While we are closing the racial gap in achievement, the income gap is widening
There is an interesting and alarming New York Times story on the growing educational divide between rich and poor kids. The story notes that while race was more consequential than family income in educational success 50 years ago, now income has the greater consequence.
Yes, we are narrowing the black and white gap, but we are seeing the gap widen between rich and poor performance. And that gap may be harder to address.
I was talking about a related issue yesterday with former private school teacher and coach. The man was saying how one of his school’s promising tennis players eventually left the school to move to Florida to attend a tennis academy where he had classes in the morning and tennis the rest of the day. And the boy eventually played tennis at college and did quite well.
I noted that my older brother who captained a college basketball team at a NCAA Division I school never attended a single basketball camp or weekend workshop. My parents would never had resorted to private coaching. They thought they had done enough by buying him a basketball and putting a net on a pole in the yard.
Today, middle-class parents send their kids to camps for basketball, math, robotics and creative writing. Many parents hire tutors at the first hiccup in academic progress. There is so much more investment in children’s athletic and academic careers. And it pays off it higher achievement, but it creates an uneven playing field for the kids who can’t afford math tutoring and Duke TIP camps.
Can schools try to even that playing field?
According to the Times: (Try to read the entire story.)
“We have moved from a society in the 1950s and 1960s, in which race was more consequential than family income, to one today in which family income appears more determinative of educational success than race,” said Sean F. Reardon, a Stanford University sociologist. Professor Reardon is the author of a study that found that the gap in standardized test scores between affluent and low-income students had grown by about 40 percent since the 1960s, and is now double the testing gap between blacks and whites.
In another study, by researchers from the University of Michigan, the imbalance between rich and poor children in college completion — the single most important predictor of success in the work force — has grown by about 50 percent since the late 1980s.
The changes are tectonic, a result of social and economic processes unfolding over many decades. The data from most of these studies end in 2007 and 2008, before the recession’s full impact was felt. Researchers said that based on experiences during past recessions, the recent downturn was likely to have aggravated the trend.
“With income declines more severe in the lower brackets, there’s a good chance the recession may have widened the gap,” Professor Reardon said. In the study he led, researchers analyzed 12 sets of standardized test scores starting in 1960 and ending in 2007. He compared children from families in the 90th percentile of income — the equivalent of around $160,000 in 2008, when the study was conducted — and children from the 10th percentile, $17,500 in 2008. By the end of that period, the achievement gap by income had grown by 40 percent, he said, while the gap between white and black students, regardless of income, had shrunk substantially.
One reason for the growing gap in achievement, researchers say, could be that wealthy parents invest more time and money than ever before in their children (in weekend sports, ballet, music lessons, math tutors, and in overall involvement in their children’s schools), while lower-income families, which are now more likely than ever to be headed by a single parent, are increasingly stretched for time and resources. This has been particularly true as more parents try to position their children for college, which has become ever more essential for success in today’s economy.
A study by Sabino Kornrich, a researcher at the Center for Advanced Studies at the Juan March Institute in Madrid, and Frank F. Furstenberg, scheduled to appear in the journal Demography this year, found that in 1972, Americans at the upper end of the income spectrum were spending five times as much per child as low-income families. By 2007 that gap had grown to nine to one; spending by upper-income families more than doubled, while spending by low-income families grew by 20 percent.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
107 comments Add your comment
Brandy
February 11th, 2012
5:35 am
Isn’t this extracurricular spending what we so laud the Chinese for? All that after school and weekend tutoring, paid for by parents, to ensure academic success during the school day. I wonder what the income gap in achievement looks like there…And how much worse it will get here in the United States as we try in ever more ways to compete with our “competition”.
I would love to know if research says the race gap has lessened due to school involvement or due, primarily, to outside factors. If due to outside factors, then is it right to expect schools to solve the income gap?
What the...
February 11th, 2012
7:47 am
From my vantage point as a high school teacher in south Dekalb, a lot of students half-a$$ take advantage of the opportunities they are offered freely on a daily basis. I cannot remember the last time they made AYP or had a winning season in a major sport. The faculty and administrators have changed over the years, as well coaches. So find someone else to blame or some new far-fetched liberal excuses.
Suavez
February 11th, 2012
7:58 am
It’s not about income, it is culture. What is the “acheivement gap” between low-income Asians and upper-income white students here in Georgia? I dare say the Asians are scoring higher on most standardized tests despite their poverty. And if the white-black acheivement gap has been narrowed, it has been accomplished by mostly dumbing down the white kids.
What the...
February 11th, 2012
8:02 am
As a side note: Dekalb County School System is, generally speaking, abunch of incompetent, self-serving bureaucracy. The bureaucray is enabled by an incompentent, race-orientented, self-serving school board. And the school board is enabled by an apatheic, irresponsible community, especially in many areas on the south side. This last statement can be quantified. Somehoe hudreds of parents can find their way to the school for athletic and band events, but on parent-teacher conference night, teachers average visits from 0 to 3 parents(usually parents of good students).
