2008 Woodie Awards
A little accountability
Equality of education is the responsibility of all; needs to be supported by government and community at large
Jessica Laven
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Opinions
Over 1,000 students and their communities protested the educational system in the state of Illinois this week, calling into question an alarming trend of discrimination that continues to occur in schools across the country.
Chicago public school students boycotted attending their own schools, instead taking the bus to New Trier, an affluent suburb, to enroll there, an event that volunteers said was similar to the historic "bus boycott in Alabama in the 1950s."
In a move that is arguably one of the largest of its kind in history, the children continue their protest - one that sheds light on some of the problems facing our school systems today.
The "No Child Left Behind" act was created in an effort to hold schools accountable - that is, to make sure that students are up-to-par on their readin', writin' and 'rithmetic. The problem with this legislation is that there is no promise of equality on behalf of the government.
The discrepancy between the amount of money spent on each student in Chicago and New Trier is an example of what is happening all over the country. Chicago Public Schools spent $11,300 per student last year, while New Trier spent $17,500. This expenditure often directly correlates with student success.
Why the huge difference?
Let's look at what New Trier Superintendent Linda Yonke had to say. My favorite was her statement that "many factors affect school performance, including supportive parents and hardworking students."
Obviously a child who grows up in a low-income area can't possibly be hardworking or have supportive parents who want their child to do well so that they can break the cycle of poverty.
These parents and children want to have old textbooks, apathetic teachers who try their best but are paid $10,000 less per year than their colleagues and a budget that doesn't allow for the extras that other, more affluent students, are afforded.
While "No Child Left Behind" is the catchphrase of the decade, many people seem to overlook one of the very foundations that the American public education system is built on - FAPE. Free and Appropriate Public Education. Notice there's nothing in that statement that qualifies "appropriate" education based on residence or wealth of zoned school district. FAPE is supposed to ensure that every child has access to materials, educators and environments that are of quality.
Chicago public school students boycotted attending their own schools, instead taking the bus to New Trier, an affluent suburb, to enroll there, an event that volunteers said was similar to the historic "bus boycott in Alabama in the 1950s."
In a move that is arguably one of the largest of its kind in history, the children continue their protest - one that sheds light on some of the problems facing our school systems today.
The "No Child Left Behind" act was created in an effort to hold schools accountable - that is, to make sure that students are up-to-par on their readin', writin' and 'rithmetic. The problem with this legislation is that there is no promise of equality on behalf of the government.
The discrepancy between the amount of money spent on each student in Chicago and New Trier is an example of what is happening all over the country. Chicago Public Schools spent $11,300 per student last year, while New Trier spent $17,500. This expenditure often directly correlates with student success.
Why the huge difference?
Let's look at what New Trier Superintendent Linda Yonke had to say. My favorite was her statement that "many factors affect school performance, including supportive parents and hardworking students."
Obviously a child who grows up in a low-income area can't possibly be hardworking or have supportive parents who want their child to do well so that they can break the cycle of poverty.
These parents and children want to have old textbooks, apathetic teachers who try their best but are paid $10,000 less per year than their colleagues and a budget that doesn't allow for the extras that other, more affluent students, are afforded.
While "No Child Left Behind" is the catchphrase of the decade, many people seem to overlook one of the very foundations that the American public education system is built on - FAPE. Free and Appropriate Public Education. Notice there's nothing in that statement that qualifies "appropriate" education based on residence or wealth of zoned school district. FAPE is supposed to ensure that every child has access to materials, educators and environments that are of quality.
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