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Soc 101
Savage Inequalities
Irl Solomon is a teacher who has taught urban schools for almost thirty years and his
class is always described by journalists. Solomon's history class contained four females that just
had babies and when asked why it happens, they get the response that there isn't a reason not to
have a baby since there's not much growth from public school or life after public school. The
school doesn't provide much opportunity for the children because they can't afford to. They lose
teachers left and right and don't have the numbers to prove a success rate. Most don't achieve a
higher education and some join the military. The children in Solomon's class are extremely
skeptical, but very aware of the outcomes of life. These kids have gone through many difficult
times. This class filled with seventh grade students don't feel like first class citizens, but second
class citizens with no future ahead of them. Questions about civil rights campaigns and such
bring about a different perspective. For example, when asked about the civil rights campaigns, a
girl states that they learn about Martin Luther King Jr. 's speech every year, however it seems
ironic to have named a segregated school after someone who fought for equal rights. The correct
term would be "separate but equal" however that was not true. The students of East St. Louis
received an education that shouldn't even be called an education and went to schools that were
worse than prisons. How are we suppose to expect the growth of this country when students
aren't getting the proper education they need to succeed and grow in life?
Jennifer is a student that moved from Bronx, New York to Rye, New York because the
school system was terrible. She provides the argument that because she's lived in Bronx and
went to school there, she sees no reason to provide funding to their school system because it
doesn't provide her with more opportunities or gains. Taxes are paid to help out the places live so
those places can go grow and prosper, although Jennifer believes that the taxes people pay
should only help out the community in which wants it. But who's to say that kids in the Bronx
don't want it? People want the things that will benefit them, if there's no benefit the idea doesn't
seem appealing- that's exactly how Jennifer views the schooling system. If someone wants to
benefit, then they will do so, but I think she forgets that for most of these kids want a good life,
they just don't know how to achieve it coming from the places they are. Jennifer's parents had the
means to get out of the Bronx and move to a place that would benefit her more and create more
opportunities, however not many of those kids have the same means. That is how they get stuck
in a life they do not want to live but end up in- the reason why Irl Solomon's history class is so
skeptical of the world. They've seen and been through things other people haven't and even if
they want a way out, they don't know how to get one with their education system. Providing
money to fix up these schools, add teachers, get students a better place and an encouraging place
will not only benefit Jennifer, it will benefit the students that will be able to come out of these
communities.
East St. Louis is extremely different from Rye. East St. Louis struggles with a sewage
problem, teacher storage, no funds, no money to run the city in general. The city lost its city hall,
and the city was being mortgaged. The place was so run down. Students didn't know what time
school started and when it ended, they didn't even know what grade they might be in. The
science labs are outdated and the students are and the students unmotivated to learn. In Rye, the
principal was relaxed and showed off his well built school. There were student lounged, carpeted
floors, have a good amount of teachers that teach a number of subjects including Latin. The
school provides AP courses and the students are ready to participate in school events and such.
But the overall view for poor children going to school was "how would it benefit me or us?"
The schooling system has changed a lot throughout my years in school. You see more
racial integration, more poor kids coming out on top even though you'll always find a few that
don't see their life changing so they don't do the work, there are more opportunities. But I think
something I notice now is that, it's not about the kids and their education anymore, it's more
about the school ratings and how to get more funds for schools- which is very disappointing. I
tutor children outside of my academic life, and these kids in 7th and 8th grade struggle with
adding and subtracting. In my time, when I was in that grade knowing how to add and subtract
was must or you'd be seen as dumb- someone that doesn't belong. But now, we're passing these
kids into higher grades when they can't perform the basics of mathematics and calling them "our
future"? seems like a scary future. In some places the system has changed, but in communities
like East St. Louis, they still struggle, however you see more kids motivated to get out of that life