The Importance Of Minority Status In Education

Using my leadership qualities to encourage others and uplift their abilities to their fullest potential will create a successful year for National Honor Society. Taking a leadership role in my freshman and sophomore year as a treasurer in Student Council has benefited my outlook of what it means to be a leader. As a treasurer, it’s my duty to have a clear vision of what is desired to be completed to benefit the whole class of 2019. I got out of my comfort zone and made a positive difference. I have continued to take up my leadership roles by running for officer positions and taking initiative by becoming chairpersons for multiple committees in student council. I built up confidence that leads to embracing change to council to benefit everyone’s participation and working

In this paper, I will explore the aspects regarding racial inequality pertaining to education in the United States of America. It has come to my attention, based on my observations, that race is a definitive factor that plays a role in establishing socioeconomic status. In relation to socioeconomic status, variables correlating with race that I will be focusing on, is the educational and wealth aspects. An individual’s level of education is pivotal to establishing stable, consistent wealth and vice-versa; the access for quality education is inconsistent primarily among minority races/ethnicities. According to historical records ranging from the year 1980 to 2000, between Whites, Hispanics, African-Americans, and Native Americans, the educational attainment gap is widening (Kelly 2005). Education is seen to be a source of respect and key to gaining a higher income, which transfers over to greater wealth. Acknowledging the slow expansion of the educational attainment disparities, I argue that the society’s perceptions and actions addressing race perpetuates and produces social inequalities by limiting opportunities despite “equal” resources, privileges, and rights through social policies that have contributed towards the quality of America’s education system.

“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others” according to Bill Gates, while John Maxwell tells people that “Leadership is influence - nothing more, nothing less.” Neither of them completely capture leadership, but at the same time, neither of them are wrong. To be a leader, one must empower and influence those they lead in order to get the results they want. Neither one mentions that a leader must be confident in themselves and show others that they are confident with the decisions they make for themselves and others. As president of the Italian National Honor Society at my school, it is my job to promote excellence in the course, as well as in the community. Since our society values giving back to the community, we put an emphasis on community service. Many of the other students in the society worried about completing their hours. I showed them that they did not need to worry about getting their service hours by completing all of my required hours for both National and Italian Honor Societies before the end of November.

Throughout high school, I have served in several leadership roles that have shaped me into the person I am today. I have been active in student government, most recently as student body president. In this role, I communicate directly with administration, teachers and students, influencing and leading activities such as fundraising, social and spiritual events. In sports, I am a captain of both the basketball and track and field teams. In addition, I am a leader of a student-led organization called Franciscan Friends that interacts with retired Franciscan Sisters. Through Franciscan Friends, I have learned the importance of giving back. I believe this virtue is central to the Jesuit message. These leadership roles reveal my ability to take initiative, and to communicate across all age groups. I believe that participating in the Honors Program will empower me to continue pursuing leadership

Minority status has long since been viewed in a not-so-positive light. From the reflex many people have to lock their doors when they see a homeless person or a person of color, to stereotyping and assumptions based on institutionalized racism, to discrimination, minority status has a part to play in all of it. Similarly, many people have the idea that deaf people cannot do anything for themselves because they are “disabled”. Even though America was once hailed as a melting pot because of the diversity of its citizens, things like “you’re in America now, speak English” are said in today's America. While being defined as a minority isn’t inherently bad, it has become an excuse for some members of the majority to treat minorities as second-class citizens.

In the United States, each and every day, more minority children are born than white children. Fewer and fewer white parents are giving birth to multiple children, while many minority parents from African-American cultures to Hispanic cultures are continuing to have the same number of children, and possibly more. With all these minority children entering the U.S. education system, there is a problem current minority students are facing; there is a shortage of minority teachers. While there are minority teachers in the workforce, when Richard Ingersoll and Henry May, in their report: "The Minority Teacher Shortage: Fact or Fable?", looked at the data in 2011, they found that there is not a shortage in terms of number of teachers, but a shortage of minority teachers in the places that need them most: inner-city schools, with high minority populations. Minority students assimilate better with a teacher of the same ethnic background and the contrary view of this was highlighted in a 2012 skit by Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key. The duo did a skit of an inner-city black substitute teacher inside of a middle class, almost all white classroom. Using his current cultural capital (defined as: “…the general cultural background, knowledge, disposition, and skills that are passed on from one generation to another,” (McLaren, 80,) the teacher, Mr. Garvey, acts as a disciplinarian. He takes attendance and when a student corrects his inner-city pronunciation (i.e. says “Jay-quellin”

