The Causes of Educational Inequality and The Obstacles of Poverty
The forces barring our kids’ access to opportunities are complicated and intertwined. If we don’t understand these barriers, it can be tempting—when we meet kids who are often several grade levels behind—to question their motivation and lose sight of what’s at stake for them.
This temptation is enhanced by the constant presence of negative messages about poor people and people of color in our culture. Beverly Tatum likens these images to “smog in the air.” “Day in and day out,” she writes, even if we try to avoid them, “we are breathing…in” messages about our students’ deficiencies.
To build – or deepen – our resistance to this “smog,” our pre-work’s first part will explore some of the social and historical factors blocking our students’ paths to academic and other opportunities. Our hope is that, regardless of where you grew up, what you studied in college, or what you have been doing during the past few years, this section will enhance your understanding of what’s on the line for our kids.
Before you begin, it’s important to recognize that the complexity of the issues our students and families face cannot be captured in a couple dozen readings and videos.
This temptation is enhanced by the constant presence of negative messages about poor people and people of color in our culture. Beverly Tatum likens these images to “smog in the air.” “Day in and day out,” she writes, even if we try to avoid them, “we are breathing…in” messages about our students’ deficiencies.
To build – or deepen – our resistance to this “smog,” our pre-work’s first part will explore some of the social and historical factors blocking our students’ paths to academic and other opportunities. Our hope is that, regardless of where you grew up, what you studied in college, or what you have been doing during the past few years, this section will enhance your understanding of what’s on the line for our kids.
Before you begin, it’s important to recognize that the complexity of the issues our students and families face cannot be captured in a couple dozen readings and videos.
Objectives and Guiding Questions
Objectives |
Guiding Questions |
1. Understand social and historical factors blocking our students’ paths to academic and other opportunities |
What historical factors have created educational inequity? What current factors perpetuate the inequity? What historical and current factors continue to perpetuate educational inequity? |
Describe how systemic racism and oppression have led to poverty that impacts students’ day to day reality and academic results |
In what ways do these day-to-day decisions accumulate and constrict the opportunities of people living in low income areas? How might getting to know students and students' families as people and as key advocates for students' futures help alleviate this issue? What can you purposefully plan to do as a teacher in the RGV to accomplish this? |
Describe how early educational interventions can be potent in reducing the negative impacts of poverty. |
In what ways, throughout this section and your own personal experiences, do you notice interplay between the different elements of this system? Having looked at how systemic poverty has impacted and continues to impact communities, what role do you think building strong relationships with students plays in affecting change? What are some ways in which your own identity, culture, and strengths can impact how you build relationships with students? |
Setting the Stage: Racism in America
Resource |
Description |
Objective |
Defining Racism "Can We Talk" Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria. Beverly Tatum. |
“Racism,” Tatum writes, is “a system …*that clearly operates to the advantage of Whites and to the disadvantage of people of color.” This short chapter from Tatum’s book exposes the core reasons behind racial inequity in America and has themes that emerge throughout our core readings. (15 pages, 25 minutes) |
1,3 |
Disparities in Education
Resource |
Description |
Objective |
Veteran educator and brain expert Eric Jensen takes an unflinching look at how poverty hurts children, families, and communities across the United States and demonstrates how schools can improve the academic achievement and life readiness of economically disadvantaged students. |
2,3 |
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A tale of two schools. Al Jazeera |
Aljazeera spent a day in the life of two U.S. high school students on both sides of the education divide. Here's their story in their own words. (4 minutes) |
2,3 |
Disparities in Healthcare
Resource |
Description |
Objective |
Hidalgo County has one of the highest poverty rates in the nation...which has led almost 40 percent of residents to enroll in the food-stamp program...which means a widespread reliance of cheap, processed foods... which results in rates of diabetes and obesity that double the national average... which fuels the country's highest per-capita spending on health care. |
2 |
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After the Second World War, federal housing policies encouraged investment the suburbs and discouraged racial integration. These housing policies have, historically, had significant health consequences for African-Americans. And, increasingly, they are affecting the well-being of Southeast Asian immigrants. Learn more in this short, important video. (4 minutes) |
1,2 |
If you would like to read more on this objective we have additional resources for you.