Why do white PUBLIC schools get more stuff over than black schools?Tell me whites, where ARE OUR opportunities

Question

When I'm in the city, the gym is mediocre. The toilets are inferior because the tissue paper is hard and the toilet seats are broken, writing on the wall. The walls are crumpled and the mirror is broken. No buckets for pads or tampons. The hallway is dirty and the cafeteria smells like barf. The food is second class and I hardly learn a thing. My books are 5 years old and many activities are not offered at my school. We only get offer basketball or football! NO ONE ENCOURAGES MY ART BUT MY MOM, instead they discourage me! Our teams suck. Spit, gum and trash everywhere!


BUT WHEN I GO TO NEWTON, or some suburb, the first thing I feel is welcomed. The bathroom have new walls, mirrors, music, soft tissue, toilet AND EVEN MINTS! The education is very competitive. The books are up to date. The food is first class. They have things like lacrosse, ice skating, fencing, martial arts, tennis, and woodwork. They play national games. Their teams are better. THERE"S NOT ONE LICK OF TRASH!

Answer 1

As a white girl who grew up poor, I don't see this so much as a race issue - rather I see it as an economic issue.

Unfortunately with the nation's history (including discrimination and oppression) at this time a large portion of non-caucasians are also in a lower economic bracket.

Is it right? no. Is there anything that's a quick-fix? Not in my opinion.

I also think that in a lot of neighborhoods there's a defeatists attitude about their community. The "We live in the ghetto so its already crap. We can leave trash out, we can tag walls, etc." So perhaps those folks that live there (ANY color) don't attempt to keep the neighborhood in as good a condition as perhaps a community which starts out in good condition.

Ya know? Its easier to KEEP something nice than it is to FIX it and MAKE it nice.

So unfortunately there are people who live in communities which aren't the best and now they're stuck with having to "fix" something instead of being in a position where they've already got the upperhand (ie: a 'nicer' neighborhood to begin with.)

But like I said, I don't see it so much as a race issue. Its an economic issue in my experience.

Answer 2

I think that it's probably the same way in whichever city you live in. I work for the Los Angeles school district, and when I first started there and visited schools, they were the same as you described in the poor areas. The better neighborhoods seemed to have better access to things at their schools, but part of the reason was that they had a high level of parent involvement, donations from local businesses, and teachers that were savvy at writing for certain grants. You are really lucky that your Mom encourages you on your art. Many, many students don't have anyone really routing for them. My suggestion is, either you can obtain a transfer to one of the more competitive schools, or you can try to be the spark that lights a fire under your school board and point out the deficiencies. Every school board meets at least once per month, so you can request to make a presentation to them. Take pictures of what you are talking about so that they can't deny it, and take other concerned teachers and students with you. Although you sound like you have good reason to complain, don't stop there. One of the great things about growing up and becoming a responsible adult is learning how to participate in these sorts of processes to bring about change. Take the race card out of it. The problem you speak of has more to do with the culture of poverty vs wealth. You can get an education even in an inferior school if you know what the weaknesses are and you supplement it on your own.

Answer 3

Suburbs collect higher property taxes than homeowners in the city pay, generally. Suburbs have more money per student, therefore, to spend on education. Plus, it's hard to pass school levies in big cities, whereas people in the suburbs usually support their schools. I don't doubt there's a race issue to this, but it's moreso about city vs. suburb.

If it were a race issue, as in the city school has all black students (or mostly) and the suburb school is white, then would you feel welcome? I sincerely hope so. However, nobody likes trash everywhere, and I personally hated public school in the city (where I lived, which was in Cleveland, Ohio)! You feel uneasy going to a school that is falling apart, instead of safe, as you might otherwise expect to.

The danger of that environment effects the education you barely get in the city public school system, let alone the lack of educational materials (it's all to the detriment of it). The teachers aren't happy to be there because the students are distracted: how can you take education seriously if you're teachers aren't supportive and the school itself is in shambles?

Anyway, I have been both places, too, and I'm 'white.'

Your mom has the right idea in that education begins and should continue at home (especially if you live in the city, where the schools suck). Your opportunities begin there. It's clear to me that you value education (and you must've learned that somewhere).

If your school in the city has old books, then go to the library (perhaps in the suburbs), or even surf online for better info. Since the lunches are terrible, pack your lunch. As far as sports go, I can't offer much advice because I was never a joiner, but you could continue your artwork and evertually approach galleries to see what guidelines you have to follow to submit pieces to them. (That's something you can pursue on your own, and even online: like through Ebay, which features independent artists that sell their work there).

