OCR Text |
Show Schools Under Attack by e and Parents Minority Low-incom- (The following article the result of two letters sent to the editor of the Model attitudes are handed down to Neighborhood News regarding their children thus establishing a negative attitude of the school throughout the community. Biased, standardized tests result in a poor performance by a child of a different cultural background, labeling him as a student who is "not educable, has a low I.Q. or is not reading on the treatment of low-incom- e students and minority students in the Salt Lake City School district. Visits were made to many schools, discussions were held with teachers, counselors and parents as well as with students. Some of the complaints and suggestions for improvement grade which came out of this research are printed below. This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of Model Cities or the Joint Board of Commissioners but simply highlights the problems and attitudes found in the community. Opposing views are welcome and can be mailed to the editor. Model Neighborhood E. 21st 119 News, South, Salt Lake City, Utah 841 1 5.) by Marlene Marie Young The school system has failed to realize itself as a public service institution and has instead mode. adopted The system has failed most dramatically in educating poor children. The child's inherent a m variety of reasons and this further complicates the problem. Their is bureaucratic strengths and values are immediately rejected as undesireable. This is the result of normally middle class teachers imposing their expectations on children who possess different life styles. The middle class board of education further requests that the teacher project middle class aspirations, character and skills on the students. When the student cannot accept these conflicting values, he either stops participating in class or drops out of school altogether.These are some of the comments expressed by e and minority parents of in students a survey undertaken low-incom- by the Model Neighborhood News. level." They WHAT CAN YOU DO? Get involved "non-Mormon- as more minority teachers, Educators must change. Schools must produce programs which relate to the background of the child. Teachers and other personnel must be trained to relate more effectively to poor children. responsibility for helping the child find his place in the world, and that all elements of society need to direct their energies in a cooperative effort to achieve this a objective. components The various - social medical, service, educational, nutritional, psychological, parental involvement - are designated avenues through which society would carry out its responsibilities." Play is themedium inwhich children begin to express educating of their children. rt h ess. Their program utilizes parent subsequent "I don't care" and "I hate school" attitude is tagged by the school as rebellious nature, a participation, community signals the direction in which future educational programs must go if they are to contribute postively toward a child's growth and development. lack of i n self-discipli- and improper parental guidence. Poor parents are often reluctant to become involved with the school system for a administrative salaries and other administrative costs. Ask the school board why money is not being spent on special programs for minority and poor children or for developing parental involvement in the educational process. Demand that all A most massive attempt to formulate a comprehensive low-incom- volunteers and professional educators to develop social skills, better nutritional and health standards and encourage early learning habits. The general philosophy of Head Start is that: "All elements of society bear children be given free federally supported hot lunches (which is the law), that book rental fees, shop fees, locker fees and other school expenses be e waivered in the case of students. There are countless ways to work toward a good educational experience for all children, but we cannot sit back and wait for someone else to start the action. low-incom- Our white middle-clas- s people cannot speak for the different minority groups, integrated textbooks and intensive coverage of black and Chicano history would help eliminate ignorance of various ethnic cultures. A complete absence of church and religion in the classroom would stop alienating non-Mormo- n students. educational approach to a child e from a family. This wo building new schools, Photos by Roger Taylor more realistic curriculum responding to such basic elements as health, welfare, housing and hunger would better suit a poor child than teaching abstract facts. The Head Start program is the u n integrated and that all children are taught the history of various ethnic cultures. WORK toward eliminating standard tests written for white middle-clas- s children. Make an issue of cases of discrimination and prejudice. Find out how much money is being spent on e low-incom- There is also a tendency for teachers to be more attracted to students who are more like themselves. Children who are clean, well dressed and well behaved are readily accepted by school personnel. This attitude is evident immediately to children who do not fit this "nice mold, giving them a feeling of insecurity arid counselors and teacher aides. Demand that textbooks be as community. These facts make it apparent that the school itself is the source of much of a child's failure. Schools are apparently ignorant of the best way to educate poor and minority children. If schools are to contribute as public institutions, they must immediately assume a more active and responsible role in the total development of every child. . Question programs and of the school system. policies Vote for minority representation on school boards. Petition for students in the " demand a all feel well - voice in your child's school inadequate and "dumb". Order and discipline are used to rationalize authority on the part of the school administration. This succeeds in keeping children from being curious, independent involvement and meeting and creative. One parent tells how Head Start utilizes parental of families in its successful program. her kindergarten son was critized social needs for being "too quiet, he doesn't contribute to his class, too shy." In first grade, he began to blossom, with an imaginative and questioning mind. His happy mother was soon called to school and admonishedfor not teaching her child to "shut up and listen." One teacher seeks creativeness while another demands quiet attentiveness. There are countless stories of prejudice on the part of teachers and administrators against black, Chicano, Indian and Oriental children education from it, it is somewhat of a miracle . . and if the child is poor or a minority, the odds are reduced drastically. themselves and learn. The Head Start program uses playing as varied learning process. a In group of minority students from the University of Utah are A volunteering their time to counsel, tutor and "rap" with other minority students in local high schools. This is a positive step toward solving the problems such students have in our present addition, the program encourages school system. teachers to develop close, warm relationships with their students. Parents are trained so they can group of minority parents at local high school are forming their own organization to help minority students .obviously, participate actively in the This pre-scho- ol project Minority representation on school boards, in the classroom, in administrative positions must be brought about in our community. A a because the structured, PTA has done nothing notable in the area of counseling establishing for minorities and the poor. Our public school system has middle-clas- s become a gigantic web of misunderstanding, lack of communication, apathy, discrimination and bureaucratic idealogies. if a child gets an Another way to get involved Join the Education Task Force. Call 467-941- 6 for information. Ask for Barbara. |