Problems of Inequality & Power

EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT GAP

Tabitha Lewis

Achievement GapWho does it effect? Relation to Theory of Symbolic Interactionism

Perspective Student-teacher interaction Student self esteem Self fulfilling prophecy

Proposed solution to the problem

CONTENTS OF PRESENTATION

Children who learn rudimentary reading, writing, and calculating skills prior to entering the school system are more likely to learn advanced skills earlier and more proficiently than those children who are not exposed prior to their first day of school.

(Achievement Gap Definit ion, 2013)

ACHIEVEMENT GAP

“The point is that before they’ve ever set foot in a public school, there are dramatic developmental differences between children, and these differences often fall squarely along socio-economic lines.”

Diane Ravitch, Pol icy Analyst, Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education

EXPERT ADVISE

In the 1970s a family considered in the top 10% of earners made on average only 5% more than families in the lowest 10% on average.

In 2013 the difference has more than doubled so now, a high income family will earn on average 11% more than low income family

FOOD FOR THOUGH

“Only half of children age 12-13 in families with incomes of less than $20000 per year hoped to go to college or university, where 71% of the same aged students from families who made $80, 0000 had the same hope.”

(Mooney, 2006)

HOPES AND DREAMS

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM PERSPECTIVE

Three Main Points

1. Teacher- student interaction

2. Student’s self esteem

3. Self-fulfilling prophecy

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM PERSPECTIVE

Advantaged childrenTreated better by

teachers Feel superior over less

advantaged children Greater value placed on

education Increased respect for

authority figures

Disadvantaged children

Singled out by teachers as “bad”

Feel insignificant when compared to advantaged children

May have decreased respect for education and authority do to attitudes of parents

TEACHER-STUDENT INTERACTIONS

“A combination of health, demographic, and socioeconomic factors increased a child’s like hood to be a the bottom side of the gap more strongly than other factors.

( Janus, 2007)

SELF ESTEEM

“A concept referring to the tendency for people to act in a manner consistent with the expectation of others.”

Examples: Children who's parents are:

Doctors and lawyers tend to go to professional school Trade workers tend to go to college and take a trade Unemployed will be underemployed for the majority for

their lives

SELF FULFILLING PROPHECIES

Education and Awareness Campaigns

Examples of successful initiatives Mental Health Awareness Campaigns First Nations Awareness Days Black History Month

PROPOSED SOLUTION

The achievement gap affects lower socio- economic families and their children Has nothing to do with intellectual abilities The gap has more than doubled since 1970

There are three main points to the symbolic interactionism perspective

Proposed solution is an awareness campaign

CONCLUSION

1. Achievement Gap Definit ion. (2013, May 15). Retr ieved November 15, 2015, from http:/ /edglossary.org/achievement-gap

2. ERICKSON, M. (2012, March 18). When Does Learning Begin? | Big Think. Retr ieved November 3, 2015, from http:/ /bigthink.com/think-tank/ learning-starts-at-home

3. Janus, M., & Duku, E. (2007). The School Entry Gap: Socioeconomic, Family, and Health Factors Associated With Chi ldren's School Readiness to Learn. Early Education & Development, 375-403. doi :10.1080/10409280701610770

4. Mooney, L. , Knox, D., Holmes, M., & Schacht, C. (2006). Problems in Education. In Understanding social problems (p. 413). Minneapol is/St. Paul : Maya Cast le and Leanna MacLean.

5. Reardon, S. (2013, May 1). The Widening Income Achievement Gap. Retr ieved November 3, 2015, from http:/ /www.ascd.org/publ ications/educational- leadership/may13/vol70/num08/The-Widening- Income-Achievement-Gap.aspx

REFERENCES