A question of race and education?

Question

I'm trying to write a paper about race and education in America. I don't understand why African-Americans score below whites in standardized tests. Does anyone have any ideas? (Please no "blacks arn't as smart" or "biased tests", i'm hoping for a perspective that's orginial and NOT racist.

Answer 1

I'M BLACK AND WENT TO SCHOOL IN AN URBAN AREA. I WAS AN "A" STUDENT IN EVERY GRADE. I GRADUATED FOURTH IN MY CLASS. ALOT OF THINGS I LEARNED WAS FROM AN ALL "WHITE " SCHOOL DURING MY SATURDAY CLASSES THERE.

THE "URBAN" SCHOOLS WEREN'T TEACHING ME THOSE THINGS. I GUESS YOU CAN SAY IT'S THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS THAT ARE DIFFERENT. IN SOME OF MY CLASSES I HAD TO SHARE A BOOK BECAUSE THER WEREN'T ENOUGH BOOKS FOR THE ENTIRE CLASS. THE CLASSES ARE OVER-CROWDED. SOMETIMES THE TEACHERS DIDN'T EVEN TEACH THE CLASS; WE WATCHED MOVIES EVERYDAY. WHEN IT CAME TIME TO TAKE THE STATE TEST, WE WERE VERY UNPREPARED.

THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO MY SATURDAY CLASS, IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME. I FELT THOSE KIDS WERE SO MUCH SMARTER THAN ME CONSIDERING MY GPA. I STUCK WITH IT EVERY YEAR FOR 4 YEARS AND IT HELPED ME OUT ALOT. I FOUND THAT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM TO BE MUCH MORE EDUCATIONAL. THE TEACHERS ACTUALLY TAUGHT THE CLASSES. THEY HELPED THE STUDENTS WHEN THEY NEEDED IT. YOU DON'T GET THAT OFTEN IN AN URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICT.

TO SUM IT ALL UP, IT IS THE ENVIRONMENT. PROPER FUNDING WAS NOT GIVEN TO MY SCHOOLS. THEREFORE THE STUDENTS AREN'T ABLE TO PASS THE STATE TESTS. MANY OF THEM TRY VERY HARD, BUT BECAUSE THE TEACHERS AREN'T PREPARING THEM, THEY DON'T DO VERY WELL.

AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING BIAS OR RACIST. I THINK THIS IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION TO ASK SO THAT WE CAN FIND THE ROOT OF A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO ADD IS THAT I DID NOT GROW UP POOR. MY MOM HAD A GREAT CAREER AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT TOO MUCH. I DIDN'T LIVE IN A POOR AREA. SO I WOULDN'T SAY POVERTY IS THE REASON WHY I WASN'T PROPERLY FOR MY TESTS.

Answer 2

Well there is no short answer to this question. It has been more than 400 years in the making and here we are. From the stand point of why, it's tricky. There are a number of factors, Blacks tend to go to schools where the funding is low, the teachers are worse, the support for the system is limited, they are low income families, many of which are not complete with the father usually missing. Studies have shown that the lack of a male figure in a household is detrimental to the development of the children. What Black kids see in their community is also a contributing factor. Drugs are rampant, poor housing (Section 8), alcohol abuse, etc.... These are all compounding factors, if any one of these are active in a child's life it could cause a problem but all of them at the same time is like compound interest on money. That does not even begin to get into the test itself which IS bias but not because it's written for Whites, per se, but because is the Black communities preparing for a test that there is rarely training for because of the lack of teaching expertise, may lead to lower scores. When you are not taught something how can you perform it?? This is the short answer. There is SO much more out there. I would suggest turning over some more rocks. Good luck!!

Answer 3

It's not really a matter of race. It's a matter of social class. The sad fact that African Americans are more concentrated in lower income areas throughout the country is what gives the statistics a way to show a racial disparity in testing.

The white students in predominantly poor black populations average lower test scores than the black students in affluent, primarily white suburbs.

It's not really a matter of money either, but that is a factor. In poor families, the value of an education is just not emphasized to the same degree.