What the...
February 11th, 2012
8:04 am
Excuse the typos. The more I type, the more frustrated I become.
What the...
February 11th, 2012
8:15 am
By the way, I see the DA (must stand for Dumb A$$), or Solicitor, or whatever his meaninglesss title is has decided against full fledged investstigation of the school system. Surprise, surprise. Nearly two years ago they arrested and indicted the Dekalb School Superintedent and his cronies on corruption charges and they are yet to stand trial. And naturally this “dip” decicdes not to investigate! What is the deal with that? Just another example of pathetic goverenance in Dekalb.
ScienceTeacher671
February 11th, 2012
8:16 am
I think “What the..” has a good point. I was thinking the other day about George Washington Carver earning his education by working as a janitor and Abraham Lincoln studying alone by firelight, and wondering how many of our students now value education that much.
However, this is not a question with a simple answer. As you’ve stated, Maureen, there’s been a precipitous rise in single families, which contributes both to a rise in the poverty rate and frequently to a decrease in the amount of time available for child-rearing, if the single parent works.
Now school is mandatory and free, which devalues education to many students. When the alternative was working picking cotton, working in a factory, or doing other difficult, repetitive work, education was more likely to be seen as the key to a better life. I recall a former superintendent telling me that as a small boy he had to work picking cotton with his grandmother, and determined that he would find a way to escape that poverty. He ended up working his way through Berry College (does Berry still offer the work study program that was the key to a college education for so many of my parents’ generation?) and becoming a teacher, then principal, then superintendent. But he still remembered being that little boy, and he knew why he thought education was so important.
For some reason, many students now seem to think they are owed a good job, just as they are owed a free education, and I suspect that life after high school is a rude awakening. However, despite a 10% unemployment rate in Georgia, we still apparently have “jobs Americans won’t do” – at least according to our farmers and business leaders.
And if we in the education business are more worried about self-esteem than achievement, if we are more interested in whether they are “trying” than whether they are achieving, and if we’re more worried about passing them along than mastery of basic skills, we’re going to produce students who are very low, thus adding to the gap.
ScienceTeacher671
February 11th, 2012
8:19 am
And on the last parent-teacher night, about 5% of my students’ parents attended.
teacher&mom
February 11th, 2012
8:20 am
I would contend the achievement gap has been exacerbated by NCLB. Below is just one example of the foolishness NCLB has spawned:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/academic-walkthrough-teams-surreally-real/2012/02/10/gIQAyqo74Q_blog.html
nga4bama
February 11th, 2012
8:40 am
ScienceTeacher671, you make some valuable points. I totally agree that single parent households are part of the problem, but it does not have to be. The devaluation of education by parents for whatever reason, is hard to overcome by the student. Basically, why should they care when their parents don’t. (There are exceptions).
Both my sons are good students, my oldest had early acceptance at UGA and is doing well. He never had tutors or extra help to study for the SAT. But he is also self driven.
I was blessed to stay home with my children throughout their school years (my youngest is a junior this year in HS, and I only work part time). Both have always participated in extra curricular activities and are very active in our church’s youth ministry. And by the way, we are by no way rich.
Therefore, from my perspective, involvement from the parent and the emphasis on education in the family is a major driving force in how well a child succeeds in school. This can be done by a single family household. Yes, I understand it its harder (my mother raised my sister as a single parent, and my sister became a teacher).
Just my perspective.
redweather
February 11th, 2012
8:46 am
Promote academic achievement in the same way that athletic achievement is promoted and we might see some positive results despite the widening income gap.
I live in the Tucker High district and can’t help rolling my eyes everytime I look at the large billboard in from of the school promoting the football team. The list of corporate spnsors is impressive. But you won’t find a billboard promoting student achievement, or at lesat I haven’t seen one.
There is no reason why we can’t have winners in the classroom as well as on the football field, just as there is no reason why we can’t celebrate both in a big way.
AlreadySheared
February 11th, 2012
8:46 am
“One reason for the growing gap in achievement, researchers say, could be that wealthy parents invest more time and money than ever before in their children (in weekend sports, ballet, music lessons, math tutors, and in overall involvement in their children’s schools), while lower-income families, which are NOW MORE LIKELY THAN EVER TO BE HEADED BY A SINGLE PARENT, are increasingly stretched for time and resources. ”
I ADDED EMPHASIS to the above quote. I wonder if the “widening performance gap” now being observed is a direct function of the “widening married two-parents at home” gap between between higher and lower-level income household.
