by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman
The achievement gap refers to the difference in academic achievement between ethnic groups--a problem that has confounded educators for 50 years.
Two years ago Keven MacDonald, principal of the Smedley School in Sacramento, CA came into a room and threw two large binders on the floor. He told the students that experts don’t have the answers. Calling them the Achievement Gap Club, he asked for advice.
Kids began telling teachers what should be done in teaching students of color and what it’s like being an African American or Latino with a white majority. They made a video in which they and their teachers talked frankly about expectations, stereotypes and cultural differences.
MacDonald shows the kids test scores and explains that when the majority group goes up, so do the others. But the gap remains.
Using a freshwater pond in which all fish swim, he compares it to the school. While a freshwater fish can’t swim in a salt water pond, and vice versa, if you put a little bit of salt in a freshwater pond, both kinds of fish can survive.
With former students coming back to tutor and a college prep curriculum for everyone, the gap is being closed. Learn more at sacbee.com.
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