Based on your personal knowledge, what is the "achievement gap"? What does it mean and why does it exist?
If I were to define the achievement gap in Cincinnati based on what I have seen, I would say that it is a difference in school performance based on ethnic background and race, and specifically between Caucasians and African
Americans, and between lower class and middle to upper class students. This “gap” seems to be a result of the educational opportunities between the groups, and the differences in the environments in which they live. For example, as a Caucasian whose family is lower upper class, I have had the very best education since I started pre-school. My parents could afford to send me to one of the best private schools in the city. My school had the best technology available to help me learn, and I had opportunities to learn outside of the classroom such as studying marine biology
in Hawaii. Additionally, when I was having difficulty in AP Calculus, there were resources available both inside
and outside of school where I could get help. In contrast, in lower class areas of the city where there is often a large African American population, the schools do not have as many resources to help students learn, class sizes are larger,
and there aren’t as many opportunities for students to get extra help when they are struggling. Many of the schools
are also located in areas with high crime rates, and this has to affect one’s ability to focus on learning.
Another reason for the achievement gap is that the home lives of many lower class and African American families are often not ideal. My parents both have good jobs, and so we don’t worry about having enough money to buy the necessities of life. However, that’s not the case with others. Many families worry about where they will get their next meal, or if they will be able to afford a place to live, a winter coat or a visit to the doctor when they are sick.
I can imagine that under these circumstances, education is not as important as trying to stay alive.
People like to talk about America as being the land of opportunity. Unfortunately, in every city across the country, including Cincinnati, there are many people who do not have an equal opportunity for educational (and life) success because of the achievement gap that exists.
If I were to define the achievement gap in Cincinnati based on what I have seen, I would say that it is a difference in school performance based on ethnic background and race, and specifically between Caucasians and African
Americans, and between lower class and middle to upper class students. This “gap” seems to be a result of the educational opportunities between the groups, and the differences in the environments in which they live. For example, as a Caucasian whose family is lower upper class, I have had the very best education since I started pre-school. My parents could afford to send me to one of the best private schools in the city. My school had the best technology available to help me learn, and I had opportunities to learn outside of the classroom such as studying marine biology
in Hawaii. Additionally, when I was having difficulty in AP Calculus, there were resources available both inside
and outside of school where I could get help. In contrast, in lower class areas of the city where there is often a large African American population, the schools do not have as many resources to help students learn, class sizes are larger,
and there aren’t as many opportunities for students to get extra help when they are struggling. Many of the schools
are also located in areas with high crime rates, and this has to affect one’s ability to focus on learning.
Another reason for the achievement gap is that the home lives of many lower class and African American families are often not ideal. My parents both have good jobs, and so we don’t worry about having enough money to buy the necessities of life. However, that’s not the case with others. Many families worry about where they will get their next meal, or if they will be able to afford a place to live, a winter coat or a visit to the doctor when they are sick.
I can imagine that under these circumstances, education is not as important as trying to stay alive.
People like to talk about America as being the land of opportunity. Unfortunately, in every city across the country, including Cincinnati, there are many people who do not have an equal opportunity for educational (and life) success because of the achievement gap that exists.