School Girls by Peggy Orenstein

This article is about

• Gender
• Equality
• Inclusion
• male domination
• School Curriculum
• Understanding

Argument

Orenstein argues that schools need to being to include women as equal members of society. Schools and there male dominated curriculum need to include women heroes in order to foster equality in life. Also being aware, to not exclude males to make them untrusted and disengaged.

This article written by Orenstein is an article that at first i was unsure where she was going maxing gender and racism. But I came to understand that she wants inclusion, inclusion that helps boost young girls self esteem. This is important according to Orenstein. However the article also lets us know that there should be a good balance. She tells us that many guys are turned off by Mrs. Logans style because it is all about women. An example would be the 8th grader who films. Or the girls in her class saying they don't like it either. Showing that already males take precedence in their lives as dominant figures. We as a society need to create more equality. And men also need to not be afraid of change and of the idea of women with total equality and to accept them as such. And for example Hillary Clinton. Men still refuse to vote for her because of the face she is a woman. It is something that needs to be worked on and changed in order for our society to move on.

"One More River to Cross" By Lawrence

Main Points:

• Segregation
• Progress
• Desegregation
• Dred Scott
• 14th Amendment
• Plessy v. Ferguson
• NAACP
• Brown v. Board of Education
• Codes of Power

The main Point of the reading written by Lawrence Tells us that the decision by the supreme court, while a good decision, was never truly encored until years later. This was truly enforced when the schools in Arkansas were desegregated, when the Governor stood in the door of there central high school. It took Federal troops sent by the resident to open the schools for all students of all races. This however was many years after the decision by the Supreme Court.

This article reminds us that there is hardly equality, because everyone needs special treatment to achieve there optimal learning, on any subject. However, the codes of power, to me seem very prevalent in this article. By having these codes involved in our education system, we hold everyone back not creating a conducive learning environment.

Tracking: Why Schools Need to Take Another Route by Oakes

What this article is about:

1. Tracking
2. Ability
3. Class size
4. Curriculum
5. Quality
6. Teachers
7. Assessments
8. Opportunity
9. Alternatives

All if these are very important to the idea Oakes is trying to say. I believe this quote is important:

"Students do differ from one another, the most striking differences among them might be in the speed at speed at which the master sequential present skills."

I believe that all students learn differently, and this tracking system seems inherently unfair to those who have more difficult learning. If it is known that you are a slower learner, you automatically get put in what is basically a Lower class of learning. Getting what, to me, is a second class education. Compared to those on the "Fast Track" get an education that is better.

The article tells us that high track students get a better education than those on the "gifted program" and all of these students were almost guaranteed admission into my high school. This program puts select children on a path to a better education. Because of this track there are kids who go to lower class schools and receive a lower education. These other schools also have a high drop out rate. This contributes to a lower education quality than the students in a better school

Tracking to me seems like a bad idea, i do feel like we need to have classes for people who excel, but offering the same education to all is key.