Achievement gap in k

Achievement gap in k In academic institutions the level of learners’ performance varies, with some learners being average, others above average, and others falling below the average level. The variation in the performance of the pupils could occur in some class or category like gender, race, disabilities, religion, and culture. Moreover, the difference in the academic performance of students in schools among these categories is what is referred to as achievement gap. Several factors can lead to underachievement in schools. Some are community related factors while others are factors within the learning institutions (Snell, 2003). One of the problems that cause the achievement gap is lack of enough funds. For instance, pupils from very humble background often do not perform well compared to their financially able counterparts. They often lack supplementary learning materials that may not be provided in schools, and their general education is surrounded by debts. Another problem is poor education pol icies. Educational policies adopted within a particular nation may cause the achievement gap. If there is no standard national curriculum, then the students progressing into k-12 level from different middle level schools may have difference in performance.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Achievement gap in k-12 education specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The religion and culture of an ethnic community can also be a factor contributing to achievement gap. Culture would have influenced the educational level of parents, further influencing their perception on education. In other words, some students come from communities that are in the process of civilization. Racial, gender, or tribal discrimination, which eventually leads to inequitable access to educational facilities, is also a cause for achievement gap. Racial discrimination has been witnessed in several parts of the world, for instance, discrimination between the White and African American. Pupils subjected to different environments will definitely perform differently even if their abilities were the same. Disability among students can also lead to a gap in the performance. If the appropriate aid were not given to physically or psychologically impaired students, then they would not be able to cope up and meet the required standards. The quest to narrow the achievement gap among the students is a collective responsibility that calls for the co-operation of all education stakeholders. To solve the problem, stakeholders should note that all students in a school could achieve the academic standards that are set if only the factors leading to the underachievement were identified and proper measures taken. Teachers are the immediate stakeholders who can blow the whistle on the occurrence and causes of the gap. The first step in dealing with the gap is for teachers to â€Å"commit themselves to engaging in deep inquiry into the nature of the prob lem and its root causes† (Snell 2003). They need to accept that narrowing the achievement gap is their responsibility; thus, they take initiative both within the school and outside the school to correct the situation. Teachers at all levels should ensure that they adhere to the provision of the national curriculum. They should ensure that students with special needs are given the necessary incentives to enable them to have equal learning opportunities. In addition, they should advocate for a similar and conducive learning environment, as well as cultivate the spirit of unity and group-work among the students.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Finally, even though there is very little that teacher can do in relation to cultural and economic factors emanating from families, enlightening parents on educational matters could help. Some parents are just attitudinally poor; ho wever, a slight motivation could enlighten them. Nevertheless, community culture like preferring to educating boys over girls should be highly challenged by teachers in the parent-teacher forum. Reference Snell, J. (2003). Who is Responsible for Closing the Achievement Gap? The Role of School Leaders in Acknowledging and Accepting the Challenge. New Horizons for Learning. Web.

