What "Counts" as Educational Policy?
What "Counts" as Educational Policy? Notes Toward a New Paradigm
By: Jean Anyon
Jean Anyon argues that yes, we do need better schools but we also need policies that support "economic opportunity and development for urban residents and neighborhoods." Improving schools does not fix the neighborhoods that our students come from. Poverty is the underlying issue here that needs to be addressed, yet other policies are put into place without getting at the source first. Anyon goes on to explain how even when school reform is successful, there are still barriers against getting a job after graduating. "Individual and neighborhood poverty builds walls around schools and classrooms that education policy does not penetrate or scale." Why then do we put so much effort into school reform when it is the neighborhoods that truly need reform?
It was uplifting to read that there are some solutions to these chronic problems of poverty. Anyon gives examples of solutions such as raised minimum wages, eliminating discrimination when hiring, and giving men and women equal pay, just to name a few. It seems like these are tangible solutions that would greatly reduce the level of poverty in our neighborhoods and allow people to live longer. Why then are these solutions not priorities? If we were able to put supports in place years ago, why can't we make improvements now? Aren't we suppose to improve over time and make things better?
Another topic that was presented in this article was the effects of poverty and children. The effects of poverty literally take over a child's ability to fully access academics. This makes me think of so many students at my school who are at a school to receive quality education yet are not able to take on learning due to the amount of stress and baggage that comes from living in poverty. Living in poverty is not really even living, right?
More solutions like mobility programs that are discussed at the end of this article seem like a huge step in the right direction. The evidence is clear that these programs have made significant improvements in the lives of many people. How do we create more "Moving To Opportunity" projects?
The Full Cost of Incarceration In the U.S. Is Over $1 Trillion, Study Finds
By: Matt Ferner
Based on everything I have read or watched so far for this class, the obvious solution seems to be to make improvements and provide resources to neighborhoods in need so that people can have access to better jobs, increase their economic status, and decrease stress in their lives. All of these improvements in neighborhoods should reduce the number of many people in jail who have made "poor" choices because of their status of being "poor."
As Ferner discusses, jail goes beyond just the person behind bars. It is the families and communities that suffer as well. Creating better neighborhoods creates more opportunities and hopefully will gradually stop the cycle of generations after generations of people being incarcerated. There is not enough money to help people in jail, so why not help them before they even get to jail?
By: Jean Anyon
Jean Anyon argues that yes, we do need better schools but we also need policies that support "economic opportunity and development for urban residents and neighborhoods." Improving schools does not fix the neighborhoods that our students come from. Poverty is the underlying issue here that needs to be addressed, yet other policies are put into place without getting at the source first. Anyon goes on to explain how even when school reform is successful, there are still barriers against getting a job after graduating. "Individual and neighborhood poverty builds walls around schools and classrooms that education policy does not penetrate or scale." Why then do we put so much effort into school reform when it is the neighborhoods that truly need reform?
It was uplifting to read that there are some solutions to these chronic problems of poverty. Anyon gives examples of solutions such as raised minimum wages, eliminating discrimination when hiring, and giving men and women equal pay, just to name a few. It seems like these are tangible solutions that would greatly reduce the level of poverty in our neighborhoods and allow people to live longer. Why then are these solutions not priorities? If we were able to put supports in place years ago, why can't we make improvements now? Aren't we suppose to improve over time and make things better?
Another topic that was presented in this article was the effects of poverty and children. The effects of poverty literally take over a child's ability to fully access academics. This makes me think of so many students at my school who are at a school to receive quality education yet are not able to take on learning due to the amount of stress and baggage that comes from living in poverty. Living in poverty is not really even living, right?
More solutions like mobility programs that are discussed at the end of this article seem like a huge step in the right direction. The evidence is clear that these programs have made significant improvements in the lives of many people. How do we create more "Moving To Opportunity" projects?
The Full Cost of Incarceration In the U.S. Is Over $1 Trillion, Study Finds
By: Matt Ferner
Based on everything I have read or watched so far for this class, the obvious solution seems to be to make improvements and provide resources to neighborhoods in need so that people can have access to better jobs, increase their economic status, and decrease stress in their lives. All of these improvements in neighborhoods should reduce the number of many people in jail who have made "poor" choices because of their status of being "poor."
As Ferner discusses, jail goes beyond just the person behind bars. It is the families and communities that suffer as well. Creating better neighborhoods creates more opportunities and hopefully will gradually stop the cycle of generations after generations of people being incarcerated. There is not enough money to help people in jail, so why not help them before they even get to jail?
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