Educational Injustices

After reading the article, "Locating the School-To-Prison Pipeline", I have learned in greater detail the educational injustices in schools. I had the privilege to be able to attend private schools, so I had limited knowledge on this subject before reading this article. I knew some about the zero-tolerance policies and Acts such as No Child Left Behind, but while reading, I was shocked at the number of ways schools marginalized already at risk youth. Zero tolerance policy is when schools will give strict punishments without regards on individual circumstances. Some of the circumstances for children being expelled under the zero tolerance policy are reddiculous; bringing scissors for an art project and giving Midol to a classmate are just a few of these examples. The amount of arrests at schools are now even more numerous, especially with the increase in police as enforcers of school policies. The biggest problem, which is the one I know the most about, is the "high-stakes" testing. This is where teachers and schools are pressured to reach cirtain scores on standardized tests, so they have "an incentive to push out low-performing students" in order to keep up or improve their overall test scores. This is the most abbhorent to me because these are laws coming from the government to condone such acts. Another statistic that I found suprising and upsetting was the amount of children with disabilities in jail are four times as many than ones in school. After I was finished reading I felt very angry at the lack of justice in our education system. America should have one of the best education systems in the world, not one where children have to struggle, even against the government, to stay in school.


The video we watched, entitled "Black Males, Black Dreams", was a personal and serious, but positive video on the specific struggles of African American males to finish school. It told the story of one black male who struggled to finish school, at one point was homeless, but finished school and became a teacher. Some people interviewed were the key adults in his life who pushed him to try his best academically; his last foster parents, and a high school teacher were the three most important people that kept him on track. Like one person said in the video, "it is not the depth of your condition that determines your destiny, it is your desire and willingness to be successful." I believe this accurately sums up the video. The man should be a positive example for black male students struggling to finish school. As for public figures, I think Obama could be considered one of the biggest modern day role models for African American males trying to complete higher education.

As a STARS leader I hope to talk to students about these inequalities. I wish to listen to their points of view on the topic, to hear a different perspective. I will support them in their struggles against educational inequalities. I will practice servant leadership by encouraging their personal growth, listening to them, and being aware of the current struggles in the education system.

By working with the students throught the empowerment pipeline, I will learn to develop my servent leadership skills. I will develop my listening, healing, and commitment to the growth of people on an even deeper level through my interactions with the students. I can show them what it means to be a college student, encourage them to persue their passions, and challenge them to do their best work.

I am excited and a little nervous to meet the students from Tilden on Friday. I am excited to share my experiences and what college is like with them. I believe the student panel will be beneficial to the students to better understand college life. I am interested to see what questions they will ask and how they will respond to our responses. One-on-ones may be more beneficial if they have specific questions pertaining more to one of us, or if they are quieter. I am looking forward to meeting the students on Friday!