buy custom Sex Education vs. Teenage Pregnancy essay

buy custom Sex Education vs. Teenage Pregnancy essay Sex education is the process by which people obtain information as well as beliefs about sex and the relationships that exist among teenagers especially with the opposite sex. Sex education is meant to improve the skills of young people so that they are able to make good choices in their lives. Teenagers have a right to sex education since it assists them in understanding their rights and thus protecting them from both sexual abuse and exploitation that lead to teenage pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted diseases. Besides, sex education helps the young people to understand affairs that affect their lives and make them feel comfortable in their relationships. Basically, sex education should be increased in schools so as to prevent problems such as teenage pregnancy although there are some reasons why it may be inappropriate to offer it in schools. Support for sex education in schools From a research done recently on whether sex education should be offered in schools, showed that the idea of sex education in schools has been controversial. This is because most of the people support the idea while others do not believe that sex education can aid in curbing teenage pregnancy and other problems. Actually, sex education assists the teenagers in comprehending their reproductive system and the birth control methods that are appropriate for preventing unwanted pregnancy. Therefore, the education is not only beneficial to the student but to the parents and teachers as well. Parents and teachers benefit in such a way that they escape the embarrassment that can be caused by their teenage girls getting pregnant at such at early age. Sex education also enables the teenagers to dispel myths, which are often misleading. For instance, there is a myth which states that a girl cannot get pregnant during her first intercourse. Most girls follow the myth but end up being pregnant at a very tender age. Most of the teenagers get pregnant due to lack of comprehension on sexual matters. They rely on wrong information which misleads them. Sex education helps in revealing the truth to the teenagers because it consists of facts. Therefore, it should be used increasingly in schools to curb such problems. The truth is that anyone can get pregnant regardless of the age, time and background. Studies have proved that most of the teenagers are usually sexually active before they are introduced to sex education. Those students who get sex education at an early age have proved to be more responsible and most of them abstain from sex because they understand the risks associated with early sex. That is the reason why schools become the best place to offer sex education although some may oppose the idea. Ideally, sex education should be offered by parents but most of them do not have the required knowledge while others feel uncomfortable when discussing the topic on sexuality with their teenagers. Hence, the education needs to be offered in schools and becomes very effective especially when incorporated in a wide program of education that concerns: relationships that exist among people of the opposite sex; responsibilities for every person; ethical and religious features associated with sexuality. An appropriate program in sex education must be introduced in schools to curb the rising rate of teenage pregnancy. The program should ensure that the teenagers understand the different concepts used in sexuality. Importantly, it should educate teenagers on how to cope with body hormones as well as the positive effects that arise from abstinence. The program should also incorporate the birth control pills that are essential in preventing pregnancy. However, there are some girls who come from religions where birth control methods are prohibited, and in spite of this, most of them end up getting pregnant at an early age. Therefore, sex education is very essential and has got more positive effects especially o the parents and students. Another important reason as to why sex education should be introduced in schools to curb sex-related problems is because; sex is usually a very strong force that initiates during teen years. In addition, matters related to self-esteem spin around issues associated with sex. So, girls should be taught on how valuable virginity is and they should never feel alienated because they do not have boyfriends. Besides, they should be made to understand that feelings are normal due to the hormonal actions in the body but they should always know how to control themselves. Increasing sex education in schools to prevent problems such as teenage pregnancy is beneficial because students require a place where they can deal with their thoughts and feelings openly without anyone placing a judgment on them. In addition to that, providing sex education to them increases their chances of asking questions and get the correct answers. The education favors most of the students since many parents never give them such kind of an atmosphere. If students do not obtain their answers on sexuality in the class, they proceed to find for themselves by engaging in sex thus leading to pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. A certain author said that, but I can almost guarantee that a high percentage of unwanted teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases are the result of sexually uneducated minds participating in self-taught sex education methods. In other words, they weren't informed of the risks involved and proceeded with self experimentation (Kohler et al, 2008). Sex education should be used in all schools since the teenagers need to know the possible outcomes of physical intimacy between two people of the opposite sex. From the consequences, the teenagers are able to understand that such kind of intimate relationships can lead to unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, abortions and dropping out of school. Thus most of them fear those problems at their age and thus try as much as possible to avoid such kind of relationships. This can therefore lead to a decline in the number of pregnant teenagers in the schools. I do not know of any other place where students can get proper information concerning sex apart from schools, where they are well educated on various issues that would have a lot of impact in their lives. Teenage is a very a very important stage but very risky. It is the time when teenagers get introduced to new things in the world. Many attributes at this stage spin around matters related to sex. Boys and girls are able to express their emotions and they experience an inevitable sexual attraction towards people of the opposite sex. Besides, their minds become active sexually. It does not mean that they engage in sex but much of their attention lies on sexual matters. Therefore, unless teenagers get proper sex education, then the rate of problems related to sex such as teenage pregnancy will never decline in schools. Since knowledge is power, some people think that sex education will make the teenagers become worse and adventurous. On the other hand, this form of knowledge enables them to come out of the risky effects associated with promiscuous sex. Importantly, this education should also consider the physiological reality of the act so that it becomes very effective. Besides, students benefit from sex education when done by an experienced psychologist instead of the gym teachers, who might not be very serious. The psychologist helps the students in fighting the psychological mind games played by sex on them. Hence, it becomes very beneficial to them and thus can lead to a great decline in teenage pregnancy because they get to know the methods of fighting the psychological mind games of sex. The concept of sex should be well explained in schools because most of the parents are never responsible and also do not admit that their sons and daughters are in aa different stage in their lives. More to that, most of the children who come from unstable marriages may not have time with their parents to discuss issues related to sex. So, the school becomes the only place where such children can acquire sex knowledge. If sex education is not done in schools especially for the sake of such children, then teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases become very rampant among teenagers. So sex education should increasingly be used in schools to curb teenage pregnancy and other negative consequences. Sex education in schools enable them understand that sex is not a game but a great and serious responsibility. They are educated on how to protect themselves so that they can be safe. Besides they learn on alternative ways of intimacy with their loved ones other than sex. Moreover, they are made to understand that they should not have sex because other people do. In spite of the great pressure on teens to engage in sex, they are taught on how deal with the pressure by not giving in. Therefore, there are many good ideas learnt by teenagers on how to handle sexual matters and that is why sex education can aid in curbing consequences of sex such as teenage pregnancy. In Canada, for instance, sex education has been used increasingly in schools to prevent unwanted teenage pregnancy. This has become very successful since the pregnancy rate among the teenagers has reduced drastically (Kohler et al, 2008). Reasons against sex education in schools On the other hand, sex education can turn out to be unnecessary depending on the material to be discussed. The material should always be delivered to the students in an effective manner and if that is not the case, then it should not be delivered to them. To start with, a certain topic in sex education can make the students feel embarrassed or become easily stimulated. This makes students from out-of-control classrooms to behave in a funny manner while some of them make unsuitable remarks. Besides, it can increase teenage pregnancy instead of reducing them because the student are unable to control themselves and end up having sex to fulfill their desires. Hence, this becomes one of the reasons why sex education should not be introduced in schools to curb teenage pregnancy. Secondly, education on sexual matters tends to go against many religious and ethical beliefs. This is because most of the schools do not emphasize on abstinence as the safest method of preventing pregnancy, but teach the students on how to engage themselves in safe sex. Actually, many religions as well as family standards are usually against sex, whether safe or unsafe, until marriage. So, this is another reason why sex education should not be introduced in schools to prevent teenage pregnancy. Another reason why sex education should not be taught in schools to curb teenage pregnancy is because students do not take it serious. It is commonly perceived as a recreational course in many schools since the students are never tested as they are done in the other subjects. Therefore, most of the students do not bother to listen and become very ignorant thus leading to wastage of time. Moreover, sex education should not be introduced in schools to curb teenage pregnancy since the teachers involved in teaching the subject might not be properly trained and most of them may support their own beliefs as well as values instead of sticking to the facts. This misleads the students thus leading to ineffectiveness of this education. In conclusion, the benefits of sex education being taught in schools outweigh the negative side of the argument. Therefore, it should be done in all schools and this can help in reducing problems such as teenage pregnancy. Parents, teachers and students should always remember that sex education is a special method of curbing the consequences of sex. Thus, it offers safety which is a responsibility. Buy custom Sex Education vs. Teenage Pregnancy essay

