The problem with student performance: income inequality. I tutor students from the affluent Wootton High School and the so NOT affluent Gaithersburg High School. Average 1st SAT reading scores for my Wootton students? ~580. Average 1st SAT reading scores for my Gaithersburg HS students? ~460. Wootton class sizes: 25-28. Gaithersburg HS class sizes: 32-35. Wootton parental involvement: helicopter parents; most with degrees, driven for their kids to succeed, well aware of how to help their kids get into college. Gaithersburg HS parental involvement: Oh, where to begin? Many single parents; most parents without experience beyond high school; English not spoken at home so student language ability is often hampered; parents attempt to be involved but not able due to schedules or lack of awareness--many have no clue about grade inflation (As and Bs at a poor school may mean nothing), standardized tests, study habits, when to apply for college and how, they imagine scholarships for their kids but dont know how theyre awarded. (One parent said, [Shes] smart. [She] can get a scholarship -- a year after her daughter, with a 3.2 GPA and decent but unimpressive SAT scores, shouldve started writing essays to apply. The mom assumed the local community college offered BAs and graduate programs. Such systemic ignorance means uneducated parents dont know what to do, so the kids are on their own, and teachers are stretched too thin to help them.)
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 11:23:16 +0000
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