Are less Affluent Schools like Jails?

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school to prison

Is a child’s future fixed at birth, determined by family strength and the parent’s financial status? Karl Alexander notes in his research that all of the kids who got a better start at life because their parents were married and working ended up better off and for the poor kids from single-parent families stayed poor.The cycle of poverty is upsetting, charter schools are moving in urban areas, and African American communities house the majority of charter schools in Chicago. In Chicago the Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s transformation has turned turnaround charter schools into prisons. In predominantly African American enrollments in Chicago, my home town, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office has taken over due to low test scores, concerns with instruction, and leadership. Imagine entering a quiet school with lines of students with their hand behind their back, walking a straight line behind the one in front of them, and eyes staring at the back of another students head.   All you need are the lines on the ground and then you have your prison. There is no talking during lunchtime, the students are taught to respond to authority and not to talk at lunch. “When asked teachers whether their schools would have the same rules if the children were white, the young teachers responded with a unanimous no, coupled with the fear of losing their jobs if they, too, did not obey.” (Samina Hadi-Tabassum)As for the middle school and high school students, walking through metal detectors daily, police presence throughout the halls, and the consistent dropout rate, it worries me that our children are suffering.  Not only are the students treated like prisoners but the teachers are as well.  They are expected to follow protocol and procedure when it comes to the prison-like culture. Many teachers are afraid to make changes, speak up, or edit classroom materials because they are  afraid of being terminated by administration. Parents, if your child does not enjoy their school, talk about their school environment, and/or share their learning experiences. This is not the place for your child.-“New York City charter schools suspended students at almost three times the rate of traditional public schools during the 2011-12 school year. (Chalkbeat New York)Does this remind you of a school in Indianapolis? I only wonder how student feel in these situations in elementary, middle, and high school. Students, parents, and teachers stand up, you don’t have to take this, do something about it. Everyone Speak-up and speak-out!  Express your concerns, and If your concern is not addressed… Then leave! Fact Sheet: School-to-Prison Pipeline by Carla Amurao-For every 100 students who were suspended, 15 were Black, 7.9 were American Indian, 6.8 were Latino and 4.8 were white.-in 2009, the Los Angeles Unified School District reported the following numbers for out-of-school suspensions: 62% Hispanic students, 33% Black students, 3% white and 2% Asian.-in 2009, Spokane, WA expelled 20% Black students and 60% white students and offered no educational services. Of those who were expelled, 10% Black students and 60% white students were done so under zero tolerance policies.-In St. Louis, MO schools, the Normandy School District’s 98% Black student population drew in the following: 100% of all students who received more than one out-of-school suspension, 100% of those who were expelled without educational services and 100% of those who were referred to law enforcement.-New Orleans, LA has numbers equally as staggering. The Orleans Parish School Board’s expulsions under zero tolerance policies were 100% Black, with 67% of their school-related arrests being Black students.