Here is the first article. Identify if the issue is local (Oregon), national, or international. Then, state what the issue is. What is the problem that the article is written about. Finally, what is your opinion about the event the article is written about? Do you agree with the decision? Disagree? Why or why not?
"School Scraps Race: Specific Mentoring Program" Article
You must post your NAME and the CLASS PERIOD that you are in at the bottom of your post. It must be at LEAST 1 paragraph, and at the MOST 3 paragraphs.
Remember: I will monitor what is posted, if you post anything that is inappropriate for Lincoln High or for the classroom I will not allow it and you will receive a zero for this assignment.
I'm excited to read your thoughts about this issue. Read the article carefully :)
-Ms. Stoller
Ben Davis
ReplyDelete2nd Period
Civics
The issue is a national one. A school in Pennsylvania wants to be able to have students mentored by someone of their own race. The data suggests that this boosts test scores and increase graduation rates. However, opponents of this idea say that it is discrimination. It is pointed out at the end that people that are similar learn better from each other.
I believe that this is a positive idea. While it might seem like they are just trying to separate races, it is also enabling students to do better. The principal is doing the right thing and taking raw data and using it to benefit the students. However, I do not believe that it should be mandatory. Only students likely to fail a class should be required to use this service.
The article deals with a national issue. In Pennsylvania there is a school that has started a mentoring program that matches the kids with a mentor of their same race. Despite data suggesting an improvement in test scores and graduation rates, the critics claim that this is discrimination.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this not a bad idea. If the kids feel more comfortable working with mentors of the same race, and learn better then there seems to be no problem. Isn't it an improvement in grades a good thing overall?
Sam Hunter
Period 2
Civics
William Mao
ReplyDelete2nd Period
It is a national issue since the article deals with events outside of Oregon, but within the United States.
It is ridiculous to scrap a beneficial mentoring program when faced merely with criticism. Just because some parents and hypersensitive onlookers believe categorization by race is "wrong", if the program allows students to bond with others, gain confidence, and improve their academic situation, there is no reason for harsh comments to shut it down.
If we expect our educators to bring out the best in our students, we must expect them to triumph over criticism. So, in conclusion, I condemn the spineless administrators who buckle at the slightest sign of pressure, and I hope that effective programs like these will find their way across the nation.
This issue is a national one, because it deals with an issue outside of Oregon but still inside the United States. A school in Pennsylvania decided to get rid of a mentoring system that allowed students to be mentored by people of their same race. The program was stopped due to a “storm of criticism.”
ReplyDeleteI really don’t see why this program was stopped. The data showed improvement in the students’ grades, and a boost in self esteem was reported. I’d think the school administrators would be happy with this improvement in grades, because it improves their reputation as a school. The students and the school administration both win, so it makes no sense for this program to be stopped.
Spike Madden
Period 5
Civics
This is a National Issue because it is within the United States, but outside of Oregon. The issue is that a school in Pennsylvania has eliminated a mentoring program that partnered students with a mentor of the same race as them. They have eliminated the program because many believed that is was discrimination and faced criticism for it, despite and increase in the students grades.
ReplyDeleteI think that they should have continued the program since many of the students grades were improving. Even though there is segregation of the students, parents and the school board should be pleased with the improvement in grades for the school.
Alex Swanson
Period 2
Civics
This is a national issue because it is one occurring in a state other than Oregon. The issue is that a Pennsylvanian high school scrapped a mentoring program that allowed students to be taught be teachers of their own race for a couple of minutes each day. This decision has caused a lot of criticism.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it should not have been stopped, since studies had shown that with same race teachers, students have noticeable improvements in their grades and self esteem.It was also noted that the teachers and students formed strong bonds, which helped a lot, and gave the students someone to look up to and could talk to. For the school, the improved grades could have increased their overall rating for academic achievement, and maybe even inspire other schools to take up similar programs, which could help the nation as a whole better educate students. There is no reason why the program was stopped, since it is positive for both the school, and the students.
