Innovative Learning Blog
The book, The Flat World and Education, has many statistics about education that would leave a person feeling deflated. They represent issues in our education system that need to be addressed in order for teachers to prepare students for the 21st century skills and citizenship needed to succeed in a 21st Century global environment. Some of those statistics spoke to me more than others.
On page 17, it states that "America's Ph.D programs is now dominated by graduates of Chinese universities...", which is just a snippet of reality in terms of the inequality of education among different races not only in our country but in the entire world. Statistics should always be viewed with a grain of salt for they are so easily skewed by the author's intent. However, the overwhelming stats point in the direction that there is clearly a gap between academic achievement among the different ethnic groups that make up society. The solution to this problem is not an easy one to solve because without looking at each individual student through a holistic lense and without viewing all the macro and micro causes that effect a student's performance, we will always be riding the hamster wheel of educational gaps that seem to be gaining instead of progressing or sustaining. I take solace that I am a teacher, and even if I wasn't, there would be other teachers, such as cohort 11, that are inspired, determined, and willing to make the sacrifices necessary to ensure that the future generation does not get stuck on the hamster wheel. Teacher's are of the micro causes that effect a student's performance that can have a macro effect. It's a tough burden to take on. The pay is generally not that great, but the intrinsic rewards can be gratifying and often outweigh the burdens, stress, bureaucracy, and politics that can cause a teacher to burn out. I am honored to be part of Cohort 11-Learners who are Innovating!
1 Comment
9/18/2016 02:16:49 pm
I thought your response was very interesting. I felt the same way about the achievement gap issue with ethnic groups. There is no easy answer. You also opened my eyes to remind me that statistics may not always be accurate. I think the general population tends to never really question statistical findings in textbooks. Usually information is taken at face value. I think the problem of achievement gap with ethnic groups and disadvantaged schools still needs to be addressed continually at the political levels first. There needs to be more of a driving force of support from the masses to lobby for change in the higher levels before real change takes place.
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AuthorMy name is Joe Hall. I am an elementary bilingual teacher in Napa, CA. Archives
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