Priviliege in Education

In all honesty I’m not sure how I feel about affirmative action, I do not know enough about it to make a judgment. I agree that there should be an equal playing field, but does affirmative action do that? Also I think to help even the playing field that people should not just look at colleges and jobs when doing it. I think more attention should be given to our elementary and secondary schools. In another one of my classes we have been discussing Americans education system. It made me realize that the most privilege that I have had in my life is I was able to go to a decent school. By most rates it was not a great school, it ranked low in comparison to other schools in the area. But it was so much better, compared to what many kids in poorer areas are subjected to. I was safe, I had a good education, I knew I would go onto college. I knew that just about everyone I started out with would graduate with me. When I was young my parents did not have to stay up worrying about the education I would be going through or if I would go to college. I have a good shot at doing better then my parents did. I did not have surroundings that prohibited me from reaching my potential. I did not have to go through a lottery to get a good education. I did not have to go to a “dropout factory” (where at least 40% of students will not graduate) Compared to other kids I was lucky. Some schools in areas have a higher dropout rate then graduation rate. How when looking at a class, you can know that around half will not graduate, and even less will be likely to go to college. How many of the students you are looking at will probably end up unemployed or in jail. Many parents of these children will be kept up at night worrying that their kid may not graduate. That their kid will not be able to make a better life than what they are living. It makes me wonder how can we even the playing field in colleges or jobs, when many people will not even get there.

Below there is a picture of dropout factories. These are schools were at least 40% will not graduate. There are almost 2,000 dropout factories across America.


Below are some statistics that i found that have to do with dropout factories

• Seventy-two percent of all black dropouts in America left dropout factories.
• Nearly 60 percent of all Hispanic dropouts left dropout factories.
• Thirty-five percent of all black high school students and 29 percent of all Hispanic students attend dropout factories, while only seven percent of White students do.
• Eighty-one percent of dropout factories are considered to be high-poverty schools, where 40 percent or more of their students are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch. http://www.marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107415
  

There is also a documentary about our education system called "Waiting for Superman". I think everyone should watch this documentary. This alone can make a person realize how lucky they are. Here is hopefully a trailer for it. And if that does not work, here is a link to youtube to watch it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUAo2oecE6g




#16