Motivation

After last week's discussion, I have been thinking more critically about how the school to prison pipeline effects not only the youth, but the whole community in the future. Watching the "Explaining the Inequalities in Education in Chicago" video clip stated some facts I already knew about education, but others I found very surprising. For example, the fact that only 17% of 8th graders in Chicago public schools (CPS) can read proficiently and only 15% do math proficiently is surprising. Those two subjects are used in various ways throughout a person's life and are imperative for success. The single most astounding fact in the video was that law makers can determine the number of prison beds they will need based on 3rd grade literacy rates. This completely shocked me when I first heard it, but after watching it a second time it made me angry and start to question law makers. The main question is, if they can determine this by 3rd grade literacy rates, why do they not do anything to change the education system instead of ordering more prison beds? Are they that blind to the cycle of poverty and the school to prison pipeline?

I thought the video/poem "Louder Than a Bomb: High School Training Ground" was deep and powerful, especially because it comes from a student rather than an observer. His description of the school, the halls, and the lack of respect for janitors paints the picture of what it is like to be there in his position. He parallels high school to Chicago "diverse and segregated on purpose." He argues that the failing schools are just preparing young people for a future that mimics the problems and contradictions of society as a whole. I believe that this may be the case, and that it is more of a cycle, similar to the funding of schools based on their attendance rates. The more the school mimics the problems of society, the more youth are just going to accept and continue the problems or contradictions, rather than try to change them.

Here is the clip:

I think that the public education system is failing the students by not taking into account either the students or the teachers' points of view. These are imperative for the system to understand both sides. I also think the system is failing them by looking at statistics and worrying about improving individual schools rather than the system as a whole. Going back to what was mentioned in our discussion on Friday, if a CPS teacher is performing poorly they are just transferred to another CPS school and a teacher in a similar situation is moved into their position. This challenge was one that surprised me, especially because I am not from Chicago. The teachers themselves are underpaid and have numerous outside pressures to have high grade scores.

After watching the video "How Bad Do You Want It?" I realized how much determination it takes to be successful. I never thought that much about how much dedication it takes to attain something, especially a degree. My source of motivation would have to be my family and friends. Neither my parents or grandparents ever went to college, and only a few of my aunts or uncles ever did. They all want an even better life for me than they had. They make sure to congratulate me if I make the honor roll and support me in any activity I am in; my grandparents would try to come watch as many of my tennis matches as they could. My friends are another source of motivation. We push each other to be the best we can. We study together and edit each others' papers. I am also motivated by my desire to travel and learn about other cultures, especially in order to do humanitarian work. Ever since I was little I have wanted to travel and work with the environment or people. My motivators and motivation keeps me working hard towards my goals.


 I am excited and nervous to meet the students from Amundsen High School. I am hoping that we help them see what college is like and how the experience will prepare them for the real world. I want them to understand that the college experience is fun but important. I hope this experience is fun for them.