Racial inequality persists in the current U.S. education system, despite nationwide efforts to promote the acceptance of students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Minority students, most notably African American and Latino, receive lower qualities of education compared to the Caucasian majority and are, as a result, at an indisputable disadvantage after primary and secondary education. According to a 2014 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, “students of color in public schools are punished more and receive less access than white students to experienced teachers” (Abdul-Jabbar 31). Higher suspension rates and an increased frequency of corporal punishment use, allowed in 19 states as of 2014 according to Business Insider (Adwar), for minority students are two disciplinary examples of underlying racial discrimination with the current U.S. education system. Economic repercussions of racial inequality in education have been proven to include wealth gaps, higher unemployment rates, and financial instability for minorities in later life. Due to the prominence of racial segregation within schools, it remains a controversial point of debate in modern-day society, resulting in attempts such as affirmative action to establish racial equality in education. In Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), the United States Supreme Court declared affirmative action to be a justified policy in the

1. How does John Ogbu explain the achievement gaps between voluntary and involuntary groups in American schools?

I display the core value of leadership, teamwork, and sportsmanship by being the captain of the cross country team, and the president of the National English Honor Society (NEHS). It is my duty to demonstrate qualities such as organization and competence since I’m the face of both of these associations. Being the captain of the cross country team has made me into a role model. The cross country team is very diverse with African-American, Whites, and Hispanics runners. Furthermore, my role as captain has allowed me to grow closer with my teammates and learn more about their heritage. Being able to train and compete with people from different backgrounds has helped me interact with different people and better understand the world. Through this

Growing up in a small town, it is crucial that every individual get involved. This has pushed me to stay active in athletics, National Honor Society, student government, FFA, band, choir, play production, speech, and CYO. I take every organization I am involved with seriously and have earned some leadership positions: FFA News Reporter, Volleyball & Basketball Captain, Class President, and Student Council Member. It is an honor to hold these leadership positions and be a positive role model for the younger generation. I am able to support those younger than me and demonstrate a hard work ethic. By using my leadership and communication skills I have been able to influence teammates and fellow members to have a positive attitude

I exemplify the National Honor Society’s core value of leadership because of my responsibility and my hard work. When working in a group, I am the person who takes charge and gets all of the group members on the right track. I divide up the parts as evenly as possibly and do my best to ensure that each person contributes. If a person is working slower than others, I help them complete their work as soon as I finish my own. Because a leader must be responsible, I prove my responsibility through the fact that I have never turned an assignment in late. If I am given a task to do, I always do it to the best of my ability no matter what it takes. I also demonstrate leadership outside of school when I am at swim practice. I serve as the role model in my group by always being there and

According to author John C. Maxwell, “Good leadership isn’t about advancing yourself;it’s about advancing your team.” Much like Maxwell’s quote, I strive to advance my peers and my fellow students at South Florence High School. In my years at South Florence I’ve done my best to lead and be an example at this school by not only participating in clubs, but by doing my best academically. One thing that coincides with great leadership skills is a strong sense and acceptance of diversity in our school environment. Attending a school with a diverse student body helps prepare students for the culturally and ethnically diverse nation which we will be entering after we graduate and begin our lives.

The problem of educational disparities among various ethno-racial groups that make up the United States has been a long studied topic. Theories have ranged widely in what they consider as the primary factors for these disparities. Biological and individualist perspectives have cited inherent genetic inferiorities as the cause of these disparities. Others have taken into account social forces but have maintained that the cause is due to the creation of a culture of subordination and poverty that does not allow social advancement. Still others have tended to focus on systemic inequalities and on the roles of prejudice and discrimination (Sidanius et al, 1998).

Student leaders come in all shapes and sizes. They choose to lead based on their skills and preferences. Whether in social groups, athletics, or within the classroom, student leaders demonstrate certain traits that benefit both themselves and those they are leading. Generally speaking, leaders are classified as role models within the student body. They are the students who challenge the status quo, who ask questions and demand answers. They inspire athletic teams and social organizations alike; they bring to light the issues that an organization or club faces and work toward a solution. The traits and skills that these leaders exhibit socially, athletically, and academically can be both inherit and learned. The

Education is the ability to receive knowledge in order to impact the world. Many scholars argue that there’s still a divide between ethnic groups and education and I agree because minorities are less likely to receive a better education than the majority.