Working in a High-Needs School

Working in a High-Needs School

The American Dream is predicated on the idea that America is a land of opportunity, where any person, without regard to the circumstances of their birth, can achieve excellence, financial prosperity, safety, and security, if only they work hard to achieve that dream. In some respects, the American Dream is a reality; America is a land of incredible economic mobility, and people do have opportunities in this country that do not exist elsewhere. However, there is a nightmarish aspect of the American Dream, one that is built on America's legacy of racism and exploitation, which greatly impacts the likelihood that some children will ever obtain the necessary tools to attain greatness. When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Brown and the other plaintiffs in Brown v. Board of Education, it determined that inferior educational facilities created a lasting harm for African-American students. While this country has taken great steps to ameliorate race-based discrimination in education, the reality is that many urban school districts are still suffering from de-facto segregation. Today's segregation is based on class rather than race, because wealthy people live in areas that can charge higher school taxes and provide a better education to their students. However, I believe that the message sent by the Supreme Court in the Brown decision still rings true today; inferior schools make children feel inferior, and make it less likely that they will ever achieve greatness.

I believe that all children should be given the same opportunities to excel in life, which is why I want to work in a high-needs school environment. I know that I cannot give all of my students the advantages of a stable, high-income, two-parent home, a safe neighborhood, and parental involvement. If educators could do that, then there would not be an education crises in this country. However, I can work to make sure that all children receive the same real opportunities in their educational environment. This means going beyond giving children theoretical access to the same opportunities, and making sure that high-needs children have the same real access to resources and opportunities. If I can play a role in bringing educational equality to disadvantaged children, then I think that I can help make a meaningful difference in the lives of disadvantaged children. Just days ago, the United States experienced an inauguration that was historically significant because a poor, African-American child of a single mother attained the highest office in our nation. Obama would not be President if it were not for Brown, but, the reality is that he probably would not have been able to become President if he had been raised in New Orleans, where financially disadvantaged black boys do not generally receive a quality education. Who knows how many potential presidents have languished because of substandard schools and educational poverty? I want to end that cycle, which is why I want to work in a high-needs school.