Jimmy Jia
Period 5
This article is dealing with a national issue, because it is happening within the United States, but outside of Oregon. McCaskey East High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania decided to end a program that allowed students to be mentored by instructors of their same race. The program was originally started because of research showing that grouping students by race and gender was helping their academic achievements. The school noticed that strong connections were being formed between mentor and student, but some analysts said that the experiment was “misguided.”
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don’t think that the program should have ended. It was helpful both to the students’ grades and self confidence, which I would have thought was more important to the school than what a few critics said. Also, if the students in the mentoring programs don’t feel like the program is “misguided”, and are benefiting from it, then I don’t see why it should be stopped. I think that the school administration should have put the interests of the students first, and kept the mentoring program.
Isabella McVey
Civics
Period 5
This issue is national since it's within the United States, but outside of Oregon. The article addresses how McCaskey East High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania decided to stop their mentoring program based upon race and gender, due to extensive criticism and claims of is being discrimination.
ReplyDeleteI believe the principal chose well in his decision to create the mentoring program and should be able to keep it. He didn't create the program to segregate students, but rather make them more comfortable in hopes of creating a better learning environment for them to better succeed. His decision was based upon raw data, not assumptions created by any discriminating factors. None of the students were forced or pushed to participate in the activity, they were all voluntarily attending the mentoring and felt comfortable doing so. This program didn't even consist of a large part of the school day, only for 6 minutes a day, and 20 minutes twice a month, not even separating them for an entire class period. And finally, the students were shown to increase academic performance, not to be pressurized or demeaned as "discrimination" would do. The students were being helped and allowed more one on one interaction, not left at a disadvantage to other races or genders.
Rebecca Van Buskirk
Period 2
Civics
This is a national issue because its origin is in the United States, but outside of Oregon. The issue in this article is that a school in Pennsylvania has recently dropped a program which puts kids of the same race in a group for a few minutes a day, and that seemed to be working. It was dropped simply because of a few complaints about it being racist. The problem is if this should really be scrapped? it seemed to be working well for the students grades, and in helping them build friendships.
ReplyDeleteI believe they should bring the program back as long as the good results continue to come from it. They need to see it from all angles, the kids were doing better in school, and making new friends. These are two things all schools want, and to just scrap it because of a few complaints is irrational. I think they should've put some more effort into convincing critics that it was truly a good thing. I believe they could reinstate this program using all the positive feedback previously obtained, and I think they should.
Spencer Burt
Period 2
Civics
This article is national because it is located outside of Oregon but still in the United States. Basically, a school in Pennsylvania had a mentoring program which split people up according to race. Even though there was an improvement in grades, the program was forced to be stopped because of overwhelming criticism by parents.
ReplyDeleteI think that this program has both good and bad qualities. You definitely cannot ignore the data which showed an increase in grades. This is obviously a good thing. However, I think that this grouping of students also creates separation between the entire class. People of the same race would bond more with each other and not spend as much time with people of different races. The mentoring sessions are short in time, but I think that it is still relevant. Overall, I am unsure wether this program should continue or not.
McKenna Jones
Period 2
Civics
This issue is a national issue. The issue in the article is whether schools are allowed to seperate students by race and gender into different classes for a few minutes each day. In Pennsylvania there was a mentoring program that did this but shut it down due to the excessive criticizim they recieved.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do not agree with the criticizim this school recieved. This program was set up because research showed that it helped boost academic performance and self esteem. In the begining of the prgram, the school actually noticed the students improving bonds with eachother. Obviously this program is not intended to be bad and it was only intended to benefit the student, which it did.
Peter Kessinger
Period 2
Civics
The issue is a national issue. A school in Pennsylvania had a program where students were separated into groups by race and gender.
ReplyDeleteI can understand both sides of the situation. I feel like it is important to spend time with people that might be going through the same things you are. However, this is not necessarily connected with your race or gender. I also do not see how anyone could get much done in such a short time period. Overall I think the best way to compromise with this issue is to leave the decision up to the student. If they feel comfortable with it they should be able to participate
Francie Smith-Korn
Period 2
Civics
This article was about a national issue, which is taking place outside of Oregon. The issue was about a high school in Pennsylvania, where there was a program in which students could be mentored with people of their same race a few minutes every day. This program was later removed, because of complaints they received.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that this program was removed. This program wasn't supposed to be harmful, but was supposed to be a place where students could reach academic achievement. The program was voluntary, so not everyone had to participate. From this program, many students achieved better grades. Not only that, but it had helped students' self esteem and there were stronger bonds between these students and their mentors.
