Closing the Gap, Research Paper Example

In a country where everyone is supposed to be given an equal chance at success, half the population still lags behind the other half from childhood on. The education gap has been a problem America has been struggling with for years.   It is apparent from standardized test scores, grade point average, dropout rates, and college enrollment and completion rates that there is a disparency between the scholastic success of white students versus students from minority groups, such as blacks and Latinos. The reason for this gap has been blamed on many factors, including household income level social conditioning.  It is unlikely that any one factor alone has led to the gap, and it is most likely that a combination of several factors have led to the current day education gap.

Proponents of the income level theory say that since minority children generally come from lower income families they are faced with a number of factors that contribute to them falling behind in school next to their more wealthy peers.  Lower income families may have worse health due to the fact that they are unable to receive health care.  Children from low income families may miss more school from illness.  Unable to afford glasses, some low income children may struggle to read.  In addition, it is common that members of low income families have not obtained any post high school education.  Therefore, reading may not be common in the household, and children start school without having been prepared prepped to read.  Children from this environment are at a disadvantage from those who come from higher income families, who have had better access to health services and whose parents most likely have had a higher level of education.

Social conditioning may be an even greater factor for the education gap, as children’s identification with their peers and family groups is strengthened by TV and other media.  If a child begins to associate themselves with a stereotype, such as girls are worse at math than boys, then they will begin to associate themselves as either good or bad, based on the stereotype.  It has been shown that people who scored well in classes would score worse on a standardized test, somehow unconsciously fulfilling the stereotype.  Dr. McClone has studied this phenomenon at the University of Texas at Austin and has determined that social conditioning plays a large role in the education gap.  His studies have found that from childhood people respond positively or negatively to their conditioned role in society. “What’s surprising is that identity issues can come into play into what is ostensibly a test of your knowledge,” said McGlone. “Heightened awareness about your identity as a man or woman or member of a certain group could influence your performance on a standardized math test.”

Once the problem has been addressed and a cause found, it is time to fix it.  Unfortunately the problem of the education gap is a complex one that will take the combined effort of parents, teachers and governments to fix. According to McGlone, “Many people think about intelligence as something that is fixed or something you’re born with.  I’m intrigued with the idea of teaching kids to think of their mind as a muscle, which can get kids excited about learning.”  McGlone feels that feels that if kids do not identify their intelligence with their culture, race or gender, then they will begin to perform based on their own power of intelligence.  Early childhood development programs like pre kindergarten may be a good way to give children a head start.  Educators will benefit from professional development on the issue of diversity. Programs could be implemented on campuses nationwide to allow educators to become more informed of steps they could take in class to close the gap.

Breaking down stereotypes will be an ongoing battle.   However, as we become more aware of how negative stereotypes are affecting us and our children, we can take steps as a society to remove them from our classrooms and our homes.

Reference

Geisler, Erin. “Testing Identity.” University of Texas at Austin. University of Texas, 24 Mar. 2008.  Web. 19 Feb. 2010.  http://www.utexas.edu/features/2008/03/24/stereotype_threat/