Sana Aslam

Soc 101

Savage Inequalities

Irl Solomon is a teacher who has taught urban schools for almost thirty years and his

class is always described by journalists. Solomon's history class contained four females that just

had babies and when asked why it happens, they get the response that there isn't a reason not to

have a baby since there's not much growth from public school or life after public school. The

school doesn't provide much opportunity for the children because they can't afford to. They lose

teachers left and right and don't have the numbers to prove a success rate. Most don't achieve a

higher education and some join the military. The children in Solomon's class are extremely

skeptical, but very aware of the outcomes of life. These kids have gone through many difficult

times. This class filled with seventh grade students don't feel like first class citizens, but second

class citizens with no future ahead of them. Questions about civil rights campaigns and such

bring about a different perspective. For example, when asked about the civil rights campaigns, a

girl states that they learn about Martin Luther King Jr. 's speech every year, however it seems

ironic to have named a segregated school after someone who fought for equal rights. The correct

term would be "separate but equal" however that was not true. The students of East St. Louis

received an education that shouldn't even be called an education and went to schools that were

worse than prisons. How are we suppose to expect the growth of this country when students

aren't getting the proper education they need to succeed and grow in life?

Jennifer is a student that moved from Bronx, New York to Rye, New York because the

school system was terrible. She provides the argument that because she's lived in Bronx and
went to school there, she sees no reason to provide funding to their school system because it

doesn't provide her with more opportunities or gains. Taxes are paid to help out the places live so

those places can go grow and prosper, although Jennifer believes that the taxes people pay

should only help out the community in which wants it. But who's to say that kids in the Bronx

don't want it? People want the things that will benefit them, if there's no benefit the idea doesn't

seem appealing- that's exactly how Jennifer views the schooling system. If someone wants to

benefit, then they will do so, but I think she forgets that for most of these kids want a good life,

they just don't know how to achieve it coming from the places they are. Jennifer's parents had the

means to get out of the Bronx and move to a place that would benefit her more and create more

opportunities, however not many of those kids have the same means. That is how they get stuck

in a life they do not want to live but end up in- the reason why Irl Solomon's history class is so

skeptical of the world. They've seen and been through things other people haven't and even if

they want a way out, they don't know how to get one with their education system. Providing

money to fix up these schools, add teachers, get students a better place and an encouraging place

will not only benefit Jennifer, it will benefit the students that will be able to come out of these

communities.

East St. Louis is extremely different from Rye. East St. Louis struggles with a sewage

problem, teacher storage, no funds, no money to run the city in general. The city lost its city hall,

and the city was being mortgaged. The place was so run down. Students didn't know what time

school started and when it ended, they didn't even know what grade they might be in. The

science labs are outdated and the students are and the students unmotivated to learn. In Rye, the

principal was relaxed and showed off his well built school. There were student lounged, carpeted

floors, have a good amount of teachers that teach a number of subjects including Latin. The
school provides AP courses and the students are ready to participate in school events and such.

But the overall view for poor children going to school was "how would it benefit me or us?"

The schooling system has changed a lot throughout my years in school. You see more

racial integration, more poor kids coming out on top even though you'll always find a few that

don't see their life changing so they don't do the work, there are more opportunities. But I think

something I notice now is that, it's not about the kids and their education anymore, it's more

about the school ratings and how to get more funds for schools- which is very disappointing. I

tutor children outside of my academic life, and these kids in 7th and 8th grade struggle with

adding and subtracting. In my time, when I was in that grade knowing how to add and subtract

was must or you'd be seen as dumb- someone that doesn't belong. But now, we're passing these

kids into higher grades when they can't perform the basics of mathematics and calling them "our

future"? seems like a scary future. In some places the system has changed, but in communities

like East St. Louis, they still struggle, however you see more kids motivated to get out of that life

style, which is nice.