Even the old textbooks in the worst funded schools have the information to score well on standardized tests. But the best book does no good if you never read it.

Answer 4

Well the highest population of African Americans is generally found in the city where there isn't a lot of wealth. There are also so many other problems that have to be dealt and usually worrying about school work isn't the focal point. Also, in the city, kids fall under the spell society casts and join gangs. Therefore, they just forget about school all around. You also have to think about the high pregnancy rates too. The teachers are most likely paid less than in a small town which might let them think they shouldn't teach as well. But I'm sure there are very intelligent teachers in citiesand it's sad but obvious that poor people in this country aren't cared for as well as rich. I don't want to sound biased with that statement because I'm not saying all African Americans are poor. They're not but the city isn't flourishing in money. There are many other races that deal with such hopelessness in barrios, ghettos, whatever you want to call it but I really wish I could help. Even though I'm only 15.

Answer 5

Much of it can be traced back a few decades, when Blacks were struggling to find their own cultural identity. Ebonics and other similar language styles became more prevalent ... and speaking the "King's English" faded in popularity among Blacks.

That led, inexorably, to a culture in which many Blacks felt that speaking properly was tantamount to "acting white" and put pressure on those who strove for excellence in that area.

That same bias spread to other disciplines, and soon ... any Black youngster who excelled in school was accused of "acting white".

Imagine how difficult it must be for a young Black child to face that kind of pressure ... when they know education will be the key to their success in life.

I think that the turning away from "acting white" in the last couple of generations has just put the entire culture behind the eight ball educationally. They *think* in cultural terms and, as a result, don't think in the same terms as are presented in standardized tests.

The above is why I have so very much respect for those Blacks who rise above the peer pressure and cultural bias to become educated and able to apply that education. They really are heroes.

Answer 6

In my opinion I don't think its a race thing but a economic class thing. Most blacks live in poor neighborhoods and get the minimal education standers, unqualified teachers and, poor school conditions. For instance I went to school in Moreno Valley and in order to graduate you needed to have 150 credits. In schools in Los Angeles ( South Central to be specific) All you need is 120-130 why is that. Then they come up with these standardized test but who's standers are they going by? I believe if there is going to be a standardized test there should be a standardized credit system and curriculum for each grade level.

Answer 7

Socio-economic background. Try looking at african american scores in school districts that are proven to perform. Also, try looking at scores that white kids have in impoverished schools. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE. It's all about money and who has it. Innercity schools lack the resources and willing teachers to provide a decent education. That is why school vouchers exist and other ways to bring them out of those bad schools, but into ones that truly want them to succeed.

Although it's not about race, it's about sub culture too. I've never heard any rap or hip hop songs talking about school and studying and doing well in school, except for Chris Brown when she's trying to get a girl.

Answer 8

Institutional racism is quite engrained in our culture, and standardized tests by virtue of their creation have some assumptions about average intelegence and cultural influence on learning. Standardized tests are actually not a good measure of learning and have been revealed as poor tools for learning assesment by many teachers and I suspect a study or two. LOwer scores by people of color are red flags that 1) children of color are not having their educational needs met in school or that 2) that the tests are worded and posed in ways that dont reflect cultural diversity. Solving the problem of instuitutionalized racism is not an easy one, and revealing the sources behind it isnt easy either. In washington state, the seattle school district has offered workshops and information about undoing institutional racism which might be helpful in your research. good luck

Answer 9

A higher percentage of black students attend inner city schools that tend to function below your average school in suburbia (in terms of prevailing academic standards). It's all the more reason parents should be allowed to send their kids where they choose, to schools that will actually perform, but governments seem to think othewise and instead force children into schools that are failing. It's not really a race issue.

Answer 10

i think that it's more to do with culture and upbringing than race.

unless someone is born with a mental disability or something like that, we all possess the potential to learn and increase out intelligence. it's all about applying yourself. most people who are poor, have poor attitudes toward life in general, to include education,....i think that more white families realize that in the long run and overall a better education does pay off, so they help or push their children to go that little extra distance, most black families still have yet to realize this, and thus are missing out on building a better future for their children