As an aside, this is reminiscent of an inadvertently hilarious story I once heard on National Public Radio (NPR). They were pondering the relative lack of children in the population of San Francisco. The possible causes they explored were the high cost of housing, scarcity of houses with yards for kids to play in, relative lack of parking, and the perceived low quality of the public schools. These were ALL of the factors NPR considered as possible causes of the strikingly low proportion of families with young children. Apparently, NOTHING ELSE cams to mind with respect to why comparatively fewer household would have children. IN THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
redweather
February 11th, 2012
8:47 am
that should read “in front of the school”
LisaK
February 11th, 2012
8:57 am
I was raised by a single mom in the 70’s and worked my way through high school and college because i was taught the value of education and hard work by my family. I now have a very comfortable life and am convinced that there are still plenty of opportunities for everyone to get a good education. If a family values education and talks about the things their kids can achieve by pursuing higher education, instead of promoting the lazy “entitlement” attitude, their kids will generally strive to learn and do better. I am a parent, not a teacher, and i fully blame poor parenting skills for this growing gap. It is cultural. Are there other issues in the schools that contribute? Absolutely! But this particular problem is a cultural attitude gap, not a gap in resources or potential!
catlady
February 11th, 2012
8:59 am
My system (4200) has less than 10 black kids. It is about 86% white, 13% Latino, 1% biracial. 75% or slightly more of the kids are on free lunch. We certainly see the economic gap clearly here, but our middle class kids don’t get the extra classes and tutoring you talk about–not available. Although being able to provide those kinds of things is nice, I am not sure, based on my experience, that it is what drives the disparity.
nga4bama
February 11th, 2012
9:19 am
catlady, I think we live in the same system. And I think it still makes my point that the emphasis on education by the parent is the most important factor. Our school system (teachers, etc. ) is under fire right now for putting out a “bad” education. Yet I see so many students from our system go on to excellent colleges and succeed. It doesn’t matter if you are rich, middle class, or poor; if education is not made an priority by the parent(s) it won’t be by the student. There are always exceptions, though.
Laurie
February 11th, 2012
9:24 am
From the same article:
“James J. Heckman, an economist at the University of Chicago, argues that parenting matters as much as, if not more than, income in forming a child’s cognitive ability and personality, particularly in the years before children start school.
“‘Early life conditions and how children are stimulated play a very important role,’ he said.
“Meredith Phillips, an associate professor of public policy and sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles, used survey data to show that affluent children spend 1,300 more hours than low-income children before age 6 in places other than their homes, their day care centers, or schools (anywhere from museums to shopping malls). By the time high-income children start school, they have spent about 400 hours more than poor children in literacy activities, she found.”
Anonmom
February 11th, 2012
9:46 am
I think much of it is cultural… read the “Tiger Mom” essay in the Wall Street Journal or her book (I haven’t read her book… still working on the Gatto book) — Jewish culture has always prized education as the way out of the ghetto (even in concentration camps and en route to gas chambers the Jews set up schools underground to educate children en route to their death) — here, education is mandatory, many folks don’t value it at all and don’t see it for what it can offer them. Girls get pregnant for reasons that they think will solve problems that they don’t really solve and then they don’t know how to raise the kids they bring into the world at young ages without fathers (but they get the federal “assistance”) and the family structures that were once there are now gone. Education used to be seen as a “way out” for more groups and now it is laughed at by many…. I don’t think you can “force” such things to change… it needs to be more internal –maybe a “carrot” and “stick” approach by removing some of the “incentives” for not doing what is needed to be self-supporting. Isn’t the quote “to teach how to fish” wherein we, as a society, now give away too many fish (my perspective at this point). The article seems to imply that that there may be something wrong with the “gap” between what the weathly provide and what the poor can’t provide…. you can’t ever “even” the gap … I grew up lower middle class and I wanted more… I wanted new clothes and extra lessons and travel. I worked my butt off to do well in school, to go to college and to go to grad school. I funded it all with student loans that I had to pay back — in full — and I did. I now earn enough to be part of the group that is considered “lucky” by our President such that I qualify for nothing for my own kids — but I spent most of my adult life paying it all back and raising my own kids so I saved very little for them or for retirement because of my own (and my husband’s student debt and our mortgage — we have a nice quality of life, not overboard but nice) — but we’ve paid for it all ourselved. Growing up lower middle class and middle class is a motivator to succeed. Society doesn’t owe everyone a “level field” — only a chance — the kid has to make the most of it themselves.
ssteacher
February 11th, 2012
9:52 am
Read Ruby Payne for the issues of poverty and how that affects achievement and motivation.
Read and listen to Diane Ravitch, et. al. for the single item that test score are consistent in identifying – SES conditions.