Jeneva Kuhn
Period 2
Civics
Being within the United States, this issue would be considered a national issue. This article talks about the efforts of a high school in Pennsylvania to create a unique mentoring program. This program divided students up into categories including race, gender, and language. It was created mainly to "enrich students' experiences through mentoring". Although improving overall test scores, there were complaints that this program was discriminatory.
ReplyDeleteAs for my opinion, I cannot decide if I think this program will be beneficial or not. On one hand, because there is tangible data to prove that the mentoring worked and improved test scores, it seems to be a pretty good idea. But then again, an issue in today's society is racial tension, so why purposely separate the students? I think that this could potentially cause more tension instead of alleviating it.
Anu Deodhar
Period 5
Civics
This issue is on the national level. It deals with a High School in Pennsylvania that seperated kids into mentoring groups based on "gender, race and/or language." The problem that some have with this is they feel it violates some previous court rulings that found it unconstitutional to "segregate" schools.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't believe there is any problem with this. The difference between the case in 1954 and current times is that this is voluntary seperation. The students aren't forcefully being segregated, and it even says in the article that they "voluntarily divided themselves ". If this has shown an improvement in test scores, attention to future possibilities beyond high school, and overall better enviroment for kids in students then why not?
Connor Hutchens
Period 2
Civics
This article is about a national issue, in which a school in Pennsylvania piloted a mentoring program that set up students with a mentor of their same racial background a few minutes everyday. The aim was to close the achievement gap, because studies show that students do better academically when around people, especially teachers, who are of the same race. However after much criticism, the high school decided to end this mentoring program.
ReplyDeleteThe very fact that the article pointed out that the class voluntarily divided themselves a few minutes each days shows that it was not against any student's will. One of the reasons why the achievement gap is so large in America between minority and white students is because many minority students do not have anyone to relate to in their schools. Schools need to move on from this color-blind educational system, because it ignores the reality that not all students are the same, and while white students have the comfort of being around people who look like them every moment, minority students do not have that luxury. There is a certain solidarity minority students feel by being among people who look like them, because they understand the extra obstacles they must live through, whether it be prejudicism, racism, or financial situation at home.
This is why schools have started African American studies, and the Black, Latino, Asian, etc. student union clubs. Also, because of the disproportionately negative portrayal the media gives of minorities (welfare, gangsters, rappers, etc.) it’s harder for minority students to find role models out there who come from the same background; obtaining that American Dream schools have taught us will happen if we work hard, because less tangible. A mentor of the same background will understand these students, give meaningful advice, and will help them pave a pathway for a better future.
Dina Yazdani
Period 5
Civics
The article involves a national issue taking place at a high school in Pennsylvania. The administration of McCaskey East High School decided to discontinue a newly formed mentoring program based on grouping students by race, gender, and or launguage.
ReplyDeleteIts difficult to render an opinion about this atricle because the information is scattered and incohesive. It appears to me that the writer is asking the question "is this unconstitutional?" based on the 1954 ruling of Brown vs The Board of Education, although this particular paragraph seems to be poorly written and misleading. My question is, is 6 minutes a day really a classroom or teaching experience? Or is it likened to the black student union or the jewish student union. Its unclear if these children are really being taught anything from this article. It boads the question why did the principle really stop the program? It doesnt appear that it lasted long enough for it to garner any usable data. I would never wish to advocate segregation in any form, but this article does not provide me with enough conclusive information to show that this program was truly a form of segregated education rather than more of a group meeting chosen by the students (as stated in the article) which is readily condoned in many schools throughout the untited states.
Spencer Rotenberg
Period 2
Civics
This article addresses a national issue. The article outlines a Pennsylvania high school's race-specific mentoring program and the subsequent reactions. The program ended up being terminated due to the criticism it received.
