I know everyone's psyched to see "The Lottery Ticket," with Lil Bow Wow and Ice Cube, but the movie we should really be watching is "The Lottery." The Lottery tells the story of a group of children hoping to get into a charter school via lottery. Lotteries are just that, with school officials literally picking names out of a hat. Those unlucky enough not to get picked have to deal with overcrowded schools, schools mired in financial ruin and gangs battling over turf while students try to carry on the school day. I've worked in the Chicago Public School system and can tell you first hand that public education in this country is a travesty. Though charter schools offer some modicum of hope in the barren field that is education, not everyone can get in. What about those who don't get chosen? What becomes of them?
It's a shame that as an "industrialized" (With our present health care situation, I am debating this moniker), nation, a quality education is becoming something only the rich can truly afford. Public education should be the mainstay of our country, and should churn out bright and enthusiastic students from all walks of life, regardless of color or class. What most people don't understand is that without a solid foundation in the basics, (such as reading, writing and mathematics), higher education is definitely out of reach. I've heard of schools in poor neighborhoods with no heat in the winter. Students who deal with overcrowded classrooms and outdated textbooks. But then we point to these same students and say "You all got to do better!" I truly believe that people of color get the short end of the stick when it comes to education, as most schools in low-income areas are seriously underfunded and disproportionately African American or Latino.
What many people don't understand that in our "Land of the Free," economic and racial inequalities begin with our educational system. Property taxes dictate how much money a school receives, which means that one school gets a high-tech computer lab, while another can barely afford to cover the cost of desks. That's strike one. Strike two begins with the educational experiences afforded to most students in elite school districts. They are given polo matches, soccer and music classes. In urban areas, students can no longer even afford to have recess or classes dedicated to art and literature. Strike three culminates with the closing of local schools that don't meet mandatory test goals. Testing has become so pervasive in education that many districts have lost sight of the true meaning of what being educated means. Many teachers simply "teach to the test," and subjects such math and science are being pushed aside in lieu of reading and language.
With all this going on, it's no wonder America is falling behind educationally. We wonder why there is a dearth of American medical doctors, scientists and mathematicians and why most Americans are not equipped to handle even the most basic of mathematical equations. Those in power often see the problem as an "urban" one, and don't realize that everyone is affected by the way education plays out. It's an American problem, with the problem spreading across the country like the plague, pulling us farther away from global competitiveness. So this weekend, research this movie. Sit down and think about what's going on with our broken educational system. And maybe, just maybe we can start seeing some change.
Well put KeKe. It is rediculous how the level of education is not across the board in the country. As a parent I have been on both sides of the spectrum; paying for private education as well as scrambling for the lotto. It should not matter where you reside as to the level of education your child may or may not receive. When it boils down I guess as always it's the "have" and "have nots".
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