Being released from NCLB AYP measures will not reduce either the economic or “achievement” gap (which I believe is a misnomer). A score on a test is so far removed from achieving anything worth while in life. Test scores represent and “opportunity gap” both from the viewpoint of what has been made available to children before their test scores are reported (in life, not in class) and what they will be allowed to pursue after test scores are reported (our kids are given or denied opportunities based on the scores they receive).
With a lack of life-opportunity prior to their test scores (based on SES factors), and an opportunity “lock-out” after predictably low test scores, the gaps that matter will only widen. This is something those with opportunities are unable to see because of their opportunity blinders, and why corporatizing education will be a disaster.
What the...
February 11th, 2012
10:05 am
NPR is just another liberal sideshow. What would you expect?! They sidestep commonsense explanations.
AlreadySheared
February 11th, 2012
10:11 am
@LisaK,
I appreciate that your mom worked hard to raise you right, you did your best, and you achieved a good outcome.
However, considering the AVERAGE outcomes for children of single parent homes vs. children from married two-parent homes, I believe the statistics are fairly compelling in indicating that it’s BETTER for a child to be raised by a mom and a dad.
ON AVERAGE. OVER A LARGE POPULATION. I repeat, ON AVERAGE.
Dr. John Trotter
February 11th, 2012
10:13 am
Well, here we go again. Ha! “Researchers” thinking MACE’s thoughts after MACE. We have been saying since the inception of MACE (Est. 1995) that income is perhaps the most determinative factor in academic achievement because the students from well-off families have many more opportunities as well as the example of academic importance. If a kid does not perceive that he or she comes from a reading culture, then reading and other academic pursuits will not be important to him or her. These kids will not be motivated to learn, and the motivation to learn is the key factor in achieving in school, assuming that the academic capabilities are there. Most of the academic material that is served up to kids in the public schools is of the scope and nature that 80% to 90% of the students could master 80% to 90% of the material if the student only tried, if they only had the motivation to learn.
But, as we have also stated a number of times here and elsewhere, our educrats want to treat all failure to learn as technical breakdowns (instead of motivational breakdowns) and teaching inadequacies. The theory: the teachers are not teaching “hard enough” or the teachers just need more training. No, we need a better class of students — pun intended. Our students are not motivated to learn, and this often ties into the culture from which they come. A poor, impoverished culture (especially one dominated by illicit drugs and the concomitant crimes that come with the drugs) usually does not produce students who come to school “all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.” This is just a fact.
Until the teachers are freed up to use teaching strategies and tools of which they are confident will work in motivating these unmotivated students, then the achievement gap will remain. The academic doldrums will remain inexorably static, regardless of what idiotic program or plan that numbskulled educrats try to foist upon an unreceptive teaching corps, a teaching corps which knows that these stupid plans never work because they are not rooted in reality. They ignore crucial factors like income levels, cultural mores, peer pressure, and the cruciality (did just make up a word?) of motivation to learn.
I am glad that the rest of the educational community is finally seeing the stupidity of the plethora of mandated standardized tests (which became the curricula as well as the fundamental cause for the culture of cheating in our public schools), No Child Left Behind, and a host of other mindless mandates. School reform has never (yes, NEVER) worked on a nationwide basis, a statewide basis, or a system-wide basis. The famous Goodlad study concluded this back in the early 1980s (John Goodlad, A Place Called School). Diane Ravitch pointed this out in one of her tomes on school reform which came out nearly 15 years ago. But, our politicians and educrats keep trying to force “school reform” (of various flavors) upon an unreceptive teaching corps.
Teachers know what works. What works is this: A secure, confident, and open leader at each school who respects, esteems, and encourages the uniqueness, originality, and creativity of each teacher in his or her classroom. This leader facilitates the needs of the teachers and does not operate in a threatening mode – does not hover over the teachers, does not engage in stupid and silly snoopervision. A good leader praises the teachers and motivates the entire teaching staff with collegial and friendly collaboration. An esprit de corps develops among the faculty and staff. The esprit de corps spreads among the students. The students become fired up. This contagion and pride of learning becomes infectious, and all of this takes place without the Nazi-type threats from insecure and small-minded principals. © MACE, February 11, 2012.
http://www.theteachersadvocate.com
http://www.georgiateachersspeakout.com
Maureen, Where did your brother play college basketball? Just curious. My brother coached college basketball for a number of years.
skipper
February 11th, 2012
10:16 am
#anonmom,
You are right. Folks will be mad, etc. but you are exactly right. The sad part is that all sides no that in MOST cases even those opposed to your view know deep down inside that you are right!
East Cobb Parent
February 11th, 2012
10:22 am
I too think ScienceTeacher 671 made astute observations. I would add that both Duke TIP and John Hopkins Gifted & Talented programs offer scholarships to those without the means to pay. So do most of the sports programs – Rec soccer, baseball, softball – you name it.