Strengths and Weaknesses of a Theoretical Framework Centered on Term Paper

Strengths and Weaknesses of a Theoretical Framework Centered on Universal Notion of Gender - Term Paper Example Because of the situations presented to them by such a framework, members of the same gender learn to love and help each other in the society. For example, men may learn to work together and help each other as they strive for financial resources to help their families. On the other hand, women also learn to help each other in carrying out household chores. A theoretical framework that is centered on universal notion of gender has strength of helping the society maintain law and order. Once a belief concerning a certain gender becomes universally known, those concerned, that specific gender, tends to abide by what that theory states. Women for example naturally respected men and effectively take care of the family. In this case, gender roles in the society are strictly observed thus maintaining law and order. From birth, each child learns what is expected from him or her in the society. If such children learn that, that is what is universally expected of them, or that is their status in the society, they easily accept and practice it. In most western countries, though women are engaging themselves in professional jobs, they still uphold the universal believe that they are their family’s caregivers. Therefore, they ensure, at all costs, that they observe their roles at home as expected. After work, they go home to take care of chi ldren and cook for the family as men go out to enjoy themselves in bars. The weaknesses of a theoretical framework that is built on universal notion of gender include gender discrimination. In this case, if a certain gender, male or female, is universality viewed as weak, for example females, such a gender will be discriminated universally in every society because such a notion is usually believed to be a fact. The other weakness of a theoretical framework that is built around the notion of gender is that, it hinders self expression and individual strengths. In this case, individuals may fear to come out publicly and express themselves because of fear of the way the society might perceive them. For example, the African woman is believed to be inferior to the man, and is only supposed to care for the family. Such a woman may hardly express herself, and interests in the society, especially political ambitions. In Africa, women rarely stand out in the society for political or education al reasons because they can rarely succeed as almost everyone believes that that is not their role because of gender. Domestic labor among girl children has also had a negative impact on school performance among girls. They are expected to help their mothers as they learn the roles of motherhood instead of fully concentrating on education. Kinship and the Understanding of Gender Kinship is the study of links between different people that is based on descent, adoption or marriage (Vigdis, n. d.). Kinship has been a domain of definition in anthropological investigations since it was incepted in the late 19th century. Major paradigmatic changes in anthropology like feminism, cultural turn and political economy made kinship to undergo many restructuring phases. Detailed complexities in the system of kinship were considered important in the understanding of societies that were not from the west. Anthropological studies of kinship have been used to help in the understanding of gender as w ell as new forms of family, genetic development, lesbian and gay movements. In anthropological history, kinship is seen like a social institution