Conversation 4

Summary

Conversation 4 Activity 8 - Group Y

Selected Paragraph:
“Just as the feds have long predicted, the 50 million-plus students enrolled in the country’s public K-12 schools this fall are more racially diverse than ever. Students of color now outnumber their white peers, largely thanks to striking growth in America’s Latino and Asian youth populations. Times sure have changed: Fewer than one in five Americans ages 85 or older was a minority in 2013, versus half of children under 5. Taken as a whole, these statistics suggest that it may be time to revisit the word “minorities” when talking about students who aren’t white. Then again, the statistics probably shouldn’t be taken as a whole."

The Summary:

The paragraph discusses the changing demographic landscape of K-12 public school students in the United States. It notes that the student population is becoming increasingly racially diverse, with students of color outnumbering white students, driven by growth in Latino and Asian youth populations. The paragraph raises the question of whether the term "minorities" should still be used to describe non-white students, given this demographic shift.

My Response:
The paragraph highlights the growing racial diversity among K-12 public school students in the United States, with students of color now outnumbering white students, mainly due to an increase in Latino and Asian youth populations. This demographic shift challenges the use of the term "minorities" to describe non-white students. It underscores the changing demographics in American society, where younger generations are more diverse than older ones. The changing makeup of the student population reflects broader shifts in the country's demographics and calls for a reconsideration of terminology to accurately represent this diversity.

What I Learned from this weeks videos:
From the video “Eduaction Matters: Native American Student education” I learned that Native American students graduation rates ranked near the bottom. This statistic highlights a significant achievement gap that Native American students face compared to their peers from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. This gap suggests that Native American students, on average, face barriers or challenges that hinder their progress through the education system. Lower graduation rates among Native American students may be indicative of systemic educational inequities. These could include disparities in funding, resources, curriculum, access to experienced teachers, and culturally relevant education.

My Source:

“The Issues Surrounding Native American Education.” Native Hope Blog, Native Hope, 12 Sept. 2023, blog.nativehope.org/the-issues-surrounding-native-american-education.
The passage discusses the low graduation rates among Native American students in the United States. It attributes this issue to negative stereotypes, a lack of recognition of Indigenous history in the curriculum, and a multi-generational transfer of negative attitudes toward education. The passage also highlights alarming statistics, indicating that Native American students have the highest dropout rates among all ethnic groups, with only 75 percent of them graduating high school, the lowest graduation rate in the country. I selected this source because it sheds light on the persistently low graduation rates among Native American students, drawing attention to a severe educational issue that requires urgent consideration and action. This matters because it’s essential for building a more inclusive and fair society.