Brandy
February 11th, 2012
10:24 am
I’d agree with many of the comments here, except single-parent head of household families are on the rise at all income levels. In fact, single parent by choice families are at an all time high. So, if it is just because single parents are the problem, then it stands to reason that the income gap would be decreasing or at least leveling out. It isn’t, so I think something more is going on.
I was raised by a single mother and graduated Cum Laude from college. My mother and her five siblings were more or less raised by a single mother (her father died young), all attended college and two hold advanced degrees. Whether you like him or not, Barrack Obama was primarily raised by a single mother and most people would have to admit that he has achieved some amount of success (even if you dislike or disagree with that success) in his life. I could go on and on.
Single mothers have existed throughout recorded history. In times past, there have actually been higher numbers of them than there are now, due to war or national tragedy. The world has yet to end because of their parenting and it (probably) won’t anytime soon.
Let’s get over this scapegoat and admit to the real culprit–socio-economic factors that include but also extend beyond the home.
Gavin S
February 11th, 2012
10:29 am
Anonmom
It is interesting that in many discussions concerning education the Jews and Asians are frequently singled out. What is not made a point of is that for these two groups learning and knowledge are lifelong pursuits and are an end in and of themselves. Success in the mundane measures is the attendant byproduct. In the mainstream culture we are focused on “what it will get you.” We have put the cart before the horse, and with it an estimation of human worth based on what we have and not what we know. So long as we continue that approach, we are doomed to a continuation of the class cleavage.
What the...
February 11th, 2012
10:29 am
I work in a school where academic and athletic performance routinely are substandard, yet I am unable to determine which students are socially and academically disadvantaged. Most of them seem to have the latest in electronic devices(they tease me because I donot tweet and I have an inexpensive cell phone), they wear the trendiest fashions, and many can afford to spend money on artificial hair and fake nails. Some can even afford to have children: something I cannot do on a teachers’ salary duing a recession. Ironically, 95% them recieve free or reduced lunch, which qualifies the school for another entitlement program/handout: Title 1. The other day I assigned a project the would require them to spend a dollar on a poster board and you would not believe the complaints. Give me a break. Give them some “skin in the game” and maybe the parents and the students will have some priorities.
Brandy
February 11th, 2012
10:30 am
On a totally different note…I can remember a time when lower income and lower middle class families could afford activities for their kids–through community recreation centers, YMCAs/YWCAs, CYA, Jewish Community Centers, and the like. These programs have been cut into near non-existence or complete non-existence. Let’s bring these kind of programs back! And make them affordable!
Tony
February 11th, 2012
10:44 am
Myriad variables converge on the effect noted in this report. With that in mind it is essential to point out one of the variables that has more to do with this effect than many want to admit.
Poor children are sent to schools where the curriculum has become so prescriptive and test driven that there is no depth to the learning. Teachers’ methods for teaching are also prescribed in many of these schools. Worksheets, drills, repetitive assignments, data walls, word walls with prescribed vocabulary, curriculum maps/calendars that are mandated, and many other narrow test-driven methods are in place. Principals are required to “inspect what they expect” and report back through electronic checklists (aka e-walks) so that teachers are compelled to follow the narrowly defined classroom methods. District offices review this data to make sure principals are policing the prescribed methods.
Whereas the wealthy districts and private schools have much more depth to their curricula. Students participate in engaging lessons. Many enjoy opportunities where students’ interests drive the lessons rather than the district mandated lesson plans. Private schools use assessment for its intended purpose rather than a means to punish schools and teachers.
AlreadySheared
February 11th, 2012
10:45 am
@Brandy: I repeat, ON AVERAGE.
You don’t have to look hard to find actual facts.
“Single parenting – the bad news
The darker side of the pros and cons facts about single parenting include the following negative trends within single parenting families;
◦According to the Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, 75% of children in chemical dependency hospitals hail from single-parent families.
◦The Children’s Defense Fund shows that over one half of all youths incarcerated for criminal acts lived in one-parent families as youths.
◦The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin – Investigative Aid reveals that 63% of suicides are individuals from single parent families.
◦75% of teenage pregnancies are adolescents according to ‘Children in need: Investment Strategies…Committee for Economic Development’
Disadvantages of single parenting include children having to suffer emotionally. As a result they may display lower self esteem and lean toward the behavioural problems as seen above. This is due to interaction time between parent and children. In order to gain the attention they seek and do not receive they act out until they do. When parents can be aware of these tendencies, they may be able to recognise what they need to do as opposed to reacting with anger to the child’s desire for emotional support.”
http://www.singleparentingfordummy.com/disadvantages_of_single_parenting.php
drew (former teacher)
February 11th, 2012
11:04 am
“Can schools try to even that playing field?”
Of course schools can try to even the playing field…that’s what schools do! Schools provide education, and the better your education (for the most part), the higher your income. Education is the surest way to increase your income. Sure, the rich have an advantage, they’ve simply got the resources to do more, and they always will. And they shouldn’t be shunned, criticized, or hated simply because they’ve done well for themselves. They simply made good choices and are reaping the benefits.
