I'm currently taking a class called Education and Society, and in that class we analyze and discuss the various perceptions of education in society (go figure- the title says it all!). Last week, we discussed the social foundations of education: race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and class, for example. Educational institutions are mandated to educate all types of students from many different backgrounds. Despite this, research suggests that there is educational inequity when it comes class. Simply put, not all students are motivated to learn, and often times that lack of motivation is associated with the lower class. It has been proven that teachers teach much differently to the lower class students than they do the upper class students. For the lower class students, teachers aren't explaining the significance behind what they are learning, nor are they having them think critically and create; rather, teachers have them sit quietly at their seats, write directions on the board, and have them fill out a simple worksheet. On the other hand, the upper class students are taught in the opposite manner; they are the ones that receive thorough explanations on what they are doing and why- how it applies to their lives- and they are permitted to work in small groups to discuss and create.
My question is, do you think this is accurate? Mind you, this was one study that was done. The data came from various school districts ranging from lower class, rural and upper class, private schools.
Since we were discussing equity that week, we were given a picture to analyze for fairness. What is "fairness" in education? Are the hypothetical students in the pictures being treated fairly so that they can all succeed? If you look closely, the box in picture 2 appears to have been taken away from the taller person and and given to the shorter person..... What is your take on that? Is it fair?
Laura, this is an interesting post! I took this class last semester but it sounds like I had a different instructor. I think there is some validity to this argument and there needs to be change. All students should be taught in the same manner and with the same enthusiasm. It seems as though lower class students may be behind- possibly because of the way they are being taught or not taught? Though the material being presented may not be the same I think the delivery should be. Additionally, I often wonder if struggling schools in lower class communities have a hard time hiring and maintaining the right kind of staff. These are all factors that continually alter our learning communities.
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