FNED 502 Social Issues of Education

May 24th, 2018

What "Counts" as Educational Policy? Notes toward a New Paradigm by Jean Anyon

 

In her article Jean Anyon argues that many of the urban school reforms that were employed many years ago failed tremendously for many of our students. The policies simply do not look at and tackle the main trouble that is affecting many communities, school Districts in the US (poverty).

 

All federal and state educational policies created and adopted sinc1900s to now, may seemed to be a positive thing for our students. These reforms have done more harm than good simply, because they did not and still do not address the big issue here, poverty. The article mentions how Milwaukee tries to tackle poverty. A new in the city. The reform was created and implemented in the city to help low income families succeed. These low-income families received supplemental support and health care in order to alleviate their burden. Other families were able to take care of their family, their bills and other expenses. Many of the families felt confident and motivation to change their lives changed. Working families got jobs and received better wage.  School-aged children’s grades improved. Overall Many Milwaukee families now saw the light at the end of the tunnel, if you will. New hope was in the horizon.

 

Unfortunately many of our government representation do not care or do not believe that educational success is something that can be attained (especially, in low income inner city neighborhoods). Allocating funds to create and implement programs that will certainly help families improving the lives is not their priority. The articles talks about how the government wants to privatize education/schools supposedly to improve our education system. My point of view is that this is not an option to solve the issue.  Until funds are fairly and adequately allocated, we will continue to see how equal and equitable education for all students will only benefit the children of wealthy families and not the children of poor families.