Wow!! I completely disagree that our tax dollars are being wasted in school districts that serve children of color! Teachers in these districts spend long hours trying to make a difference in these children's lives! Research demonstrates that children in poverty stricken areas do not achieve, as a whole, as well as children in more affluent areas. Achievement gap does not "place the blame" on families, it is just a term used to describe the discrepancy. If anything is to blame, it is all of the resources that children raised in poverty do not have access to; like books at home, stay-at-home-parents, availability of nutritious food, a stable/ safe place to live; not to mention their increased exposure lead and other unhealthy environmental issues. Trauma is also a factor in these children's lives and the significant changes in the brain as a result. It is insulting to say that tax dollars are wasted on these districts that are trying so diligently to help the children that they serve. Perhaps others who have responded to this thread should pay more attention to research and less attention to pundits, etcetera who spend their time bashing teachers and their efforts.
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Sandra Ryan
Bay Village OH
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-17-2018 03:59 AM
From: Tauheedah Karim
Subject: Achievement Gap
Amen, our taxes are consistently wasted in school districts that serve children of color. Many of us believe social engineering or institutional racism is directly linked to school failure. Discriminatory practices is not a new phenomenon it is as old as time. Unfortunately , we still have not sat at the planning table and asked each other the hard questions such as, "Why do children of color continue to receive an inferior education in America and why do we as educators continue to allow children to attend fictitious buildings posing as schools..?
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Tauheedah Karim
Los Angeles CA
Original Message:
Sent: 08-16-2018 04:17 PM
From: Margaret Thomas
Subject: Achievement Gap
It seems crazy that we are paying for 12 years or more of public schools for our young people but don't have the right to assume that those dollars will result in basic literacy and math skills. How do we hold schools accountable for teaching all of our children not just warehousing them? At this point do we call it an achievement gap (which gives the impression that is a deficit in children and families) or a teaching gap (which reminds us that as teachers we get to figure out how to make school work for every child)
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[Meg] [Thomas]
[Early childhood consultant
[St Paul ] [MN]
Original Message:
Sent: 08-16-2018 09:18 AM
From: Nora Krieger
Subject: Achievement Gap
Great article but the issue of the achievement gap does deeper than money and textbooks, although they are a necessary ingredient.
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Nora Krieger
Associate Professor Emerita/ Chair NJEEPRE
Bloomfield College/ New Jersey Educators Exploring the Practices of Reggio Emilia
Highland Park NJ
Original Message:
Sent: 08-14-2018 08:27 PM
From: Jerlean Daniel
Subject: Achievement Gap
Check out the article in today's Washington Post (8/14/18) that raises basic societal issues impacting everyone when children do not receive a proper, substantial education. The URL is https://wapo.st/2P3tg7M?tid=ss_mail&utm_term=.2938816ea83d
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Jerlean Daniel
Co-Chair NAEYC Black Caucus
Stoney Beach MD
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