preview

Racial Inequalities In Education

Decent Essays

Rochelle Rowley and David Wright’s article, No “White” Child Left Behind, illustrates how racial inequality remains an issue in education. The authors incorporated the Longitudinal Study of 2002 to determine factors that resulted in the academic performance gap between White and Black students. This article critique will reflect on their findings and factors that contribute to the gap. No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 addresses the accountability of schools’ responsibility to provide every student with a fair and appropriate education. Rowley and Wright’s (2011) study uses standardized test scores to evaluate how students’ role, teachers’ role, peer roles, and the school environment are connected. According the study, “Black students believe they have a cultural responsibility to uphold, which influences their ability to achieve academically” (Rowley et al., 2011, p. 94). The article also discussed the view that academic success is viewed as a “White” objective for Black males (Rowley et al., 2011). Also, Rowley and Wright (2011) explain that Black males view extracurricular …show more content…

Low-income families provide less tax dollars to schools, which directly affects a school’s financial ability to provide resources to teachers and students. Also, larger class sizes could lead to more discipline referrals, which affect the culture of the classroom (Rowley et al., 2011). The role of teachers and family is crucial for student success. A teacher’s ability to show compassion, provide instruction that is relatable, and eliminate discriminatory behaviors, is essential in establishing a classroom culture that promotes learning. Parental involvement in their child’s education is essential, as well. According to Rowley and Wright (2011), “Economically disadvantaged neighborhoods expose children to behaviors and ideals that hinder academic progress” (p.

Get Access