Talking Equality Article

The article "Talking Equality" is about how Blacks and Latinos' scores are lacking on the PSSA, and how Whites and Asians are getting better grades on it. Philadelphia School District Superintendent Arlene Ackerman stated how Blacks and Latinos have severe disadvantages on the test, because of differences school system wide. Such differences refer to lack of books and a lack of equal disciplinary action among the various ethnic groups. "Poor" students are "up for grabs" because of their poor test performances. Blacks and Latinos are 24 points behind Whites and Asians in the Reading and Math sections on the PSSA.

Many teachers are decreasing their class sizes because their kids are not doing good on the PSSA. 59% of the students in the emotional support classes are mostly Black and Latino boys. The article says that Black males and Black females are both perform worse than Whites and Asians on the PSSA. Whites make up 12% of high school students, but 28% of those are in magnet schools. About 11% of Blacks and 10% of Latinos in high school are in Advance placement classes compared to 32% of Asians and 24% Whites. I think that is very bad and it proves that the school is failing Black and Latino students.

I agree that most Whites and Asians do well on the PSSA, but I disagree that Blacks don't do well on the PSSA, because of their intelligence level. Tests only measure how well you can tack test, no how smart you are. I only agree that most Whites perform better on the test, because they are given more access to resources and are given many more opportunities to apply what they learn than other groups do. I think that poor grades on the PSSA can be used to say that Blacks people are dumb and don't accomplish anything. I think when Black people think about it we can do anything and get good grades as well as score proficient or even advance on the PSSA or class tests if we were taught the same test taking skills and provided with the same resources that Whites and Asians do. Blacks and Latinos are having difficulties in class, but all we have to do is ask for help or do better work. I think the article should address different ways that can be used to motivate Blacks and Latinos to do better and apply themselves.