Shelby County Schools Social Problems Affecting Our Children Education DeAndre Mario Jackson, M.Ed. Educ 746 Conflict Resolutions

Essential Questions What are the social problems affecting our students education in Shelby County Schools? What can parents, teachers, administrators, and community members do to help resolve the issues affecting students education in Shelby County Schools?

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Social Problems Affecting Our Children Parental Involvement Teen Pregnancy Basic Reading and Math Skills Social Economics Subcultural

Parental Involvement  Fatherless Children  The lack of a father's daily presence in the home is often thought to be at the root of many of society's problems, ranging from crime and drug abuse to poor academics and violence.  75 percent of high school dropouts come from fatherless families.  85 percent of children treated for behavioral disorders do not have a father in the home. Boys and girls alike exposed to gangs are more likely to be drawn to the packs that provide a sense of security they missed by not having a father in the home.  Involvement in School  Involve yourself in your child's education by helping her to prepare for school and get extra academic assistance as needed.  Children of involved parents consistently have higher test scores, better attendance and higher self-esteem.

Parental Involvement  Awareness of Problems  By getting involved in your children's lives, you can spot trouble sooner and help your kids faster.  Staying vigilant and watching for key signals can help save your child's life.  Becoming Responsive  Involved parents report greater confidence in their own parenting and decision-making skills. Involvement also improves a parent's attitude toward a child's school and toward education in general.

Parental Involvement  Reinforcements  When you involve yourself in what he's doing, your child feels that you respect and value him, his choices and priorities.  Involvement also reinforces the idea that a parent isn't just someone who works and takes care of the home, but rather is a multidimensional person who can offer a variety of skills, talents and experiences to an activity.  Setting Examples  You can establish the importance of reading by taking your kids to the library and helping them pick out books.  You can demonstrate that involvement is a key part of parenting, so when your children become parents, they will have that experience to draw upon and carry forward.

Teen Pregnancy  At Risk  Despite declines in rates of teen pregnancy in the U.S., about 820,000 teens become pregnant each year. That means that 34 percent of teenagers have at least one pregnancy before they turn 20.  79 percent of teenagers who become pregnant are unmarried.  80 percent of teenage pregnancies are unintended.  Only one-third of teenage mothers complete high school and receive their diplomas  By age 30, only 1.5 percent of women who had pregnancies as a teenager have a college degree.  80 percent of unmarried teen mothers end up on welfare  Sons of teenaged mothers have a 13 percent greater chance of ending up in prison as compared to their peers.  The daughters of teen mothers are 22 percent more likely than their peers to become teen mothers

Teen Pregnancy  Sexual Abstinence  According to Khouzam, in a study involving 7,000 Utah teens, the students were taught one of three abstinence curriculums stressing abstinence as a pregnancy prevention method. They were surveyed three times based on their attitudes on the issue. After taking the abstinence curriculum, the studies found :  a significantly higher percentage of them remained virgins than those who did not go through the program  it becomes evident that abstinence courses in schools are a sure way to get teens to realize the responsibility that comes with becoming sexually active, and to get them thinking about choosing to remain abstinent.  The parents can strongly influence their children's decisions by taking the time to be involved when the issue of sex arises.  The schools can also do their part by providing the necessary information on preventing pregnancies and by encouraging teens to make responsible choices when having sex.

Social Economics and Subculture “Schools in wealthy neighborhoods are significantly better than schools in economically disadvantaged areas. It follows, then, that students attending wealthier schools get a better education than students attending poorer schools. Furthermore, students attending poorer schools do not learn the values, manners, language, and dress of people in more affluent schools.” (Shepard & Greene, 2003)

Social Economics & Subculture Shelby County  Urban school system  Predominantly African American students  21.5% poverty rate  One the under performing school districts (TCAP Reading & Math) in the state of Tennessee  Low parental involvement Williamson County  Suburban school system  Predominantly White students  6.2% poverty rate  Highest performing school district (TCAP Reading & Math) in the state of Tennessee  High parental involvement

Basic Reading and Writing Skills

Social Economics & Subculture Effective Strategies to Improve Low Performing Schools  Positive School Climate and Trusting Relationships  positive school climate and trusting relationships are essential to turning around low- performing schools.  Data-Based Decision Making  making decisions based on data, including decisions about classroom instruction, tutoring for struggling students, and other non-academic areas such as staffing and scheduling.  Targeted Interventions for Struggling Students  emphasized interventions for struggling students, such as extra academic classes in lieu of electives or before- and after-school tutoring programs.

Social Economics & Subculture  Celebrating Early, Small Successes  celebrating small successes as a key to improving staff morale.  Teacher-Led Professional Development and Collaboration  professional learning communities and other forms of professional development and collaboration are important elements for success.  State and Federal Assistance  state and federal funding for school improvement and wanted funding maintained or increased.  Critical Role of the Principal  critical role of effective leadership in school reform

Summary Increase parental involvement (school visits, reading at home, quality time, and etc.) Teen Pregnancy (increase awareness, support, and prevention through the school curriculum and parents) Basic Math and Reading Skills (research strategies that will significantly increase TCAP scores and provide more academic programs to assist students in basic reading and math) Social Economics and Subculture (redefine our beliefs, values and norms in our community, work together for the interest of our children.)

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