The Education Department report found 6.5 million students nationwide were chronically absent in the 2013-14 school year. That’s more than one out of every ten students missing at least three full weeks of school. It’s the first time the department has collected student absenteeism data.
On a positive note, the survey found a significant drop in school suspensions for K-12 students, down nearly 20 percent from the previous reporting period. But, the report also suggests sharp disparities between how black and white students are disciplined in school as well as the types of advanced coursework offered in high school to black and Latino children.
“A systemic failure to educate some groups of children as well as others tears at the moral fabric of the nation,” Education Secretary John B. King Jr., said in a phone call with reporters. “What sets the U.S. apart from any other country is the idea that opportunity is universal. These data show that we still fall far short of that ideal.”
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9 comments:
Black, white and Latinos are given the same opportunities at schools. It is what you do with those opportunities that defines your track in school. I am so sick of hearing about how the poor black kids are not in enough higher level courses. They have gone to the same school as the white kids, they are getting the same education.
The reason suspensions are down is because administrators are afraid to suspend kids for anything, especially if they're black! Behavior is worse not better.
When I was in school we had in school suspension on an old school bus. It was cold in the winter: hot in the summer; and run with an iron hand by whichever teacher was unfortunate enough to be on duty that day. Suspending kids these days is a reward, not a punishment!
Sharp disparities in how black kids and white kids behave, not in the discipline they receive.
"Sharp disparities in how black kids and white kids behave, not in the discipline they receive."
June 7, 2016 at 10:18 AM
Some truth to this but I am sure we have not factored in all the variables. This is a very tough problem.
They most certainly do not have the same opportunities. I am going through this same thing with my daughter having moved from another district. The school she is in now is very close to being segregated. Black and Latino kids make up the entire class she is in now which has never been the case before in any school she has ever been to. White and Asian students are kept separate from these groups regardless of their individual test scores or actual learning ability. My daughter is very far above her levels in all subjects but was thrown into this minority looking class with kids that cant even read and right at grade level let alone excel. Do i think this is accidental..not a bit. So for anyone to say that all kids get a fair shake is absolutely incorrect and i would challenge you to visit any school in the Salisbury area (because i have been to every elementary school here)and you will see what i mean. Sitting back and commenting from a bias and blind position never fixes anything but it seems like thats all people can do on this sight...talk stupid about others they dont even know and have never met including children, its really sad.
This is why there is so much crime in Wicomico County Schools, because they are not allowed to send black kids to the office or a referral. They are also not allowed to suspend them or call the police. That's why former Board Member Mark Thompson gets paid to intervene with law enforcement and he goes around telling staff they are not allowed to give them referrals or suspend them.
The quality of schools varies, but that affects all students in those schools; it's universal.
Earlier posters have zeroed in on the issue: it is what a student does with the opportunities. Sadly, most of the non-performers, and most of the disruption, is based in the demographic sub-set Obama and crew are trying to coddle.
Why? Rooted in Psych 101. Reinforce behaviors and you will get more of them.
Don't make the scofflaws toe the line and they'll continue to expand unacceptable actions and attitudes. Schools are provided to educate and socialize our young to some reasonable level we agree on. When we take away constraints and eliminate sanctions for 'bad' behavior we encourage more of it, and we are reaping the harvest. We are failing to do what is actually in the kids' long term interest.
In what proportion do they misbehave and deserve suspension? When I was in school we got to spend time in the office, after school suspension (in the school) and active suspension 1 to 3 days or more and then alternative school. Some actually got permanently expelled. Not our problem. It was not a race issue but a behavior issue. There was also a stigma and parents cared. What other discipline works to maintain order? Otherwise you have chaos and the trouble makers running the school adversely affecting those who are there to learn
Mark Thompson is part of the problem, not the solution.
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