ReplyDeleteThe article gives some data supporting the program and various criticisms, but it does not contain any of the students opinions. The article does says that educators "initially noticed strong bonds being formed between all students and mentor teachers," but it has no first hand accounts from the students or any further opinion on the matter. It seems likely that some students would have protested the segregation. Was the program voluntary? That would make a difference. The reaction of the students would help me shape my opinion about how effective and morally correct the mentoring program was.
That being said, I do not think the program should have been shut down. It appears to have been doing no harm and probably some good. The article gives data that shows a correlation between race and gender based mentoring and improved academic performance, but that data is not from the school the article focuses on. The program should have at least been continued long enough to gather data from it. I think that kind of mentoring program would be a good idea, because race and gender are definitive, nearly inescapable, aspects of ourselves, and someone else who is the same race and/or gender as you may be able to empathize and understand you better.
Rachel Osmundsen
Period 2
This issue is a national issue that is inside the United States, but outside Oregon. The issue in this article was about a school in Pennsylvania, that dropped a program that separated students into different groups by race for a few minutes a day. The program was dropped because the school was getting complaints about racism and discrimination.
ReplyDeleteI think that they should bring back the program because it was working! The point of an education, well at least a good one, is to prepare students for their future. Since this program was creating good results and the raw data was proving it that it worked, I do not understand why the school would take that away from the students. Just because they were getting a few complaints should not be a good reason to take away a program that is benefitting the students. It is clearly obvious that the program is intended to be beneficial.
Despite my opinion, I can understand why these critics do not agree with this program. To separate students depending on their race goes against all the trouble Civil Rights Heros went through just to end segregation. An good example would be Brown vs. Education. If I was Oliver Brown, I would feel like all my hard work was wasted. Though separating kids by race did improve their test scores, it might go against what many people have been fighting for.
Hans Lee
Period 5
Civics
This article is a national issue because it occurred in the United States but not in Oregon. This article covers an issue about a school in Pennsylvania who decided to cut a mentoring system due to people's belief that the program was segregating students.
ReplyDeleteI can understand the reason for the school cutting the mentoring system because of all the criticism received from the public. However, if it was allowing students to be exposed to positive role models that they otherwise might not have received from their upbringing then I don't think the program needed to be stopped. This mentoring program allowed students to connect with other students and mentors and work as a group to enable them to become a more confident and successful student.
This mentoring program would be similar to students who receive extra assistance for example, math or english as a second language. These students could be pulled out of class for help, is this segregating? Aren't the schools and teachers only trying to help? This high school's program is just trying to help students on their path to success.
Mariko Hunter
Period 2
Civics
This article is a national issue, it is within the United States, but outside of Oregon.
ReplyDeleteThe article discusses how the McCaskey East High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania organized a mentoring program with students to be taught by teachers by the same race few minutes a day. By this mentoring program grades have improved and graduation rates increased, but this program has been rejected, because it was said to be discrimination.
Nevertheless, I believe this program the school provided for the students was a great idea. The mentor program boosted the students academic achievement and self esteem. Which the mentor program produced positive outcomes.
Diane Kim
Period 5
Civics
This issue is a national one because it deals with something outside of oregon but inside the united states. the issue of the article is that a school is putting children with mentors of the same race and gender. this has raised criticism from certain people and the school has decided to shut down the program.
ReplyDeletei do not believe that this program should be shut down. the school wasn't forcing people into these mentoring groups. also they where basing the program off data and not because they wanted to segregate the students. i think that this program should have been given more time and allowed to be watched further and see how the students react to it.
Dane Ramalho
Period 2
civics
This is a national issue. It is about the pros and cons of the separation of students into separate denominations like race and gender. There was a mentoring program in Pennsylvania that provided a mentoring program that separated, a few minutes per day, the students this way.
ReplyDeleteI don't like that this school was criticized. I understand how racial separation could be seen as trying to segregate, but I feel it is more about forming a sort of 'family' in which the members feel safe and at home with their own culture. If this was for all day it would be different, as no one would interact with the other cultures and people in the school. That would be a huge step backward for this country. However, several minutes a day building a family-like group with people that you naturally feel comfortable with is not bad. As research has shown people performed better academically this way. I am in support of this.
