The Great Divide

When reading both the articles many things struck me as surprising, and others struck me in a way that made me feel: How could I have been so blind and fell victim to the mask society puts over such issues as unethical, unequal education?

While reading the first article, Shame of the Nation, one thing that really stuck out to me to make me realize the true nature of how unsegregated and unequal many schools still are is a quote from an inner city teacher, “I’ve been at this school for eighteen years and this is the first white student I have taught” (kozoi 146). Which brings me to my next point of concern: The teacher above would be considered to be teaching at a “diverse” school due to the fact he has never had any white students. To me it is unethical to set aside a group, the blacks and Hispanics, and put them under their own category of “diverse” in order to hide what is really happening. Kozoi (147) states, … “and where every other child in the building is black or Hispanic are referred to as diverse”. These children similar to Lorena are losing their identities so that society does not have to address the real issue at hand. When reading Miguel's story one thing that really stuck out to me that led me to believe unequal education is unethical, is Miguel’s change of mind towards the end. Through the story he had wanted to well all through high school and then eventually move on to get a college degree, but when things began to get a little difficult due to him being illegal and the language barrier he decides to take the easy way out. “For Miguel, the possibility of a stable job and a position of authority is a reward so alluring that he decides it makes far more sense to hang in there rather than working to pass the Regents exam at night school” (noguera 263). I believe this to be a good example because is he had the right resources or even enough resources he may have been pushed harder or had more help to achieve his dream. By not offering all kids the same opportunity we are short changing them in their chance to be successful. Even teaching them it is okay to take the easy way out, because it will be definite.

Now that we have addressed the issues of inequity we must ask the question what brings us here? I think one of the biggest contributes to unequal education is the overpopulation many of the inner city schools face. After visiting an elementary school kozoi states, “in another elementary school built to hold 1,000, but was packed with bursting some 1500….”. How are students supposed to prosper and grow in their education if there are so many students in the building a student could go unnoticed for days. There is no one to hold them accountable for there absence. There are not enough teachers to give one on one attention. These students in overpopulated schools are being neglected. Secondly inequity can be attributed to the lake of societal and governmental concern. In Shame of the Nation kozoi states, “No matter how many tawdry details like these I’ve read in legal briefs or depositions through the years, I’m always shocked again to learn how often these unsanitary physical conditions are permitted to continue in the schools…even after they have been vividly described in the media” (159). Even after conditions are exposed in the media nothing is done. Both government and the general society are turning their backs to what is happening. There is no way to bring change if at first we do not address the issues. Finally I believe that the children themselves also bring about unethical education by shaming each other and making others think they are of lesser. For example when Miguel is talking about his start of school in the U.S he describes it as alienating, “on the play ground other Latino kids, who barely spoke English themselves, teased him because he only spoke Spanish” (noguera 259). Most of these kids already feel alone and unequal being in a whole new country where everything is brand new, and to be shamed and diminished by their own peers can be of no help. These children spend each day feeling unequal to everything and everyone around them all day, and then to feel even less then your own peers, who were the same as you, had to be terrible. These children need at least one place where they feel equal and safe and we should make that school.

Since I just changed my service opportunity I do not know anything more then it is a house where children can come to be tutored and help with their school work (Next Generation Scholars). After reading these articles I am really able to understand and see that these kids see the inequalities they are faced with and it does make them feel bad. Knowing this I can apply that to my service by doing my best to make sure they know they are equal to everyone around them and try and show them the opportunities they have rather then the problems they are faced with.