Structural and Organizational Issues in Schools

School or How does the Policy or Practice Does your Policy or Practice How Would you Change the Policy
Classroom- Contribute target certain groups? If so, or Practice to Ensure Educational
based Policy who Equity?
& Practice To Educational Inequality

Tracking (1) Segregates students according to (1) Students with learning disabilities. -Limit the amount of time students spend in these
perceived academic ability.(2) Indirectly 'track' classes.
segregates students according to language.(3) (2) Non-native English speakers.
The most experienced teachers are generally -Have students do other group activities where the
given to the high ability 'tracks' while the (3, 4, & 5) Academically average/below- groups are purposely different (mixed) with regard
newer, less experienced teachers are given to average students. to their tracking group.
the students who need it the most.(4) "If
innovative methods and appealing materials -Spread the highly experienced/skilled teachers
exist at all... they tend to be found at the top (6) Low income students and students
with behavioral problems. among ALL tracking groups.
levels. Knowledge becomes yet another
privilege of those who are already
privileged" (119).(5) Evidence suggests that (7) Students who are in low-track classes
only high achieving students benefit from and are capable of moving up.
tracking.(6) Poor and high risk students are
often placed in lower track classes where
there is more emphasis on
memorization/repetition, making school
seem irrelevant and encourages them to drop
out.(7) Even if students are academically
capable for a higher 'track' may be
discouraged from moving up of self image
issues caused by tracking.

Retention -Holding back an underperforming student
makes that student 40 - 50% more likely to
drop out of school.
-"Children who are retained actually learn
less than they would have had they been.
promoted" (122)
-This policy targets more children of
color.
-Lower socioeconomic status.
-Children who speak a language other
than English.
-Knowledge of student's educational
history/abilities early in the school year to lead to
timely and appropropriate support for that student.
- Tutoring/mentoring for one-on-one help
-Create new activities that all student and their
 -Social promotion when the student is not
ready in the expectation that they catch up on
their own perpetuates inequality.
Standardized -have been used as a basis for
Testing segregating and sorting out students
- Non-English speaking students will
have a harder time on the test.
-in lower economic schools there is
an inequality in instructional quality,
resources and other support services
- socio-economic status is highly
correlated with test results
The The curriculum is bias and does not
Curriculum cover a broad stectrum of diverse
cultures.
"The curriculum involves the
knowledge, attitudes and traditions
valued in society." What is valued in
our society is dictated by the
dominant group.
The curriculum writers are only
offering a portion of history that they
feel is necessary. Protraying different
diverse groups in the light they want
to protray them in.
Pedagogy It contributes to inequality because
students basically learn what the
teacher wants them to think. They sit
back and take in information without
YES, Because:
-those who do not have english as
thier first language are at an
immediate disadvantage
-those with a higher economic
status have greater access to
resources and therefore do better
It is targeting all those in the
sub.group because they have
a hard time finding themselves or
their community in the
curriculum. If they do see
themselves it is often through a
distroted lens of others.
Yes, it targets the subordinate
groups such as the Hispanics,
Blacks etc. and those from low
socio-economic status because it
families can enjoy together for educational and
community benefit.
-Offer free support for parents AND
children in preparation for test
- look into alternatives for/or alter
standardized testing
- have the same resources available for all
students
Changes would be providing
supplimentary curriculum that would
highlight the students and their ideals.
Allowing students to learn a variety of
issues, concepts, and problems from a
variety perspectives and points of view.
Providing all the facts in history without
bias.
"Another way to transform curriculum is to
use students' own experiences and
identities to help frame it."
Teachers can value the students' culture,
linguistic and experiential backgrounds.
Teachers can recognize that human
relations are essential to effective
 being independent thinkers. Students
are forced to follow directions and
spit back what is told to them. They
basically memorize and report back
what they were taught. Students loose
creativity and critical thinking thus
they do not question those in power
and this contributes to educational
inequality.
Physical Higher income schools have more
Structure money, more resources, smaller class
sizes, better school safety, etc. which
gives lower income schools less
opportunity to advance. Lower
income schools are not considered a
"safe haven," students less likely
to want to attend and learn. Run
down schools not taken as serious
because students are not prideful of
it. Poor climate and physical structure
take away from the educational goals
of the students and teachers.
Disciplinary Aggravates the sense of
Policies alienation.Interpretation of students
behaviors may be culturally or class
biased.Meaningless rules that only
apply to certain cultures.
forces those who already lack
power not to question authority.
They are also not challenged to
learn and think outside the box.
Targets lower income schools,
these usually include
minority groups, subordinate
groups. Lower income
schools usually lack
outside funding, little help from
student's families.
Targets minorities. An example
given was an African American
student was suspended for 10 days
for wearing overalls unsnapped.
Which common style in his
culture.In Seattle, Black students
were 2.5 times likely to get
suspended or expelled than other
instruction. Go beyond the textbooks and
make the curriculum more inviting to
students(ex. camcorders, cameras, guest
speakers, alternative reading materials.)
Engage students in their learning,
challenge them, and teach them material
that is meaningful to their lives.
Advocate for more funding towards these
schools, more resources, more teachers to
reduce class size. Administrators having
clear expectations of the students and their
role in respecting school property.
Allowing students to be a part of proactive
projects to improve the school's
appearance.
Investigate how disciplinary policiesAffect
students of different race. Change brunt
rigid school policies And deal with issues
case by case.Make sure there are no
double standards.

Limited Role The practice is a
of Students dictatorship organized
around issues of control
•No collaboration from
students
• Rigid philosophy;
essentialist approach
• “banking education;”
teacher’s deposit
knowledge
• Students are powerless in
their role in their education
(learning)
Limited Role • less input into curriculum
of Teachers therefore less time for multi-
cultural curriculum
• less inclined to promote
empowered critical thinkers
• no power to change
administrative policies which
students.
While all students are targeted and
have a limited role, students of
color have an even more limited
role in their education. A 2004
study showed that when student's
of different ethnicities and social
class backgrounds were given the
resources to be "critical
researchers" of their education,
they became more passionate
learners.
• the policies especially
target students
of subordinate groups
•Allow students to become
directly involved in their
learning so they have a
“buy in” in their educational
journey
•Involving students in school
organizations, such as PTSA
(Parents, Teachers, Students
Association)
• Allow students to help plan
policies/curriculum (add one
or two items that they want
to learn during the year)
•Encourage questions and
critical thinking about their
education
• permit teacher's input into the
curriculum especially in
an interdisciplinary manner with a
focus on multiculturalism
• recruit more teachers from
subordinate groups
• structure the school within the
framework of a multicultural
 philosophy which includes the
negatively impact certain community, family, students,
populations of student administration and teachers and
permits a dialogue
• increase time for professional
development

• provide adequate support and

staffing

Limited Role • teachers and admin are yes! • encourage and invite parent
of Family and intimidated to reach out to participation at different events at
Community families • linguistically, culturally different times and dates
and economically • improve and continue
Involvement
• economic and cultural challenged families communication with families via
differences influence their newsletters / communiques, etc.
involvement • working class families
• provide childcare and translation
services to families during
parent/teacher conferences and hold
them at convenient times