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School Sponsored Events - The Great Educational Equalizer

A Mini-Photovoice by Albert Alvarez

University Of Texas – Brownsville

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School Sponsored Events - The Great Educational Equalizer

Schools all across America have students that are extremely talented. They are all shapes

and sizes, colors and creeds, and all nationalities. These talents can be anything from running

fast, jumping high, accurately shooting or throwing a ball from point A to point B, playing

various musical instruments, or using their voices to sing a song. Still others are funny, filled

theatrical talents, excellent debaters, or superb spellers. Unfortunately, in these schools all across

America, only the students who display reading writing, and arithmetic skills and who excel in

the classroom are more readily seen as the “talented students.” In this pictorial expose, another

proposition is put forward, one that cannot be ignored, the school sponsored event. Events like

UIL debate competitions, talent shows, plays, musical concerts, and sporting events maybe the

last great educational equalizer that our students can use to gain eligibility to the American

Dream.

American education has a history of racial and cultural discrimination. In the 1960’s,

civil rights activists worked very hard, alongside law makers, to get the Civil Rights Act of 1964

passed in an effort to desegregate schools. With bitter protests and fighting amongst the white

and black communities, the battle for educational equality was fought to include African-

Americans in schools that were considered white institutions of learning. This battle was to level

the playing field for students of color so that they could have access to a better education. It has

not been an easy fight and the war is still waging. To be racist is an individual choice, but when

an institution is setup to discriminate, that is when racism has “teeth,” the power to hurt and even

change a person’s destiny. This form of discrimination makes it difficult and nearly impossible

for minority students to get a quality education in America. Minorities, not just blacks, in this

day and age are seemingly being kept from the American Dream of Meritocracy, the proverbial

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“picking yourself up from your bootstraps” through education and making something of

yourself.

These are excerpts from some research studies that are quite interesting concerning

institutional discrimination:

In the study by McDermott, the Black children had to strain three times as hard to catch

the teacher’s eye, looking for approval, affection, and encouragement. In the Sadker and

Sadker report, the researchers concluded that girls are frequently denied an equal

education simply because of their gender, rather than because of any personal talents or

deficits. In Gandara’s study, the light-skinned students were able to derive more benefits

from their schooling than their darker-skinned peers (Neito, 2004).

These statements are quite disturbing and resonate with many educators, who may be scratching

their heads and asking themselves, “How can this be?” In American society, education is seen,

whether this view is skewed or not, as “the great equalizer.” From the snippets above, it surely

doesn’t look like it. Perhaps, it never was.

In preparing for this Photovoice project, these names came to mind: Beyoncé, Justin

Timberlake, Jessica Simpson, Demi Lovato, Ophera Winfrey, and the girl who belted out the

song by Josh Groban, “You Raise Me Up,” at a Dr. Cano Freshman Academy talent show in

Harlingen, TX. She was amazing singing that song, very impressive. In fact, all of these famous

actors and actresses, singers, and talented people may have had their starts in talents shows just

like the one at Dr. Cano. These school sponsored events may be the great educational equalizer

we have been looking for! Are we are looking at schools and their supposed institutional

discrimination so negatively that we are losing track of what it can do correctly right now?

Events like these, at Dr. Cano it’s called “Open Mic Night,” allow students to display their

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talents and budding interests without having anything to do with the four walls of a classroom.

At one time, American educators used to think that we were preparing students for their future

when they went to school, but now it is generally seen as a training center for the state exams.

School Sponsored events need to make a comeback, in a huge way.

“Open Mic Night,” at Dr. Cano has had massive obstacles to come to fruition. It has

taken planning, administrative support, advertising, coaxing (to get the kids to come out of their

shells and sign up to perform), practice, dedication, support (from friends and family), and

finally, performing. All of these qualities that the performers are exerting for this event, are

qualities that can transfer to any job, career, and vocation. Students everywhere need more

special event opportunities to grow as people. They need to see school as something that is truly

preparing them for their future endeavors. Hopefully, through these experiences, their creativity

will overcome any setbacks that they may encounter in the classroom. This Photovoice takes a

look at what it takes, for events like “Open Mic Night,” to become a reality.

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“The Visionaries for All Things Special” – It takes a group of leaders who believe in the talents of the students, whom they serve, to coordinate, plan, and set aside resources for special school sponsored events. The Dr. Cano Freshman Academy administration, can be seen here designing and implementing events like their talent showcase called, “Open Mic Night.”

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“The Call” – When a special school sponsored event is coordinated, it is time to make the call. It is a call that students must answer for themselves, and their future. During the daily announcements, the invitation to sign up for “Open Mic Night” is made. How many talented students never make that decision to stand up and be noticed?

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“Practice Makes Perfect” – Alexa and her brother practice for hours and hours to stay in tune, to know the words of the song she will sing by heart, and to dream of performing in front of her family and friends. Perhaps, one day, her preparation for the Dr. Cano talent show will give her the edge she needs to do something grander in life.

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“The Crowd Gathers to Witness Something Extraordinary” – When a Chemistry class is doing an experiment, or an English class is learning how to write a persuasive essay, most people won’t take time out of their busy schedules to sit and watch it happen. In school sponsored special events, family and friends come together to witness what they know will be extraordinary. These are the times in which students can stand outside of the four walls of the classroom and develop their talents, outside of the normal scope of their schooling.

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“All the World is A Stage” – The lights are dimmed, the music begins, and the crowd hushes it

whispers to hear a 15 year old sing her heart out. Little do they realize how many hours of

practice went into the 3 minute 52 second performance that they are being witnesses to? She may

never get a record deal, or be on “American Idol,” but the confidence and experience she

receives from participating in “Open Mic Night” will last her a lifetime.

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References

Niteo, S. (2004). Affirming Diversity: The Sociopolitical Context of Multicultural Education, 4th

Edition.