Let’s take our resident Dr. Proud Black Man. If his posts are to be believed, his income (and probably his education also) is much better than mine. But I don’t begrudge him a thing…he (or perhaps his parents) obviously valued education more than I did, and that’s why there is a gap between incomes. Had I chosen to pursue a doctorate degree perhaps I could close that gap, but I didn’t, and that’s why the gap exists. Choices —-> consequences.
And for the life of me, I cannot understand why so many people are obsessed with reducing these education and income gaps. Seriously…do these folks think everyone should have the same intelligence and the same income? Obviously Dr. PBM values education, and his income reflects that. In most cases, you get what you work for! Schools offer opportunities to rich and poor alike. ANYONE who truly WANTS (or perhaps I should say, VALUES) an education, can get it.
These “gaps”, whether in income or education, are the natural result of values and choices…those who value education and income, tend do what’s necessary to obtain them. Those who don’t, won’t. It’s as simple as that… always has been, always will be. Gap, smap…
William Casey
February 11th, 2012
11:08 am
One of the most important things his Mom and I did for our son while he was growing up was to play intricate intellectual games with him. This was not expensive, mostly board games. The key element was spending TIME with him. One of the things that amazed me while I was a teacher/coach administrator at Chattahoochee and Nortview was how little TIME many parents spent with their children. These were mostly well-to-do families. Kids respond to attention.
Chaos
February 11th, 2012
11:22 am
Generally speaking, higher income earners have attained higher educational achievements than do low income earners. Because they know the value of an education firsthand, they push their children to attain a good education more readily than those who do not know the value firsthand. Because of their education, they earn more money, have more resources, have higher vocabulary skills, know the value of reading, etc…Perhaps when enough low income earners figure out that income and education often go hand-in-hand, the achievement gap will narrow. It is extremely difficult for educators to make up the gap by themselves.
Miss Management
February 11th, 2012
11:31 am
The racial gap has closed? You’re kidding, right?
Some real stats: (from John Taylor Gatto, “Weapons of Mass Instruction”)
Start of WWII, 1942-44. 18 million tested in the pool of applicants, over 17.5 million were found to be literate (a 4th grade reading level). which was a 2% decline from the decade before
Korean War: dropped to 96%. V
ietnam: 1973 we had 27% illiterate members of the pool of applicants. (Only 73% literate.)
The literacy rate in 1940 was 96% for whites, 80% for blacks. Fast forward to the year 2000 – blacks were found to be 40% illiterate. (Whites 17% illiterate.) Even though education spending had grown by over 300%.
Even worse: The crime rates, death rates and imprisonment rates for blacks have increased exponentially.
Miss Management
February 11th, 2012
11:34 am
Posted on Sun, Jul. 31, 2011 in the Macon Telegraph
There was a time until the early 1960s when the terms to describe those of African decent, like me — African-American or Black or Afro-American — were almost unheard of. I remember a distinct conversation with a friend discussing descriptive terms for ourselves in 1963 or ’64. The term “black” was just coming into vogue and he didn’t like it one bit. “Call me a Negro,” he said, “but don’t call me black.”
Now, the word “Negro” (publications used a lower case “n”) has almost become a pejorative, so I was a little surprised when my pastor, the Rev. Willie Reid, used it during Thursday’s revival. “Back when we were Negroes,” he said, and listed several things that were different about black life in America back then.
That got me to thinking. Back when we were Negroes in the 1950s, “only 9 percent of black families with children were headed by a single parent,” according to “The Black Family: 40 Years of Lies” by Kay Hymowitz. “Black children had a 52 percent chance of living with both their biological parents until age 17. In 1959, “only 2 percent of black children were reared in households in which the mother never married.” But now that we’re African-Americans, according to Hymowitz, those odds of living with both parents had “dwindled to a mere 6 percent” by the mid-1980s. And check this, in Bibb County, more than 70 percent of the births in the African-American community are to single mothers.
Back when we were Negroes and still fighting in many parts of the country for the right to vote, we couldn’t wait for the polls to open. We knew our friends, family and acquaintances had died getting us the ballot. Dogs and fire hoses were used to keep us away and still we came. But now that we’re African-Americans, in a city of 47,000 registered — predominately black voters — more than 30,000 didn’t show up at the polls July 19.
Back when we were Negroes, we had names like Joshua, Aaron, Paul, Esther, Melba, Cynthia and Ida. Now that we are African Americans, our names are bastardized versions of alcohol from Chivas to Tequila to C(S)hardonney. And chances the names have an unusual spelling.
