Impact of Urban Segregation on Education, Essay Example

The documentary “teach us all” describes the racial inequality issues found in schools in the U.S. The documentary talks about the segregation that exists in American schools. Although the documentary gives a message that more effort is required to ensure racial equity in schools, it is impacted by urban segregation.

1.How has segregation impacted education in the U.S. in urban cities?

• Less qualified teachers

All students should have qualified and experienced teachers. However, urban segregation has adverse effects on education as it enhances the existence of less qualified teachers in teaching institutions. Curriculum quality and teachers’ expertise are correlated (Smedley et al., 2001). Therefore, for better curriculum results, the teachers need to have high expertise level. However, the teachers in segregated areas have limited access to resources to improve their teaching skills. Thus, urban segregation has contributed to the majority of the teachers in segregated urban centers failing to acquire the necessary skills, experience, and expertise. The students will be taught by unqualified teachers, which affects their final grades. For example, qualified teachers can successfully implement and handle a challenging curriculum, including they are well prepared to respond to students’ needs and use learning methods that encourage students to learn. On the other hand, in segregated urban centers, the contrary is true. There are less qualified teachers with minimal skills in teaching and handling students’ curriculum needs.

• Less funding for segregated schools

Although the documentary tries to enhance equal chances of learning for all students regardless of race, ethnicity, or other conditions, segregation poses a great challenge. Education in segregated urban areas has been adversely affected through less funding received by schools. Segregated urban regions suffer from fiscal inequality. The urban areas are left with fewer resources due to tax policies and funding systems, which affects the funds that can be allocated to the schools (Smedley et al., 2001). Schools in segregated areas receive fewer resources than schools in other urban centers. Segregated urban centers have high proportions of low income. Yet, the educational institutions in these areas receive less funding than educational units in suburban areas that have high proportions of income. The students in those schools end up having fewer resources for learning and less experienced and qualified teachers.

• Lower graduation rates

High graduation rates require a substantial amount of learning resources and highly qualified teachers. Urban segregation is associated with lower funding for schools and less qualified teachers that negatively affect the education system in these areas. Learning institutions lack enough learning materials to support student’s curriculum activities (Smedley et al., 2001). The final student grades and overall performance are affected, resulting in a lower turnout during graduation. On the other hand, segregated urban centers have lower income rates. People living in these areas are incapable of supporting their children to complete their studies fully. The majority of the schools have lower turnout for students. Thus, the students who sit for graduation exams are less, resulting in lower graduation rates. Children in segregated urban areas lack the opportunities to learn, yet some states have imposed graduation exams.

2. How has worse education impacted the livelihood of children living in segregated urban

areas?

• Lower graduation rates

“Teach us all” wants every kid to have access to better and equal education opportunities regardless of racial differences. Segregation in urban cities affects education in these areas, thus denying some children the opportunities of accessing better education. Most of the schools in isolated areas are poverty-stricken. Although the children might be willing to learn, the schools lack the necessary resources for better learning. Without enough resources for studying, some children drop out of school while others score poor grades in their exams, thus affecting their final grades. Some children do not even get the chance to go to school nor get an opportunity of graduating from school. For those few who graduate, life becomes a hustle as they have to struggle to find jobs.

• Lower college acceptance and job rates

Urban segregation results in a poor education system with fewer resources and qualified teachers. Some students who enroll for high school education drop out of schools and others graduate with lower grades, which limits their chances of being accepted in colleges – have higher achievement gaps (McArdle & Acevedo-Garcia, 2017). Students who graduate from high schools and colleges struggle to find jobs (Smedley et al., 2001). The unlucky students who do not succeed in schools have minimal chances of surviving in an education-oriented society. Some have become part of the ever-increasing underclass.

• Higher chances of being arrested/ going to jail

Urban segregation limits some children from accessing better education. Some of those children who get the chance receive a poor education, drop out, or fail to succeed. Since education is out of their options, some children involve themselves in criminal activities and drug substance use. Others become members of notorious gangs in urban centers, thus increasing their chances of being arrested and going to jail. Worse education affects children’s livelihood and hinders them from achieving their dreams.

3. How can education disparity be fixed?

Documentary teaches us all mentions cases of education integration as one way which can solve education disparities. Several ways can help in fixing the issue of education disparity.

• Equal funding to all schools

All schools across the country should receive the same resources regardless of the neighborhoods they are located (SoE, 2018). Schools in segregated urban centers should be considered during resource allocation since most of them are in areas that have low proportions of income, and the majority of the students cannot afford learning materials. Resource equalization will eliminate education disparity and promote racial equity in education.

• Higher teacher qualifications

some regions receive highly experienced and qualified teachers than other areas. The government should ensure that teachers with the right and top skills are equally dispatched to all schools to reduce and prevent education disparity. The schools will have equal access to qualified teachers and enough resources.

• Increase teacher wages

increasing the teachers’ salaries will enhance the recruitment of an adequate teaching force throughout the country. Teachers should receive equalized pay based on their teaching fields, qualifications, and experience to enable them to handle challenging curriculum activities. With increased and equalized wages, schools will receive similar resources in terms of the teaching force, thus preventing and reducing education disparity.

• Increased emphasis on reaching higher learning

Programs and campaigns should be started to promote and insist on the importance of excellent learning education (Gutierrez et al., 2017). Students should be encouraged to reach high learning education for better outcomes in the future. Also, an emphasis on the teachers to achieve higher education should be made to increase the availability of highly qualified and experienced teaching force through the nation. Programs should be implemented, focusing on emphasizing the need for higher education, which in turn will help in resolving the issue of education disparity.

• Changes to urban planning/ city mapping

The difference in urban planning may help in reducing cases of urban segregation. Thus, the education system within the urban centers will have equality allowing students to have access to equal education. Changes to urban planning will solve the problem of education disparity by ensuring that resources are evenly allocated to all schools regardless of race status.

• Change the district system

The district system favors schools in individual districts while discriminating schools in other regions. For example, schools in some areas receive tremendous resources despite them having a low population percentage while other schools receive fewer funds, yet they require more resources. Changing the district system will create equity in resource distribution and increases the chance of students going to any schools regardless of their race status, thus reducing education disparity.

References

Gutierrez, K. D., Trujillo, T., Mahiri, J., Scott, J., Leonardo, Z., & Nasir, N. (2017). Responding to Educational Inequality. Race, Diversity, and Educational Policy.

McArdle, N., & Acevedo-Garcia, D. (2017). Consequences of Segregation for Children’s Opportunity and Wellbeing. Fostering Communities of Inclusion in an Era of Inequality.

SoE. (2018, July 11). What the U.S. Education System Needs to Reduce Inequality. Retrieved from School of Education: https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/reducing-inequality-in-the-us-education-system

Smedley BD, Stith AY, Colburn L, et al.; Institute of Medicine (U.S.). The Right Thing to Do, The Smart Thing to Do: Enhancing Diversity in the Health Professions: Summary of the Symposium on Diversity in Health Professions in Honor of Herbert W.Nickens, M.D.. Washington (D.C.): National Academies Press (U.S.); 2001. Inequality in Teaching and Schooling: How Opportunity Is Rationed to Students of Color in America. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK223640/