How is it that the people who have the most technology are the ones that are falling behind? You have students in the lowest income countries that are doing better than the students in America. Maybe it’s because they appreciate what others take for granted.

Oprah Winfrey opened up a school in an impoverished part of Africa. The students were so excited because they were able to learn and have uniforms. Founded in 2007 by Winfrey to serve the needs of underprivileged girls (from any ethnic group) living in nine provinces across South Africa, the boarding school has transformed the lives of hundreds of students in grades 8-12, providing them with the educational and emotional tools to realize their dreams of pursuing careers in such illustrious fields as medicine, public service and architecture. (variety.com)

It would be interesting to have those students from Africa tested in some of the same subjects as our students in America to see the outcome of the results. Pick any of the subjects from the STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) Program. 

If we continue to receive State aide and not get the expected results, maybe we should take away computers and let the students use abacuses. It might be an interesting experiment.

The argument is that children who come from certain impoverished nations have a limited education in their country of origins and that may be why they are having difficulty when they come here. Why is it 40 years ago when students who came over from those same countries were able achieve success when they came here without all the money and technology poured into education now?

In New York City, there’s a controversy because many students from Asian countries are admitted to some of the best prestigious high schools in the City. There is a very stringent exam required for admittance. The call is that these schools need to be more diversified. Many of the students in these schools are from middle to lower economic class working families. The solution is to find out what methods those families use to have those students so successful. Some of those parents who are trying to get their children into those classes are concerned because they may be overlooked, even though their children’s test scores were exceptional. 

More studies should be conducted as to why some students in lower income states have high test results. We need to find out what the missing link is. Free tutoring has been available for those who need it.

Another factor attributed to children failing in school is because both parents have to work, or because of single parent households. This isn’t new. During WWII, women had to work in factories while their husbands were off to war. Both parents have worked in the past. Also, in the past, there were work-study programs where work was part of the curriculum. I remember not that long ago when some of the members of the Board of Education would have community meetings to allow parents who could not attend Board of Education Meetings to voice their opinions. Maybe Board Members should think about that.

There is a book called: “The Pact: Three Young Black Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream,” written by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt, and Lisa Frazier. The book shows three young black men who made a pact to graduate from college and become doctors rather than to succumb to the violence in their community (from Wikipedia). This should be recommended reading for all institutions of learning. Your opinion counts is valuable, and this subject is of most importance.

P.S. Also, any schools where schools are failing should contact these young men to speak at schools at an assembly. They are a shining example of what can happen when you have a support system and the plan. C.M.