Melanie Guerrero's Mid-Term Thoughts on Educational Norms by Guerrero, Melanie C.

Elementary School

melanieguerrero5 — 2024-11-06 03:19:36 UTC

During elementary school, I was placed on a trajectory to success due to my classifications as "gifted" and "honors". I quickly realized that this set me apart from other students who did not have these labels, including different teachers and opportunities such as being a Safety Patrol for my school.

Middle School

melanieguerrero5 — 2024-11-06 03:25:49 UTC

As I progressed towards middle school, I joined the IB Middle-Years program which provided me further opportunities to expand my knowledge across a variety of different fields like STEM. I noticed that surrounding classrooms that were not IB had the "worse" teachers and more disciplinary issues looking from the outside in. Clearly there was a distinction between IB student and non-IB students.

High School

melanieguerrero5 — 2024-11-06 03:59:00 UTC

During high school I continued on in the IB program, and was offered a plethora of Advanced Placement (AP) classes to take. These experiences ultimately allowed me to have a competitive enough resume to be accepted to the University of Florida.

As I reflect on my academic journey, I acknowledge that I had many privileges in my public schooling that many students did not due to norms in our education system that serve as barriers to access to opportunities such as the ones I had.

melanieguerrero5 — 2024-11-06 04:16:57 UTC

As a first-generation college student, it was only when I began the process of seeking higher education where I found myself running into challenges such as wealth disparities. My Cuban immigrant parents could not afford the fancy SAT and ACT tutors that some of my wealthier peers could. I had to navigate the process all by myself. My school did not even have a college advisor. Moreover, when I arrived at UF I felt in a way isolated--seeing as many of the students I saw around me were visibly more affluent or accepted due to legacy. They were born to attend university, and raised by their parents to see higher education as an obvious "next step". This made me feel in many ways like an outsider.

Reflecting on the experiences of marginalized students and the systematic injustices they face in the public school system, I can imagine they face similar feelings at a larger scale. The barriers are far greater, and there is plenty of research to support the negative impact some educational norms have had on upholding them.

melanieguerrero5 — 2024-11-06 04:19:53 UTC

melanieguerrero5 — 2024-11-06 04:20:08 UTC

1- Discriminatory Surveillance and Disciplinary Practices

melanieguerrero5 — 2024-11-06 04:23:53 UTC

There is no doubt that Black and Brown students disproportionally receive more disciplinary action than their White classmates. Racism and the systematic oppression of students of color within schools is what guides such punishments such as indoor and outdoor suspension. These practices are reflected in the United State's mass incarcerations too and it is not a coincidence. Here in Alachua County, Black students have had higher rates of out-of-school suspension since before 2017. This has contributed to a significant achievement gap between Black and White Students in literacy rates, and other metrics most likely due to the countless hours of class time missed as a result. Low literacy rates are also directly related to the school-to-prison pipeline. Not only that, but socioeconomic status has also been proven to have an impact on educational success and opportunities.

2- Education as a Private Good

melanieguerrero5 — 2024-11-06 04:24:05 UTC

Today, education is seen as a form of social mobility that everyone has the opportunity to achieve. However, this is not entirely true as education has become almost like a luxury product only the wealthy can afford to buy. Making one's way to the top of the caste system of American society is only feasible for those who have the privilege to invest in their education whether it be attending "better" more well resourced schools, tutoring, extracurricular activities, college success coaching, taking college entrance exams, paying thousands of dollars in college tuition, and the list goes on. Public school education has veered away from being a right each child deserves to something that can be used to buy your way to the "top", a private hot commodity. This educational norm is dangerous because it makes it difficult for schooling to be equitable and accessible to students in marginalized communities or underfunded schools.

3- Criminalization of Students of Color

melanieguerrero5 — 2024-11-06 04:24:17 UTC

Attributing Black children to being the way they are due to the "culture of poverty" in which they were raised helps to advance this notion that psychologically they are more inclined to participate in delinquent behavior which is entirely false. Erasure of Black history and that of other marginalized groups. Black children are more likely to be seen as "negative influences" on white children which is why many decide to follow their biases, implicit or not, and send their children to other schools private, charter, magnet, or unreasonably far away. This also contributes to what keeps schools segregated in the modern-day.

4- Authoritarian Pedagogy

melanieguerrero5 — 2024-11-06 04:24:30 UTC

Teachers as "dictators" in the classroom, or authoritarian figures instead of facilitators of collaboration. Students are expected to obey direct orders from the teacher instead of engage with the content (engaged pedagogy).

5- Standardized Testing as a Measure of School Success

melanieguerrero5 — 2024-11-06 04:24:45 UTC

School closures due to underperformance on standardized tests and threatened funding. Teaching for a test rather

Beyond Reform (Meiners, 2016)

melanieguerrero5 — 2025-01-31 07:04:24 UTC

Achievement Gap Between Black and White Students in Alachua County

melanieguerrero5 — 2025-01-31 07:06:41 UTC

Public Goods, Private Goods (Labaree, 1997)

melanieguerrero5 — 2025-01-31 11:09:28 UTC

Literacy Behind Prison Walls (DOE, 1994)

melanieguerrero5 — 2025-01-31 11:24:30 UTC

Modern-Day School Segregation

melanieguerrero5 — 2025-02-03 03:39:42 UTC