They must complete all papers at school, no home time is available. Parents of students who have a question or concern must try and catch me before or after school on the phone, or leave a message so that I can call them as soon as I have time, while everyone else is pretty much guaranteed a rapid response via e-mail. I can connect with students who have extended absences sending home electronic versions of assignments and handouts. Students also do not have the option to turn in assignments via e-mail during an absence. Sure they need to work through this obstacle they need to “get over it” and be successful any way. But consider your typical American teenager influenced more by their peers and what they see as "normal" than anything else. Consider that it may really take them a lot more effort than the others to get a paper or other assignment done on time. Students with lower SES that do not have to work to help at home, take care of a younger sibling while a parent goes to a second job at night or, (as in one very real case that I just learned about) worry about where they are going to sleep at night, who have no computer might get it done when they are supposed to. Those with those burdens have little chance of staying in school much less finishing their work on time.

So, when the situation calls for it, why not give them extra time, or allow them to work on it in the library during class time or anything else that could accommodate their disability. Equity can be achieved in the classroom as it relates to SES and we should attempt to do so.

What a few out there have said about this stuff in the last weeks.

Jenny D
EDUwonk
EdWahoo Who also has some good links to other articles about the SES gap.

If anyone has any other info on SES and under performing students I would love to hear about it.