Back when we were Negroes, according to the Trust For America’s Health’s “F as in Fat,” report, “only four states had diabetes rates above 6 percent. … The hypertension rates in 37 states about 20 years ago were more than 20 percent.” Now that we’re African-Americans, that report shows, “every state has a hypertension rate of more than 20 percent, with nine more than 30 percent. Forty-three states have diabetes rates of more than 7 percent, and 32 have rates above 8 percent. Adult obesity rates for blacks topped 40 percent in 15 states, 35 percent in 35 states and 30 percent in 42 states and Washington, D.C.
Back when we were Negroes, the one-room church was the community center that everyone used. Now that we’re African-Americans, our churches have lavish — compared to back-in-the-day churches — community centers that usually sit empty because the last thing the new church wants to do is invite the community in.
Back when we were Negroes, we didn’t have to be convinced that education was the key that opened the lock of success, but now that we’re African-Americans, more than 50 percent of our children fail to graduate high school. In Bibb County last year, the system had a dropout rate of 53.4 percent.
Back when we were Negroes, the last thing a young woman wanted to look like was a harlot and a young man a thug, but now that we’re African-Americans, many of our young girls dress like hootchie mamas and our young boys imitate penitentiary custom and wear their pants below the butt line.
If I could reverse all of the above by trading the term “African-American” for “Negro,” what do you think I’d do?
Charles E. Richardson is The Telegraph’s editorial page editor. He can be reached at (478)744-4342.
Maxine
February 11th, 2012
11:45 am
@ Tony – I fully agree with you. The schools in the poor neighborhoods have a subpar curriculum in comparison to other schools. Even if there is a student who excels at the school in the poor neighborhood, if they should happen to go to college, they will likely be placed in developmental studies because the curriculum that they had at the school in their neighborhood never included the subject matter that they will encounter in college. Some find themselves too far behind to catch up, and end up dropping out of college.
Parents, regardless of income level, need to be actively involved in their child’s education. Something that I am noticing more and more is that the parents are too busy working trying to provide their kids with the latest and greatest “things” that they as children did not have, that they have no time left for their kids.
Midway
February 11th, 2012
11:51 am
“While we are closing the racial gap in achievement, the income gap is widening”
I kind of get a chuckle when I read columns like this, sniffing everywhere for the problem when its right under your nose. Living in DeKalb County for the past 12 years has been a real eyeopener. I have recently come to the conclusion that nothing is going to change, the situation here is pretty bleak.
You cannot expect positive results when the whole system is a chaotic mess. Ignoring the glaring issues here while chasing every excuse is not productive. The leadership in DeKalb guarantees failure, its the reality of the situation.
Anonmom
February 11th, 2012
12:36 pm
In thinking through everything — it doesn’t take much to be really successful financially — you need to know how to add, subtract, multiply and divide; you need to be able to read and write fluently in English (proper English — or maybe enough to get by as many immigrants do just fine); you need to be “financially literate” (run a check book (or it’s 2012 equivalent)) and credit cards with “finesse” to avoid problems (undertand compound interest and disclosure statements and due dates) and you need a work ethic wherein you are willing to work hard. You also need a strong, solid moral compass to do things, not break the law and to avoid “traps” and “pit falls” — You don’t really need college or grad school. There are plently of examples of those who don’t really need high school — problem is many of our high school drop outs don’t have the basic skills I started with. The “single parent” issues are different depending on whether the “single parent” situation is the result of “widowhood” or “divorce” or just getting pregnant as a teen or young 20something. I think, statistically, you’d find that distinction to bear itself out in how the single mom “parents” (or not) the child and the “support” coming from the ‘dad’ (or not). I had a very interesting conversation with a group of dozen 12th graders from my local DCSS school a few years back (these guys are now 20) about the 20-25 pregnant girls at the local (top) public high school — one had just returned, having had her baby. I asked my group of boys if the boy was paying her child support? They looked at me like deer in headlights and commented that the boy and girl were no longer on speaking terms. I commented that that wasn’t the point… the point was that if you had a baby, you needed to pay support for the baby, for 18 years…. they put up with this for about 10 minutes and then grabbed my sons (the 12 grader and 7th grader) and headed off to do something else. These are discussions that are not had…. I followed up with one of the other moms to see if her son reported back to her about our “chat” … he hadn’t… No one discusses these things.
Janet
February 11th, 2012
12:45 pm
As a stay at home parent in a solidly middle class family, I feel conflicted on this topic almost daily.
As a stay at home mom, I am a weekly volunteer at my kid’s school and room mom for both. I see the kids who’s parents work and can’t be there and then after a long day at school, they have to go to an aftercare programs. These kids crave attention. They hug me, want to hold my hand, and tell me their stories at lunchtime. It’s very sweet in some aspects, but very sad in others. I feel very blessed to be able to be there for my kids things and feel that they can see how much I care about their education because I participate.
