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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]But, unfortunately, some kids just have way too many challenges to overcome. And, you can see the changes as they kids get into upper elementary. The kids who get support at home do their homework, get their projects in on time, have involved parents, etc. just do better. I don't really think they're 'smarter'. They are just more ready/able to learn because of all the support their receive at home.[/quote]

The kids who have no support at home just get further and further behind at this point.  The gap widens as they go through school.  [/quote]

The gap also widens each summer as kids from my Title One school don't have the opportunities that wealthier kids have.  School just started last week and the highlight of the summer for most kids was going to the pool once or going to the ocean (Sandy Point).  My DD went with me to NYC, Philly and Asheville this summer.  We did a variety of activities in each place (historic, cultural, etc) except for FL where we went to Universal Studios.  We went to the library every other week, she went to sleepaway camp for 2 weeks where she went horseback riding, sailing, hiking, camping, did archery and riflery, etc.  I had her practice her multiplication facts and do a math workbook since it isn't her strongest subject.  My students have none of these opportunities.  When I start testing them tomorrow, many if not most of them will have lost a year's worth of ground in reading.  If they started on reading level J last year and make it to level O, they will most likely test back around level J.  That's what happens when they don't read at home despite having an online reading program available to them to use for free over the summer.  You can lead a horse to water...  It is frustrating and to top it off, the teachers are often blamed for this.[/quote]

Not having opportunities is NOT the case in DC.  Absolutely NOT.  DC has FREE world-class museums and art galleries and tons of FREE cultural events and educational resources that most other kids anywhere else in the country would never see the likes of, and which kids anywhere else would be lucky to have access to in terms of enrichment.  But talk to the typical low-SES DCPS student and he/she has likely never even set foot in any of the museums.  And why?  Because at home, the kid's parents, relatives, neighbors, et cetera have no fucking clue or care, and even if a well-intentioned teacher tries to enlighten them about all the opportunities that are out there, the trust and interest isn't there, they just view it as stupid shit that only eggheads and white people care about.  I say this from experience.  Deep cultural problems exist.  It's pretty sad.[/quote]

+1.  And in some cases and some homes, a child's interest or curiosity in anything academic or cultural is ridiculed.[/quote]

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