Question 2. The PSAA (1999) and PSA are similar because they are both geared to focusing awareness about the problem of perceived low student performance in urban schools. The premise of the PSAA in particular was to demand that the schools release test results as a way to hold school administrations and teachers accountable for poor performance on tests taken in the classrooms. The announcements wanted to blame the schools for problems that have to do with urban social issues. The purpose was to convince parents to become angry with teachers and the school administrations based on test scores. Another reason to release test scores was so that schools could be compared on the basis of scores and judged as better or worse. The announcements assumed that parents did not know that their child was not doing well in school. The assumption was made that the parents would be angry if the test scores were made public and want the government to do something.
“Let’s work together so our children will succeed in school! Our urban schools and our children need your input and ideas for solutions. The social problems are difficult but we can solve them together. Support our children by taking time to volunteer at your school. Share your positive ideas for supporting our school children in urban areas.
Critical Action:
Brainstorm with other parents to find solutions to the challenges in our urban schools. Work with the school and the community to address the problems. Write a letter to your representative and demand changes in the community that will help children perform better at school. Organize and Vocalize!”
Question 4.
Welfare of Groups: The Poor
Jonathan Kozol is an advocate giving all children the education and opportunities they deserve. Documentaries on the disadvantages of poor children and the writings of Kozol do not accept that poor children are different than middle class and rich children. The important work of people like Kozol and the documentary makes show in words and visually how the problems in poor communities are overwhelming to children. In fact, the children in poor communities are like throw away children who do not matter to society. Hidden in America demonstrates that fairness is not part of the American educational system. The problems are deeply embedded in the way wealth is distributed in the U.S. Kozol demonstrates that if the playing field was fair and all children were in schools with equal funding, all children could succeed. One policy that was very popular in the past allowed pre-Kindergarten programs to help children gain the necessary skills for learning regardless of their family situation. Other policy ideas would make teacher’s pay fair across schools, target teacher training of college students from Appalachia and other types of ideas that result from ‘thinking outside the box.’
Question 5:
Response to 3:
I agree that the documentary of Children of the Mountains hit upon all the stereotypes that are associated with very poor people, and possibly, especially poor people in Appalachia. So many of the problems are also part of the affluent society, such as alcoholism, drug use and incest, but no one knows because people with money are not held under a magnifying glass like poor people. Affluent people do have the advantages of dentists and good health care so the problems are not the type that are physically noticeable like missing teeth. You also make a good point that the corporations that make money from the poor people are not interested in giving back to the community; only taking money from the community. Personally, I don’t think the dentist should have to pay for helping others, I think that the government is responsible for caring for the people of the country. People pay taxes and if the taxes were used to help people who need help, the whole country would be better off. The investment would show in the successful education of so many more children.
