Creating A Summer School Program

Students that live in a poor community often lack a good education because the community does not have the resources to allow the students to continue a good education. Students that are marginalized often lack the opportunity to a higher education because they are constantly being underestimated and not given the resources they need in order to be successful. In the article “Still Separate, Still Unequal; America’s Educational Apartheid” by Jonathan Kozol demonstrated the way schools in InterCitys are being forced to used methods that are nowhere helpful for students to be able to learn. Students are given many instructions to follow, but often lack the actual education they deserve. In addition, in the podcast “The Problem

Throughout history, public schools have suffered and still continue to fail while the rest of the world is moving ahead. There are various barriers that have prevented low-income student from succeeding with the rest of the world. Parent involvement plays a role because if they lack higher levels of education, most likely this will cause the student to have a disadvantage. Also, because of families with

Industries such as business and medicine depend on extreme methods and forward thinking ideas. To be a successful enterprise, one must be willing to take risks and try new things. Within the last century, education has attempted to take a leap of faith by completely flipping the traditional school schedule and idea of summer vacation upside down. Just as with any idea, there are advantages and disadvantages as well as supporters and opponents. Each district must look at their own individual needs and evaluate the trials from schools that have gone before them to decide if year-round schooling would benefit their school.

Unfortunately, the school's lack of appropriate education results directly from poor government funding. So even with hard work, the lower-class student is still held down by his socio-economic status. Poverty-stricken parents are unable to offer their children the same attention and motivation as parents of a higher-class can, therefore never providing these children with the mindset that they are able to accomplish the American dream. According to Mantsios, 40 million Americans live in poverty, and the mental and physical affects the low standard of living has on them is undeniable (Mantsios 328). Citizens who live in poverty work long hours for little pay, yet return to a household that in no way symbolizes the hard work put forth. Within this environment, very few people have the positive outlook to mentor children successfully.

“But that sort of summer has given way to something more difficult, even darker, that makes you wonder whether year-round school is not a notion whose time has come.” Most students are very eager towards the end the school year to be free from the “prison” that holds them from August until May. Students want to be relieved from all of the built up stress from throughout the year and they want to be able to do what they want without having to worry if their homework is done or if they are prepared for the test the following day. However, many children and their families rely on school for one very overlooked reason that is addressed in Anna Quindlen’s essay, “School’s Out for Summer.” In it, Quindlen discusses a problem that many don’t even realize exists: a lack of ability to feed children at home. Many Americans rely on the school to feed their children because the parents can not. This is a problem that many people do not realize exists, and it is a problem that can be fixed.

After reading “Year-Round Schooling Explained” by Jaclyn Zubrzycki, “Stop the Summer Slide” by Nina Rees, and “Kids Need Year Round Schools to Compete” by Anne McFeatters, year-round school sounds like an extraordinary idea for schools. Year-round schools seem to be a way to bring in more breaks, but more schooling involved. Multi-week summers end in money loss of parents, and academic loss in students. Also, year-round demonstrates new ideas and concepts of academic success.

Poverty is on the rise all around the world especially across the United States. This is a problem that is affecting many aspects of life for both the victim and the people around them. Students living in poverty have to tolerate many unfortunate circumstances on a daily basis which can have a significant effect on their growth, development, and educational experience. Students from low socioeconomic backgrounds can still have the same success as the average student, but it takes a little extra effort and a leap of faith. Although it may be challenging for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to achieve success in school and the real world, it is not impossible.