Corey Friedman
Period 4
Civics
This article concerns a national issue. In Pennsylvania, there was a mentoring program in which students were taught by teachers of their same race for twenty minutes twice a week. Test scored increased and students made strong bonds with their teachers.
ReplyDeleteHowever, analysts believe the program was misguiding, as it emphasized segregation of races in schools rather than integration. They support their argument mentioning that in 1954, segregation of races in schools is unconstitutional. Educators believe that they were merely looking for an effective mentoring program. They support their argument by bringing up that some schools are single-sex schools, and that type of segregation increases their confidence, engagement, and aspirations.
I disagree with the analysts stopping this program, because these students aren't being isolated from interacting with other races their whole time at school, just twice a month for twenty minutes. If the mentoring program is effective, then it should definitely be an ongoing program. The programs intentions are not towards segregation of races, but rather the increase in the students' success with learning.
Sophia Levenson
Period 5
Civics
This issue is national . The issue in this article is about a mentoring program in Pennsylvania that allows students to meet with others of their own race for a few minutes each day. The program had a positive effect on the students grades and overall well being but was shut down because of the criticizim it received.
ReplyDeleteI think that the mentoring program is a positive thing and it should continue despite critisizim. The students who did this program had an improvement in their grades, self esteem, and had bonding experiences within it and i don't see this as a bad thing at all. If its helping students improve then why should it be considered negative?
In the article, "School Scraps Race-Specific Mentoring Program", the issue is national. It can have an effect on everyone in the United States. McCaskey East High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, got rid of a mentoring program that allowed students to interact daily with mentors "of their same race". These mentors would help with problems from academic to social issues. After complaints about this program, the school shut it down. It was shut down because of all the bad publicity it was receiving.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like the original idea of this could have been great, but the way it was executed it doesn't seem to me like the best thing. Aren't we as Americans supposed to feel comfortable around everyone, and be able to open up and communicate with any mentor, not mattering what their race is? Even though the school obviously had good intentions, and that this "grouping" was boosting academic levels, I fell like in the long run it could maybe pull high school-ers apart. Now do we want that to happen?
Malia Naman
Period 5
Civics
The issue presented in this article was a national issue that takes place in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This article discusses how a school in Pennsylvania used to have a mentoring program that had students divide up based on their race and gender but was later taken away due to heavy criticism from the public. I don’t think it’s very good to divide up a student body based on their gender or race because then you would be encouraging all the students to create a bias about different races and genders. I also agree with this program being diminished because by splitting the students up, each student will only receive one point of view from only one race or one gender. In my opinion, I think it’s better for people to look at a situation or topic from multiple points of view, not just a single person’s point of view.
ReplyDeleteGranted, I do believe that this school had the right idea in mind, they just had the wrong approach.
Athena Tanada
Period 5
Civics
i believe this is a national issue as well. The article is about if schools should be allowed to be seperated by race and gender. There has been a case where this happened but due to the critizim they were made to shut it down. I do not believe that this is a good thing to do because the academic preformance will not improve just because there isnt the same race or the same gender. As stated in the article in the begining of the exploration to see if it would work the students did not show signs of improving.
ReplyDeleteThis article is a national issue. The article was about a Pennsylvanian high school that dicided to try a new way of improving their students grades. They divided the schools students into groups of gender, sex and color. This was meant to test if kids would be able to improve their grades/test scores. However due to its criticism it the program was shut down.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do agree with the shuting down of this system. The only reason I see this as a glimmer of hope is that it helps people create bonds. This was not intended as a bad experiment however in reality it does not seem that it would work in the long run because people would still meet after this and therefore it may upset the whole experiment. That is why I belive this would not work.
Danil Yemelyanov
Pr.5
Civics
This is a national issue because even though it didn,t happen in oregon and it doesn't directly affect me, it happened in the United States. The article talks about a school that used to have a program where students would be split up into different groups depending on race or gender. This program has sense been discontinued.