I feel conflicted because as a stay at home mom, we made big sacrifices. It’s getting increasingly more difficult to provide the types of experiences I want them to have as they grow. My kids (ages 4 and 6) do soccer, gymnastics and karate and have season passes to the Aquarium and Atlanta Center for Puppetry Arts. But my daughter wants giutar lessons for her 7th birthday present. We can’t really afford it. We are stretching the budget for what we have. God forbid that either of them would need a tutor. So I am faced with the question of Do I go back to work at 60k a year to afford these things. Is it worth it? Is the music lessons, tutors, specialized sports camps etc worth it? When they were babies, I felt like being at home was best, but now they are growing and their interests are expanding and I want to encourage that, but am very very conflicted.
When I see these stories about widening income gaps (lack of music lessons, tutors etc) being a major factor is a child’s chances for a successful life, I feel like I made the wrong choice. I used to think having a full parental guidance was most important, but not so sure now. Does money matter more?
I
MiltonMan
February 11th, 2012
1:14 pm
Why does everything have to be “fair”:
“And it pays off it higher achievement, but it creates an uneven playing field for the kids who can’t afford math tutoring and Duke TIP camps.”
I am getting fed-up with this “evil rich” garbage. You want a good education: study your rear-end off!
ScienceTeacher671
February 11th, 2012
1:28 pm
teacher&mom, I concur with the walk-through foolishness. I find it very ironic that we are supposed to “differentiate” ad infinitum for students’ different abilities and “learning styles” but apparently all teachers and classrooms should be pressed from the exact same mold.
tony
February 11th, 2012
1:34 pm
Enter your comments here
Oh My!!
February 11th, 2012
1:35 pm
some of you have hit on it. education is a matter of values in ones household plain and simple. you can take a kid from an asian culture put a parachute on him or her and drop them in any school system in any part of the USA and within a couple of tests, they will be either number one or two in their class. why? it’s the culture. go to any Kumon around town on a Tuesday and Saturday and you will find by in large asian and african kids getting the extra tutoring. why? it’s where their families place value.
tony
February 11th, 2012
1:44 pm
the whole idea of closing the gap has destroyed public schools in this country!! instead of lifting up black schools and helping black kids to learn the black politicians and black school board members have decided the easier way would be to bring down successful white schools by forced busing and forced integration through chaning school boundry lines. that way the white school wont be as successful and ” everyone will be equal ‘!! well how has that worked for everyone ???? now there are fewer and fewer successful public schools in this state and the private school industry is BOOMING !!! nice neigborhoods have been destroyed because the once nice school district has been infested by less qualified kids with parents who dont care if they learn or how their childrens behave!!! now the only nice public schools are in north fulton and well north of the metro area !! gee i wonder why??? another situation the idea of closing the gap has created ….. white flight!! now the best families and the best students and the tax base has moved out of the city and you wonder why the city of atlanta is gettiig worse and worse every year. the whole idea of forcing things to be equal is not AMERICAN!! AMERICA IS ABOUT FREEEDOM not everything is equal. if you want equal move to a socialist country!!
Anonmom
February 11th, 2012
1:55 pm
Gatto makes the point in his book “Weopons of Mass Instruction” that the way our public schools have worked it over the past 50-75 years, has forced the dual income households such that we can have the same (or less purchasing power) for the 2 incomes as the population had for a single income when we started and we had families back in the days of “the Beaver” and mom stayed home (I have a grad degree and work — from home since I had my 3rd child and for myself so we’ve been doing a delecate dance for 15 years) — As I’ve said, I’m not sure he’s right but it’s interesting to think about.
Ueeediot
February 11th, 2012
1:55 pm
Most people avoid opportunities because a lot of time opportunity wears coveralls and looks like work.
Winnie
February 11th, 2012
2:00 pm
Why exactly do we feel compelled to “close” all the gaps? When did gap closing become the responsiblity of the government or of the school? How much more of our liberty are we prepared to give up because someone discovered a new gap? Billions of dollars from now, we wil still have the same gap, but we will be less free and our government will be bigger and even less responsive.
tony
February 11th, 2012
2:03 pm
the school board could attribute $18,000.00 per student in south dekalb and it would not help. while in turn the budget for a school in north fulton could allocate $11,000.00 per student and the kids in north fulton would thrive!! this is not a money issue but politicians like to throw money at problems thinking that it will fix them.
Ueeediot
February 11th, 2012
2:03 pm
Closing the gap would require actually teaching students. This conflicts directly with the time honored pass time of sitting around in classrooms talking about what we all think and how that makes us feel.
Shakeesh
February 11th, 2012
2:05 pm
The income gap in our learning is a reflection not a cause. The underlying issue is a moral gap and a values gap. Statistically, much of our societies problems would be drastically reduced if we followed the seventh commandment.