There is more to the situation than that these students need to work harder and value school more to become successful. One major cause that contributes to perpetuating urban poverty is the lack of funding that the school systems get. Funding for schools is based on property taxes in the area of the school. If a school is in a poor urban community that can not afford to have high property taxes, there is not as much money going to the schools. This means that students may not have access to the same books, computers, and many other materials that are important for a successful learning environment. Poverty in general also affects students achievements academically because these students may have poor nutrition, a lack of housing or a poor housing environment, and overall most likely live in a stressful environment where they have to worry day to day about getting evicted from their homes or not having enough food to eat. All of these things distract from the time that these students could be learning and make for a difficult at home learning environment. In the movie Dangerous Minds, white savior teacher Ms. Johnson tells the students that their success is up to them and that if they want to they can choose to be successful in life. What this movie does not consider is that there are other things holding these students back

Statistics-estimated at about 50% free or reduced lunch; 7% homeless; 6% Special education; 18% ELL

Alexis, I do agree with you that students in poverty are less likely to be successful then students in higher income. There is a chance for these students to succeed if they have the right teacher even if there parents are not involved in their children education. With the right help and guidance these students can have a chance to break the cycle but if they are put in the back and not getting the right help that they need they will continue following their parents foot

Students spend much of their time in scheduled or required activities such as school, before and after school programs, hours spent doing homework, etc. that their calendars may already allow little time for other interests or just unwinding (Worsnop 443). The long, traditional summer breaks away from daily schedules and demanding workloads may be these students’ only time to really pursue other interests and opportunities (Worsnop 438), especially activities that may take more time and dedication. A common and often efficient way to explore these interests is through the wide variety of summer camps offered during the traditional break (“Leave Those Kids” 5). These activities could help students learn new skills that are more specific to their field of interest or can be applied to any aspect of life (Worsnop 443). Offering educational and interesting opportunities such as these camps can help students realize that “not all learning happens in the classroom” and inspire them to seek out other ways to explore their interests (“Leave Those Kids” 5). However, these enrichment and educational possibilities are not always available to everyone, potentially putting certain students at a disadvantage. To counter act the financial disparity possibly causing this obstacle, actions should be taken to aid these students specifically oppose to changing an entire school’s schedule (“Leave Those Kids” 5). Moreover, for the number of schools unable to offer additional courses during breaks, students would not be able to take required classes outside of the school day in order to replace them with enrichment courses which can provide a source of self-expression and relieve stress (Mazzochi 121) as well as a way to expose or fill students with passion for something new. Many advocates of year-round systems highlight the fact that both systems, traditional and year-round, provide the same

These sorts of summer activities offer a testing and compensating information for young people as a way to deal with get prepared for school and past. A powerful divide of these schools have outside parts and physical challenges that add to the experience and give

The average American’s summer break includes exciting or leisurely vacations with the family, cookouts with the neighbors, tanning (or burning) at the pool, and watching fireworks on the 4th of July. Although the typical kid eagerly anticipates this season, not everyone gets to enjoy a long summer break. About 4% of America’s education systems have implemented year-round schooling in which the summer break is swapped out for shorter breaks throughout the year (Kelsey). Though some believe year-round schooling is a better method than the traditional 9 month schedule, it produces problems for both teachers and students.

“After-school programs can provide enrichment activities that develop students' academic and social skills. For students who lack adult supervision or learning opportunities after school, such programs can offer an environment that is safe and nurturing as well as educational” (David, 2011, page 10). I choose to work with the Spring Creek After-school Program because this after-school program has a worthy mission and claims that it provides an engaging learning environment for students of PS 346 while addressing the major issues that youth face today.

Urban neighborhoods with low-income households have always struggled with providing their schools enough resources. Without enough resources schools many students will inevitably develop the mindset that they are not worthy of a higher education. The success of any student relies on a strong and supportive connection between home and school. This is an issue of class that stems from both the home and the school. Due to a majority of low-income families in the urban aream it makes it very difficult for them to support their children in school. Therefore it would also make it more difficult to support the schools in their community. The cycle of low-income families is a continuous cycle in urban neighborhoods. Students are discouraged to pursue education because of the lack of resources at home and school. They can either turn to life on the street or take on low wage jobs in order to support themselves and their family. When taking this path the give up the opportunity of a higher education putting them in the same situation as their parents of having low wage incomes. Higher education is the key of breaking out of this cycle. Students in low-income households will need to understand that although not having enough resources is a major problem, pursuing a higher education will give them a better chance to be successful in the future.