Issues Facing K-12 Leadership in Urban School Settings
What are the issues facing urban education in the K-12 environment and beyond? And to what extent is crime a hot topic among urban educators?
Some have attributed the complicated issues facing urban education including crime and poverty to school boards and administrations, but the larger issue seems to be funding and support from diverse institutions (Wilson, 1994). The need for high quality and universal educational standards is a must within the United States, where public schools vary tremendously in their ability to serve varying populations (Wilson, 1994).
At this time there is a great deal of support for education as a whole, but not enough emphasis on curing the ills that exist within the urban education sector of education.
There are many issues facing urban education, including poverty. Within the United States for example, the problem of child poverty exists, which impacts a students chances for success. A 1997 survey suggested that the U.S. had the highest child poverty rate (18.9%) of any industrialized nation in the world (Goldenberg, 2003). Generally schools with higher levels of poverty among students and families are staffed with less experienced and qualified teachers which further complicates the issue of urban education (Goldenberg, 2003).
Generally American students attend school for a greater length of time than citizens in other countries and more students attend college than in any other nation (Wilson, 1994). The highest achieving students within the U.S. compare well with students in foreign countries (Wilson, 1994). This is not necessarily the case however among students attending urban educational facilities, where the standards of education for many seem to be lower than what they should be. This may be attributed to a number of factors including funding and lack of emphasis on curing the ills of urban education within the United States.
Urban public educational facilities however face unique challenges, including changing family structures, high rates of student turn over, spending constraints and districts that are complicated to operate (Wilson, 1994). Urban schools generally have larger concentrations of students who are racial and ethnic minorities, with more than 75% of the population usually non-white (Wilson, 1994). Urban education also face higher concentrations of poverty, with more than 50% of students eligible for free or reduced fee lunches (Wilson, 1994).
Other challenges facing urban educators include higher rates of crime,...
Urban Data Review Reades et al. (2007) presented some interesting ideas about the use of data collection and its practical application in an urban setting. The authors discussed spatiotemporal data as a new object of desire for those wishing to control and understand human behavior in large city. The authors called for a synthesis of data information from all available sources, including telecommunications companies to assist in urban planning and understanding
Education As the educational system continues to come under increasing amounts of scrutiny, the teacher is ultimately at the fulcrum of pressure. They are required to digest new educational theory and sort out the wheat from the chaff. They are asked to manage increasing levels of diversity in the classroom, and students who come to class across a widening spectrum of preparedness. At the same time, they are expected to be
In 2005, the average population density was 89 persons per square mile, and the majority of the population is located in southern California, the San Francisco Bay area, and the Central Valley (MSN Encarta, 2006). The sections below examine the geographical patterns of California in relation to the issue of urban encroachment. Literature Review Many researchers have studies the historical patterns of agriculture in California and have determined that it's loss
Many of the busts in the ghetto are drug-related, and Hilfiker notes that our society punishes petty drug offences far more severely than crimes committed by people who are wealthy. Meantime, the mandatory minimum sentence takes away the possibility of any plea bargaining; it takes away the judge's previous alternative of giving probation for a petty crime and hands the power to the prosecutor, who runs for office on
Urban Poverty Readings Summary/Critique These readings examine the relationship between race and poverty, especially in urban settings that present a setting of de fact segregation. Mincy and others note the social reinforcement of certain poverty-perpetuating attitudes and behaviors in urban poor communities, which still have a predominantly African-American population (Mincy 1994; Massey, 1990; Jargowsky & Sawhill 2006). Specifically, the jobless rate among males living in ethnically segregated urban is noted by
principals who are equity-oriented, marginalized dynamics may crop up in schools that are changing demographically at a rapid pace (Cooper, 2009). This essay reflects upon how educators may play the role of transformative leaders by way of carrying out cultural work that tackles inequity, addresses and/or attempts to remove socio-cultural limits, and promotes inclusion. The theories of Cornel West on 'the new cultural politics of difference' appraise the topic,
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now