Answers: School Diversity

Public schools in The Corridor and beyond are struggling to close student achievement gaps and make sure all students are treated fairly. What, if anything, should schools do to ensure that all students, regardless of race, family income or other factors, receive equal educational resources and opportunities?

FROM OUR INBOX

The key phrase in this week's question is 'equal opportunity”. What schools can (and should) do is provide a curriculum that offers a solid, basic education to all. What each student takes away from this offering is up to the student. 'Race, family income, and other factors” are beyond the control of the schools; it is folly to expect schools to make up for whatever deficiencies might exist due to those factors.

John R.

Belle Plaine

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It's no secret that all government agencies are top heavy and this includes the public school system. Most teachers within that system already go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that all students are treated fairly and equitably.

We need to cut back on administrative costs and overhead and pass the savings on to these deserving teachers to compensate them for their dedication and perseverance.

Lan N.

Cedar Rapids

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FROM FACEBOOK

' Chris H.: Hold parents accountable for their unruly children

' Kelsey M.: One of my professors last year said that she always aimed to treat her students fairly but not equally. Not every student needs the same things, the same help, nor do they all learn in the same way.

' Shelby F.: Maybe stop being judgmental and be more open minded? Generally?

' Megan K.: Public preschool for everyone. It has made a huge difference for kids that would not have been given the chance to go to preschool.

' Denise L.: How hard is it to simply treat all children in school the same? No matter what color they are, or what economic background they come from. If they are all getting the same public education? What is the problem?

' Dave M.: Equal opportunity, not equal outcome.

' Cara L.: It's incredibly important for schools to continue to track statistics and be flexible and progressive in creating and maintaining an equitable school environment for all students. This includes finding new and innovative ideas to help kids who are 'hard to help” and do what we can to ensure as many kids as possible complete a high school education at a minimum. Turning a blind eye by 'not putting people into groups” is a disgusting and absurd suggestion in my opinion.

' Gregory L.: Equity and fairness doesn't mean everyone getting the same thing or being treated the same despite differences (socio-economic status, age, gender, race, ability level). It doesn't mean ignoring differences that affect students' lives. It means offering the support students need in order for them to have an equal chance of success.

' Andy C.: Offer opportunity equally and accept that students are diverse individuals who will achieve unequally. Some simply have more talent, motivation, or work ethic than others. Students should be considered individuals, not units of demographic categories.

' Sk N.: Lengthen the school day. Less working parents have to worry regarding about finding care for their school-aged children, more time for children to work on school-related activities outside of home.

' Jon H.: If kids go to school and the teachers teach everyone and everyone has the books needed that is all that needs to be done. That is treating everyone equal. The rest is up to the student n their parents.

' Tom W.: Everyone is already taught equally. Problem is some get it, some don't. The ones that don't are holding everyone else back

' Rick B.: How about stopping all of the nonsense, revamp the education system, and quit worrying about diversity. Skin color and place of origin matters squat. So if you live near a school ... you go there. Simple. Just make sure there are equally qualified teachers in every school.

' Dave B.: Require the teachers to teach the subjects, let the gifted students excel and help the others. Parents need to take responsibility for requiring their children to study/learn and discipline. Schools should not be held responsible to raise your children.

' Terry P.: Then every student should get free lunch and supplies. THAT is equality.

' Joe M.: Stop placing individuals in groups. As long as you place individuals in groups you can never see them as equals.

' Pam M.: How about if we stop categorizing people based on race, sex, income, etc.? My daughter has a Caucasian college friend who initially had accidentally marked the wrong box on her aid info, indicating that she was minority. She received an award letting saying that she got a full ride. Once she corrected her mistake, her award was significantly less. Equality should go all directions, and eliminating those type of questions would help to assure that.

' Sk N.: Then you might end up gong to school solely attended by rich white males rather than a richly diverse institution where you might actually learn something about yourself and others.

' Lindsay P.: The schools can do everything under the sun to ensure equity but the bottom line is the foundation must be built at home.

' Eric W.: Equal opportunity, not equal outcomes.

' Stephen C.: Reward hard work

' Shawn K.: Every single human being is a unique individual so why should use the word equality? One person chooses to work hard and one chooses to steal and murder, are those two people equal?

' Dave O.: You know there are several states that have tried this. The problem is that the results don't really attribute to the function. Parents determine whether a child should proceed or not and there are far less standards to hold up for the students. Overall it just doesn't work. Basically it's a very lazy system that ultimately purges integrity for everyone involved.

' Blaize H.: Stop looking for racism where it doesn't exist.

' Phyllis C.: See that ALL STUDENTS get education. None of this letting them go on their way at age 16. Hire someone in District to monitor students that have attendance problem, in the beginning of the school year. Get parents involved early on. Don't wait until conference time. By then it's too late.

' KayCee S.: The problem is, in the end, it always comes down to budget. Most places do NOT want employees who go above and beyond their job description.

' Aaron C.: In 10 or 20 years the kids graduating today will not be equal. Education shouldn't be about graduating 100 percent of the seniors into a four-year school followed by a 40 year carrier at a desk. Education should be about finding the strengths that each student has and improving them, building on them, and using them to create an individual who is a productive member of society. That requires flexible teachers, administrators, and curriculum. It requires an entire educational system to realize that not everyone is fit for a four-year degree. It would require a return to truly local control, not merely lip service to it.