pushing past the achievement gap

Pushing Past the Pushing Past the Achievement GapAchievement Gap

Gloria Ladson-BillingsGloria Ladson-Billings

University of WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin

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Problem with “Achievement Problem with “Achievement GapGap””

SemanticSemantic Academic performance is not staticAcademic performance is not static Problem characterized merely as one of Problem characterized merely as one of

student achievementstudent achievement



We have other “gaps”We have other “gaps”

School Funding GapsSchool Funding Gaps Health GapsHealth Gaps Wealth GapsWealth Gaps



Problem with Achievement Problem with Achievement GapGap

SubstantiveSubstantive Not newNot new Imbedded in our thinking about poor children Imbedded in our thinking about poor children

and children of colorand children of color



The language of deficiencyThe language of deficiency

““The parents just don’t careThe parents just don’t care ““These children don’t have enough These children don’t have enough

exposure/experiences”exposure/experiences” ““These children aren’t ready for school”These children aren’t ready for school” ““Their families don’t value education”Their families don’t value education” ““They are coming from a ‘culture of They are coming from a ‘culture of

poverty’”poverty’”



““The parents just don’t care”The parents just don’t care”

Parents express their care in a variety of Parents express their care in a variety of waysways

Parents may not be informedParents may not be informed All parents are not asked to participateAll parents are not asked to participate



““The children need The children need exposure/experiences”exposure/experiences”

““Experiences” used as a substitute for Experiences” used as a substitute for teachingteaching

Sympathy as a proxy for rigorous teachingSympathy as a proxy for rigorous teaching Giving students “permission to fail” rather Giving students “permission to fail” rather

than “demanding success”than “demanding success”



““These children are not ready for These children are not ready for school”school”

What does being “ready” mean?What does being “ready” mean? If we presume the home environment to If we presume the home environment to

be detrimental why not have them come be detrimental why not have them come regardless of our perception of regardless of our perception of “readiness”?“readiness”?

When to start school is a variableWhen to start school is a variable Wealthy families have the luxury of giving Wealthy families have the luxury of giving

students more timestudents more time



““These families don’t value These families don’t value education”education”

Poor families place higher value on Poor families place higher value on educationeducation

History disputes this claim of not valuing History disputes this claim of not valuing educationeducation

The meaning we give to behavior varies The meaning we give to behavior varies depending on who is engaged in itdepending on who is engaged in it



““They are coming from a ‘culture They are coming from a ‘culture of poverty’”of poverty’”

Poverty is not a culturePoverty is not a culture People are getting rich talking about a People are getting rich talking about a

“culture of poverty.”“culture of poverty.” We have a “pedagogy of poverty” We have a “pedagogy of poverty”

(Haberman, 1991)(Haberman, 1991)



Pedagogy of PovertyPedagogy of Poverty

Giving informationGiving information Asking questionsAsking questions Giving directionsGiving directions Making assignmentsMaking assignments Monitoring seatworkMonitoring seatwork Reviewing assignmentReviewing assignment Giving testsGiving tests

Reviewing testsReviewing tests Assigning homeworkAssigning homework Reviewing homeworkReviewing homework Settling disputesSettling disputes Punishing non-Punishing non-

compliancecompliance Marking papersMarking papers Giving gradesGiving grades



Not an Achievement Gap…Not an Achievement Gap…

An Education DebtAn Education Debt Centuries of neglect and denial of educationCenturies of neglect and denial of education Exclusion from the political processExclusion from the political process Engaged in unethical and immoral treatmentEngaged in unethical and immoral treatment

pushing past the achievement gap

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