ReplyDeleteBecause of this program, the school received great amounts of criticism. i do not agree with this criticism, however because improvements in the students grades and self esteem were evident. If improvements were made in the student's life, a little criticism is a small price to pay. In my opinion, i believe the school should but the program back into place and other schools should have similar programs.
Jack Edwards
Period 5
Civics
This is a natinal issue. The article is talking about a school in Pennsylvania that atopped a mentoring program that matches kids up with a mentor of their same race. Some people think that the idea will boost the kids academics while other think it's a form of discrimination.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the program is a great idea. If the kids academics are improving and they are forming great bonds with people that are helping them out. I do not think the school is doing anything, they are only helping out kids improve in their academic level and that's what everyone wants for children isn't it? When someone actually tries to start a program people start bashing it? I say the McCaskey East High School should go for it.
Haley Dowell
Period 2
Civics
This is a national issue that happened in Pennsylvania. The article was about a high school that recently shut down a mentoring program which focused on matching students with mentor's based on race and gender.
ReplyDeleteThe article didn't have enough information for me to form a concrete opinion. While the outcome of this school's policy sounds good, it wasn't clear to me that they had established that the boost in self esteem and academic performance was due to the children having a mentor of the same race, or just due to them having a mentor in general. If the race of the mentor had anything to do with it, then I would say that scrapping the program wasn't a great idea, as it has proved beneficial to the students. If, however, the race to the role model had nothing to do with the positive effects, I'd say a modified version of the program that focused more on the idea of providing a mentor, regardless of race, would be in order.
Hallie Blashfield
Period 5
Civics
This issue is most likely national, however it may happen in international schools as well. The issue concerns whether separating students based on their ethnicity for their own benefit is actually doing harm by acknowledging differences between groups of people, in this case academic differences. I imagine people criticized the program because it could appear as though the school is taking steps backwards in the attempt to be color-blind.
ReplyDeleteI can see the pros and cons to a program like this. Although the purpose is to encourage minority students to achieve their goals, it may also create a stigma against certain groups. Because minority students are being grouped together to boost their "academic achievement", majority students might consider themselves naturally superior.
I think it is important that people of a minority do not let their differences be forgotten among a crowd of similarly ethnic people. I do agree that being surrounded by people of your same background could encourage you to embrace that background, and a student is more likely to listen to a teacher that they relate to. I really see the importance of this program. However, I do not know if the approach was fool proof. If there was a way to make it less like a school separating the "dumb kids" from the "smart kids" then I think it could work.
I agree with the decision because I don't think the program was well thought out but I don't believe the school should stop trying to develop something similar.
Natalie Ancona
Period 5
Civics
This article pertained to a national level. It was about a high school in Pennsylvania that tested students' optimal learning environments. It showed that students work better when surrounded by colleagues of the same ethnicity and even specifically gender.
ReplyDeleteThe problem that should be addressed in this issue, is is this method constitutional?
Even though it may be beneficial for student's learning, it is not necessarily legal. I think that this is an interesting but also a very controversial issue.
Based on the students best interests, I believe that private schools should be able to cater to their learning needs (as it has been in the past). But I think that enforcing this segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.
Lauren Caffee
Period 5
Civics
This issue involving mentors in McCaskey East Highschool is one that could be classified as a class issue. The mentor program is where they match mentors with students of a similar race. This has shown to make the students do better in school. But some people have argued with this.
ReplyDeleteI think they should go with the program. Because we are always looking for ways to make the school more efficient. This is one way to increase scores in school. So why not go for it? So what if its slightly discriminating. Its not that bad. They should look at the numbers and continue this program.
Isaac Ableidinger
Period 5
Civics
I believe this to be a national issue, since it is an American matter, but taking place outside of Oregon. The actual issue is that in a Pennsylvanian high school, a mentoring program involved dividing the students up according to race, so that they were with a mentor of the same ethnicity.
ReplyDeleteThough the students' grades did indeed improve, the program had to be terminated due to the overwhelming flood of parental criticism claiming this to be segregation, despite the researched data indicating that grouping students like this indeed boosts academic achievement.
