First Reading Assignment

For my first reading assignment on the academic achievement gap between African-American (and maybe Latino students) and white students, I decided to read the book Keepin' It Real by Harvard University Professor, Prudence L. Carter.  This book has a primary focus on minorities (excluding Asians) who live in low-income communities in New York and other urban cities across the country.  Carter uses these students as a platform for the rest of the minority population of students in the country.  She believes that outside and societal views and impressions are hindering Black and Hispanic students from reaching their full potential. I have learned many new things about the academic achievement gap from the first 50 pages I have read thus far.  The most significant aspect of the book so far is that despite a general assumption, most African-American and Latino students believe that education is extremely important and beneficial to the progress of their life.  They believe that education is the ticket for success.  Sixty-four out of the sixty-eight students in Professor Carter's study said that "getting a good education is a practical road to success for young Black and Hispanic persons like them" (23).  Carter then goes on to say that according to a 1998 national survey by Douglas Downey and James Ainsworth-Darnell, "Black students report more optimistic occupational expectations, view education as more important to their future, and maintain more pro-school attitudes than do their White counterparts" (25).  This was shocking to me.  It seems that Blacks believe more in the value of an education as compared to White students, but are seemingly not achieving at the levels of White students overall.  How could this be?  This seems really ironic to me.   I look forward in continuing to read this book and explore her other possible reasons for this achievement gap and possibly some of her plausible solutions for the United States chronic problem.

Senior Paper Topic

I have decided to change  my initial topic of teen aged drug use in Brookline to the academic achievement gap between minority students and white students.  I did a project on this topic last school year and am still very interested in it.  Questions I will attempt to answer are "Why is there an achievement gap?" "What can we as the Brookline/Boston community do to close the gap?" "Do we solely blame the students or do we solely blame the teachers and administration for allowing some students to fall behind others?" "Is there an achievement gap in private schools and boarding schools as well?" "Does the achievement only affect minorities who live in public housing or in a lower economic setting?" "Have there been any improvements with the closing of the gap in recent years?" And the list goes on...

I'm not sure if I should only focus on African-Americans/Blacks or if I should focus on all minorities students in general?  I'm leaning towards primarily focusing on black students.  I will talk to administration in BHS such as Dr. Vick, Dr. Mims, Mr. Lezama, Dr. Bob, and some teachers as well.  I want to get their input on why there is an achievement gap and what they think are possible solutions/ways to close it.

As for sources, there are several books written on the academic achievement gap that give reasons for the gap and possible solutions as well.

I know a good amount about my topic that creates a good starting foundation for my research.