Segregation in schools

Throughout learning about the history of segregation and its effects, I was surprised to learn how blatant and direct racism was in the housing market. Those loan brokers would outright not give loans to black people and people from other minorities. that being said, I already knew that schools today were still segregated because of my own experiences. I was raised in the suburbs in the midst of my parent's divorce, meaning I moved around a lot. However, my mom did whatever she could to keep my brother and me in the "best" most competitive schools. This meant that even though I went to three different elementary schools, they all led back to the same middle and high school. They were all also predominantly white, with my middle school class likely having over 60 percent, white students. This changed, however, when I went to a different high school than my brother. Even though this school was in the same district and only 30 minutes away from my house as opposed to my brother's 15-minute drive, the neighborhoods surrounding it and the people were drastically different. Instead of the big houses with gates around their yards, there were houses, some of which looked like they were about to crumble, and little to no gates to get into the neighborhoods. The majority of students were in minority groups, and those that weren't were probably like me, who attended one of the three magnet schools hosted on this campus. This was because the student rate of enrolment, without the magnet schools, wasn't enough to keep the doors open. Without these magnet schools, the kids that lived right across the street might have had to make a 15-minute walk to the next closest high school. A school that itself had two magnet programs to keep its doors open. All this to say, while legal school segregation ended decades ago, its effects and the effects of racism are still felt. Without proper amending of laws and practices, these effects will continue to affect all students' education and prejudices.

What does money really have to do with it?

I believe that a lack of proper funding for public schools has a "snowball" effect that causes more and more problems to pile up behind it. When a school can't afford to pay qualified and knowledgeable teachers, whether due to mismanagement of funds or a lack of funds overall, they are forced to hire unqualified teachers. This causes students to be at a disadvantage compared to their peers who may attend a school that can afford to hire qualified teachers. While the funding may not be the only reason for “low-performing” students, it definitely contributes to it. Our current educational system is, to put it lightly, pretty broken. And while I do not currently know about every issue or how these can be solved, I do know that better funding would help. Money doesn't, and shouldn't be expected to, solve any and all problems. Paying teachers more will not suddenly make every teacher perfect. What it will do, however, is give teachers the freedom to improve. Having three months off of work can be a great time for that. Except it's not, and for most isn't time off. It's three months of unemployment or three months of having to work one or more different jobs just to get by. If teachers were instead properly compensated for the summer months or paid enough to not receive any income for three months and still be able to support a family, they could use these months to learn more. To become better for the students they love.

What has had the greatest impact on you as an educator?

 One of the main reasons I want to be a kindergarten / lower elementary teacher is because of the teachers I had at that age. They greatly impacted me and taught me many things in the short 9 months I spent with them each year. My teachers comforted and cared for me in my time of need. For some context, I am a very anxious person, having been diagnosed with both generalized and social anxiety. Also, when I was around 5 or 6, my parents divorced. (They are back together now, but that's beside the point). I didn't understand my emotions very well, and my teachers, instead of getting mad at me for my outbursts, would help me. If I came to school not wanting to do anything, they would show my kindness and cheer me up. Not only did they help me then, but they also showed me how important being a teacher is. They helped me understand that teaching is not all teachers do. They help, support, and love those kids five days a week for nine months. They greatly impacted my past and future. Most of all, they inspired me to be just like them.

How do we talk about issues that matter?

 When we feel a topic is important to discuss, it can be one of the hardest things to bring up. The necessity of talking about this certain topic makes it feel overwhelming and stressful. For example, let's say you want to ask a possible new friend about their political beliefs. This could be something that is of paramount importance before deciding if you want to get closer to this person. The way people approach topics can say a lot about them. If they casually bring it up versus sitting the person down and making the discussion's importance clear. Almost all of us want to avoid uncomfortable situations. We want to have a good time, especially when in a group setting. We don't want to pick fights or seem like we are trying to start one. This causes people to steer clear of issues that matter. However, when such topics are brought up, the room's mood can change drastically with just one comment. Bringing up someone's death, politics, racism, the economy, or a number of other divisive topics. One way we communicate that an issue is important to us can be through body language. By holding eye contact, leaning forward slightly, and sitting or standing with your chest uncovered (not crossing your arms), you show subconsciously that you are listening and actively engaging in the conversation. When talking about these things that matter to us, we also use direct communication styles to get straight to the point. Using only necessary details and descriptions while trying not to diverge from the main topic.

What is the purpose of schools?

 I believe the purpose of schools, and specifically public schools are to prepare students to be productive members of society. While not all of the information learned in school every student will use, it is meant to give them a foundation so they can figure out what they want to use. One kid might use algebra every day in their accounting job and never use color theory, while one of their classmates might go on to use color theory every day and never use algebra. The schooling system teaches the kids all of these skills anyway so they can make the decisions for themselves about what skills they do or don't want to use. Marginalized students might not get introduced to all that a non-marginalized student has the ability to get introduced to. This can cause the first student to not realize their full potential or get stuck in a job they don't enjoy. What these marginalized students need from our schooling system is a system that wants to work with them. They need schools willing to go above and beyond to help them get on the path they need to succeed. This can mean many different things for many different kids. Maybe one kid needs extra math tutoring before school. Other students might need more time in class to work on homework as they have to take care of their siblings after school. It varies so much from kid to kid, and our schooling systems need to be able to adapt to help these kids, or they will fall through the cracks.

-Riley Vincent

Why Teach?

Hi, I am Riley Vincent. I want to be a teacher because of my teachers' impact on me when I was younger, and I love kids. When I was in Elementary school, my teachers helped me learn how to use my talkative nature and fast-paced brain for productive things rather than being disruptive. I want to be that teacher for kids and help them put their creativity and energy to good use. To hopefully help them find their passions and help them learn to love themselves as they are. My first, third, and fourth-grade teachers all had an incredible impact on me. They helped me learn to be productive without stifling my creativity. I am so grateful to them and want to be that teacher for kids in my future.

I hope to teach lower elementary, specifically kindergarten. Starting school can be very stressful for little kids, and I want to be a kind presence that will help ease them into the next thirteen years of their lives. I've had experience working in a daycare near my family home and loved working with the almost kindergarteners. I also would like to teach in underprivileged schools to hopefully help those kids that don't have as much of a head start in life as their peers. My other passions and hobbies include video gaming (Minecraft, The Sims, and Slime Rancher mostly), bullet journaling, and creating art. I love helping others, and I hope to one day be a foster parent to older kids.

-Riley Vincent