Personally, I have mixed feelings about the decision made. Humans are not meant to be categorized. The reason these parents were so concerned about this program is because they’ve tried to raise their kids to the same opportunities and potentials, regardless of their nationality. On the other hand, having positive role models that can motivate the students (by instilling the idea of “if they can do it, so can I”), and can relate to their upbringing, would be very beneficial for students, as shown by improved academic performance.
Josh Gillis
Period 5, Civics
Kelsey Canfield
ReplyDeletePeriod 02
This is super interesting. I would like to know more about this idea. Because it seems like something like this wouldn't work in Portland. We tend to flaunt out diversity rather than try and segregate. I would be interested in reading more about how the students felt. I personally can't see something like this working at Lincoln.
This is a national issue dealing with a mentoring program at a school in pennsylvania. The mentoring program was set into place by giving mentors to groups of students who were separated into groups by their race. The program was then scrapped because of critisizm by people who viewed it as unconstitutional due to the separation of race. i think that this is not a good reason for them to scrap the program, because for the time it was in place it showed very positive results among the students, who had begun to develop close bonds with their mentors.
ReplyDeleteMichael Chesley
Period 2
Civics
I believe this issue is at the international level. Every country has different races and genders. I disagree with he program the article was supporting. I think it would be much better if we all work together and show give one another the help we need. this I believe would be much stronger because even girls that are struggling wit confidence and self-identity would see that the can be confident because it is not just their role model that accepts and wants to help them but that all her peers, both male, female and of different races is willing to help them. I think race is a wonderful thing. It makes everyone a little different. But I think that should be embraced by everyone. I do not think segregation would be the answer. It would only support the idea that each race is different and therefore, we have to treat each other different depending on our race.
ReplyDeleteThis article deals with a national issue. A high school in Pennsylvania created a mentoring program where students were matched with an instructor of their same race. However, due to critics claiming this system to be discriminating and unconstitutional, it was stopped.
ReplyDeleteHarsh criticism doesn't seem to be a good enough reason to shut a program like this down. If it really does create stronger bonds between teachers and students, improve test scores, and increase graduation rates, it shouldn't be stopped. I think critics of this program are focusing only on the separation of race rather than it's effectiveness with the students and the school's reputation as a whole. However, I don't think a program like this should be required by the school.
Ellie Anderson-Smith
Period 5
Civics
This article deals with a national issue. A high school in pennsylvania had a meantoring program where students were matched with a instructor of the same race. due to critics claming this system to be discriminationg and unconstitutional it was stopped.
ReplyDeleteTo me this program should not have been shut down. if the progrma helped the student do better and form bonds with teachers then more school should encourage thee types of programs. the critics are focuing on what could be racsim then what is truely happening and what is actually helping.
Andrew Abudakar
Period 2
Civics
This article is dealing with a nation issue because the school in question is outside of oregon, but inside the United States. The issue in question is regarding a school which cut their same race mentoring program.
ReplyDeleteThis is a problem because the program had many avid supporters. I disagree with the schools decision to shut down the program because the program helped students learn. The reason why i believe why many people dislike the program is because they believe it is racsist to seperate the students. To me that doesnt really matter, because the students are getting additional help.
Splitting the students up by race and or gender is very controversial and maybe even illegal because the Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional in 1954. I think that it is fine because it is optional and it is a program set up to help the students. Some studies have showed that all girl or all male schools do better on test scores compared to co ed schools and the mentors are only with students for around 20 minutes a day.
ReplyDeleteAlex Hinchliff
Period 2
Civics
This article deals with a national issue because it affects the United States as a whole. McCaskey East High School in Lancaser, Pensylvania allowed a mentoring program that would make it so students were separated by race for a few minutes each day. The mentors would help the kids with problems such as academic and social issues. These programs received a great amount of complaints, therefore it was shut down.
ReplyDeleteI feel as though the original idea of this program had great promise, but the manner in which it was executed was very poor. I feel as though Americans should feel comfortable with any people, no matter the race, because the United States is so diverse. Even though most probably the school had good intentions, and that this discrimination was raising academic efficiency. All in all, I feel like high school students could be pulled apart by this, and I believe high school should place tolerance at a higher priority than being comfortable.
