https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articl...38818.html

Good discussion on racial gaps in education. Basic point-nothing has changed for Blacks in 30 years. We are working on the wrong problems. Affirmative action hurts more than it helps.

Article suggests working on better parenting, housing integration, end to racial preferences in admissions and various ways to improve schools.

I don't agree with all of the solutions. Pre-school has been shown to have limited to no long term effects even when done well (which is rare). But the article once again, shows that America tends to find problems to fit solutions instead of trying to solve actual problems (see health insurance being viewed as the problem instead of the cost of health care).

Charles Murray has been summarily crucified for merely pointing out the data on racial IQ disparities. Until we're willing to look at the data seriously we can't even begin to come up with a solution.

Based on the whole.

A student from a middle income family or advantaged birth learn at 1.43 times the disadvantaged student. (identified on free or reduced lunches)
A teacher who actively employs Literacy Strategies. (Kids who have been identified as poor readers and strategies on best practices for literacy engaged) learn at 1.53
Tests that ask for application of knowledge. 1.63 Teachers employ strategies that are tied to RiGOR and RELEVANCE' Ask questions like Justify, Exploring Multiple solution paths. ie. Highly trained teachers.

Student Teacher relationship- 1.8 This was the most important thing to me. If the kid enjoys the teacher. The student teacher relationship is THE MOST important factor. If the kid enjoys the class and respects the teacher they are going to have more growth than any other factor. It's the most important thing.


This is from a powerpoint slide at a professional development class I had on Rigor/Relevance. If the student doesn't see the relevance in what you are teaching they will not retain it.

#MSC2018 International Center for Leadership in Education.

If we went just on merit. The IVY League schools incoming classes would be mostly Asian. We had a girl from our school. 35 ACT. 3 sport athlete. 4.0. She applied to Harvard and Yale. Asian. No chance.

(12-07-2018 08:29 AM)Machiavelli Wrote:  If we went just on merit. The IVY League schools incoming classes would be mostly Asian. We had a girl from our school. 35 ACT. 3 sport athlete. 4.0. She applied to Harvard and Yale. Asian. No chance.

That's a problem isn't it? It's selling the future of the world short for the sake of artificial diversity .... more or less social vanity.

The point I am trying to make it's not about race. It's socio economic status.

That by far is more important than race.

(12-07-2018 12:44 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  The point I am trying to make it's not about race. It's socio economic status.

That by far is more important than race.

Yep. I tell my students that I'm the most privileged person in the world. Not because I'm a white male, but because I had two parents who loved me, were highly skilled, and taught me their skills.

How can we expect someone who can't get their own act together to teach their kids how to behave? In the old days when communities were economically diverse, kids could look to their friends' parents who were doctors or engineers as role models. Today, most school districts are strictly stratified by income. Poor kids can't find a positive role model because they rarely see one.

One thing I am finding with my kids in high school is there are a lot of assumptions that they understand a lot of history and what is going on politically now. That is a detriment to poor kids or apolitical kids.