Pushing Past the Achievement Gap Gloria Ladson-Billings University of Wisconsin

Problem with “Achievement Gap ” Semantic Semantic Academic performance is not static Academic performance is not static Problem characterized merely as one of student achievement Problem characterized merely as one of student achievement

We have other “gaps” School Funding Gaps School Funding Gaps Health Gaps Health Gaps Wealth Gaps Wealth Gaps

Problem with Achievement Gap Substantive Substantive Not new Not new Imbedded in our thinking about poor children and children of color Imbedded in our thinking about poor children and children of color

The language of deficiency “The parents just don’t care “The parents just don’t care “These children don’t have enough exposure/experiences” “These children don’t have enough exposure/experiences” “These children aren’t ready for school” “These children aren’t ready for school” “Their families don’t value education” “Their families don’t value education” “They are coming from a ‘culture of poverty’” “They are coming from a ‘culture of poverty’”

“The parents just don’t care” Parents express their care in a variety of ways Parents express their care in a variety of ways Parents may not be informed Parents may not be informed All parents are not asked to participate All parents are not asked to participate

“The children need exposure/experiences” “Experiences” used as a substitute for teaching “Experiences” used as a substitute for teaching Sympathy as a proxy for rigorous teaching Sympathy as a proxy for rigorous teaching Giving students “permission to fail” rather than “demanding success” Giving students “permission to fail” rather than “demanding success”

“These children are not ready for school” What does being “ready” mean? What does being “ready” mean? If we presume the home environment to be detrimental why not have them come regardless of our perception of “readiness”? If we presume the home environment to be detrimental why not have them come regardless of our perception of “readiness”? When to start school is a variable When to start school is a variable Wealthy families have the luxury of giving students more time Wealthy families have the luxury of giving students more time

“These families don’t value education” Poor families place higher value on education Poor families place higher value on education History disputes this claim of not valuing education History disputes this claim of not valuing education The meaning we give to behavior varies depending on who is engaged in it The meaning we give to behavior varies depending on who is engaged in it

“They are coming from a ‘culture of poverty’” Poverty is not a culture Poverty is not a culture People are getting rich talking about a “culture of poverty.” People are getting rich talking about a “culture of poverty.” We have a “pedagogy of poverty” (Haberman, 1991) We have a “pedagogy of poverty” (Haberman, 1991)

Pedagogy of Poverty Giving information Giving information Asking questions Asking questions Giving directions Giving directions Making assignments Making assignments Monitoring seatwork Monitoring seatwork Reviewing assignment Reviewing assignment Giving tests Giving tests Reviewing tests Assigning homework Reviewing homework Settling disputes Punishing non- compliance Marking papers Giving grades

Not an Achievement Gap… An Education Debt An Education Debt Centuries of neglect and denial of education Centuries of neglect and denial of education Exclusion from the political process Exclusion from the political process Engaged in unethical and immoral treatment Engaged in unethical and immoral treatment