Week 2 Reading
#TempleSocEd
Educations Limitations & Its Radical Possibilities https://contexts.org/articles/educations-limitations-and-its-radical-possibilities/
Students and university growing up together https://contexts.org/articles/students-and-university-growing-up-together/
This weeks readings, questions and podcast have allowed me to confirm that this country has been reeling with inequalities since the 17th and 18th century expanding from era to era. The U.S infrastructure is rooted with intense educational, socioeconomic, and racial divergence and unfortunately its become the norm. The fact remains that many of these biases contribute to detrimental issues within our society, leads to instability and failing academic success.
As an elementary and high school student I can recall learning about topics referring to states, capitals, presidents, slavery etc. The class would be quizzed on various facts such as , “ who was the first president- George Washington” or “who helped to free slaves-Abraham Lincoln” ? The textbook portrayal of Washington, Lincoln and many others were highlighted as honorable men, who viewed others equal. The was obviously false and far from the truth.
When I think of educational inequality I automatically pictured the civil rights movement of school integration. A young Ruby Bridges was the first black child to integrate a segregated New Orleans Elementary school in 1960. What strength and courage she had at such a young age is amazing. Educational inequality hinders students of their opportunities, impedes their ability to reach their fullest potential, and restricts a good learning environment. The lack of resources such as updated textbooks, after school programs and computer technology aren’t provided to children resulting in a huge inequality leaving many families throughout the U.S. suppressed. Today I saw a video of two young girls sitting on a curb at Taco Bell in efforts to attend virtual school because there family could not afford Wi-Fi, this is a prime example of educational inequality. Despite their hardship, they were determined to participate, be in an uncomfortable atmosphere and learn to the best of their ability. A student should not have to move across town or an hour away to obtain better schooling, every individual deserves a quality education despite his/her background or income.
Listening to Nikole H Jones 1619 podcast was emotional, informative and shocking. When she tried to feel and envision what the slaves endured I automatically felt an uneasiness within my body. The same uneasiness returned when Fountain Hughes spoke about his experience as a slave, being beaten, auctioned and even willing to end his life if he had to do it all over again. Hearing him speak those words was despairing.
I believe the lessons I learned in school were quite deceptive. Especially, now knowing that Lincoln actually thought black people were troublesome and even offered to ship freed black people to another country. Lincoln felt as though blacks and whites should be separated. The slaves workforce is how the country received their wealth but they were still not treated as human. Its incomprehensible to me that in this present time the U.S and many other places around the world are dealing with the same struggles and cruel ignorant mindset from hundreds of years ago.