James Inisan
This article is a national issue, because it is within the united states boundaries. the article takes place in Lancaster Pennsylvania in McCaskey East High School. This high school tried to start a mentoring program for the students in which the students could spend a little time each day in which the students learned from a mentor of the same race. But this program got many complaints so it was cancled.
ReplyDeleteI feel this program started out with good intentions but the group wasn't to smart about how they went about this. I believe while it wasn't a bad idea it was a terrible way to go about this goal. On another note I believe no matter what they were trying to achieve with this group all they would have accomplished is racial segragation and really changed the atmosphere in which every student learns.
Malcolm Montero
Period 2
Civics
Because this is a form of segregation, I think people automatically relate segregation with a negative connotation. Had I heard of this idea before it all happened, I probably wouldn't be all for it. It shouldn't matter the race of you and/or your mentor, but after seeing the results, maybe it does. Although I do not fully support segregation, I believe after realizing how the kids' grades improved, it doesn't make sense now to take away something that is clearly working. The article states that "Educators at the school said they initially noticed strong bonds being formed between all students and mentor teachers." I believe this is a positive thing, and should continue on the condition that it is voluntary, because forced relationships don't last.
ReplyDeleteLyndsi Zapata
Period 2
Civics
Meena Rockney
ReplyDelete2nd Period
Civics
This issue is a national issue; it deals with potential segregation of race and gender in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
After reading this article, I have mixed feelings about what the controversy is. I understand that in the case Brown vs. Board, it ruled segregation unconstitutional, but if McCaskey East High School wants to try out this new mentoring system, where the students divide themselves (voluntarily) by race and gender, then I don't see much of a problem. I'm a bit confused as to whether it was the school board's idea to do this, and to bring in mentors of different genders and races so the students could decide themselves how they wanted to be divided, because in that case, I could see a problem. However, if the results of this are positive, and students are improving their self-esteem and grades, and choosing to divide voluntarily, then I think it shouldn't be made into a huge deal because it's the students' decisions.
this is a national issue because it takes place within the confines of the united states, but is outside of oregon. it deals with a high school in pennsylvania that had implemented a mentoring program in which students were paired with mentos their same race and gender. it was swiftly removed because of strong opposition.
ReplyDeletei think that the program should be re-implemented simply because of the fact that the selected students grades improved from this program. although it may be on the border of potential segregation, it did, however, improve the academic performances of students. it should be put back into place, but in a new, reworderd way with clearer intentions.
spencer barnes
period 2
xeng xiong
ReplyDeletethis article is a national issue, it about a A Pennsylvania high school that allow a mentoring program that allow the kids to be thought by a mentor of their own race. the groups was split by gender, race and/or language and met with their mentor 6 minutes every day and for 20 minutes twice a month. the problem that is being brought up in this issue is in 1954 the Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional and that this program would be defining that ruling.
I believe that yes this is against the 1954 supreme court ruling because it is segregating each group by race, gender and color but it only for 6 minutes a day and it seem to be helping out the student build a stronger connecting with their mentor and teacher therefore building a better learning environment and better education opportunity. i myself think that yes this would be a nice program because due to the way the groups are divided it be a lot easier to connect with other students and the mentor.
jordan portlock
ReplyDeleteperiod 2
civics
the article is a national one dealing with events outside of oregon that occur within the united states. its contents regard a pennsylvanian high school and their decision to discontinue a school mentoring program. the program took time during school to pull out consenting students in groups based on race, gender, and language to be mentored together by a member of the local community.
i suppose i'm fairly indifferent to this event. i don't feel that it is unjust to have these mentoring sessions because it required student consent. if it was something that made the student feel uncomfortable then they could simply choose not to attend. for the students who did attend i'm sure they will miss it as it likely benefited them or else they wouldn't have gone. or maybe they just wanted out of class. this is also a viable possibility. it's a shame for the kids who really enjoyed it but there are resources outside of school they can look to for mentoring. it isn't a huge civil rights issue as some would suggest because, again, it was consent based.