Ultimately, take hold of your education because it's not something anyone can ever take from you; it's yours forever once you have it! Doing research on your own will make you a stronger college candidate, and that you may be coming from a poorly-performing district, coupled with your aim to learn, will help you (yes, you) go to college for free (in fact, they might even pay you to go). Keep your GPA above 3.5, and keep your chin up (make your mother proud).

Explore your passions and look for opportunies to capitolize on them.

Oh, and ask your fellow students to quit trashing your school (how does a toilet seat get broken?).

Answer 4

Ever think that maybe it's a poor area issue rather then a color issue?

I live in the suburbs and went to the schools close to me, and while some had a good number of white students, there were still MANY students who were not white. I don't know what kind of ritzy area you must live near to compare with and think that all "white schools" are the way you describe. Most public schools, at least here, are not rich and don't have all that. Many around here have money issues and even have had to cut back on what they used to offer in the way of extracurricular activities, etc., wasn't even anything beyond the normal sports and stuff to begin with.

Answer 5

I'm sure that the white kids from Newton are not coming to your school to dump trash there, barf on the floor, break the mirrors, write on the walls, break the toilet seats, or even cause your sports teams to suck.

Sounds to me like the kids who are actually in your school are responsible for all those things. (Except for the sports teams being bad; I'm sure the kids are trying.)

It sounds like this is not a black-vs.-white thing. It sounds like there's not a lot of pride or feeling of belonging at your school. If there were, your school wouldn't be in the shape it's in.

I'm guessing that the teachers and administrators, for the most part, don't care as much as they should either.

Maybe you can start by volunteering some time after school to clean it up a bit, and get some friends to help you. That sort of thing is contagious, you know. If one small group of kids start acting like they care about the school, others may very well join in.
.

Answer 6

a. That has to do with how the kids are treating the school, not race. Obviously, if there is "spit, gum, and trash" everywhere, you should talk to the kids that are wrecking the school. If the city school board sees that everything at school one is getting ruined, while everything at school two is fine, they are obviously going to put more money and effort into school two. I live in a big city, and there recently was controversy because a school built in one of the poor areas of town was "wrecked" within a year. I remember them saying that the track field was deemed "unusable", etc. This was not the city's fault; it was the fault of those that ruined it.
b. "Our teams suck."
And how is this the school's fault? I go to school in the city, and our girls' basketball and volleyball teams sucked for years until last year when everyone on the team started to practice (as a group) outside of school. Last year was also the year that we won both championships. The boys on the basketball and football teams decided to do the same thing this year, and they too did very well. It's a matter of how everyone on the team plays and works together, not how much money the school spends.
c. If you are that unhappy with your public school, you should try out for a private school or magnet school. I don't know what year of school you are in, but if you happen to be in junior high or your first half of high school, this will be pretty easy.

Answer 7

uumm, sounds like a crappy school..what does that have to do with black or white?
I went to a crappy school when i was a kid and...im white.
It sounds more like a tax thing rather than a racial issue.
The richer areas pay more taxes..therefore..their schools have better funding.
Ask your parents if you can go to a school that will offer you more.I had no choice, i lived in podunk ville USA..lol there were no other schools for miles and my parents wouldnt dream of moving.
But, if you have a choice..present it to your parents.

Also, who wrote on the walls? who broke the mirrors?and who puts trash everywhere? Im not saying you did..but white people didnt do it either, the people inside the school did.

Just ask your parents for a better oppertunity...its offered to blacks too,not just whites.

Answer 8

If this truly is the case you are describing, you need to write to your district's assemblymen or ombudsmen and get it checked out. Then pester the hell out of them by writing letters to their constituents, to the papers and to anyone else who will listen. And don't give up until you've received a satisfactory reply and not just a lame form letter rubber-stamped with some peon's name.

Get involved and get others involved. This is the 2000's. Your school district needs to get out of the 1950's and get with the times. There's no place in America for such a disgrace anymore, and you don't have to take it! Oh, yeah, write to all the members of your school board as well, and keep sending letters until you get a reasonable response.

Answer 9

There really aren't any "white" or "black" public schools. It's more about the budget and what the districts can offord. Suburban areas often spend more money on education than urban and city schools.

The books, academics, sports, food and probrams depend on how much money is available for education.

Answer 10

Schools are supported by local taxes. Schools in a wealthier area get more funding. Also in a wealthier neighbor less money is needed to fix problems caused by vandalism.