Running head: ASSIGNMENT TITLE HERE
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Cultural Identifiers Topic Essay
Kalyn Rinderhagen
Grand Canyon University
Course Number: Course Title
Dr. Bishop
July 11, 2021
Part One
Tracking in education has been a controversial topic for decades. Tracking is defined as “a process through which students are sorted and grouped, based on some measure or perception of their academic ability” (Stanley & Chambers, 2018). This topic holds a special place in my heart. The school I am employed at was considering tracking their enrolled students. If this had happened the student population that I work with would not be in the same class as their incredible and accepting peers. Every student deserves the opportunity to be educated alongside their peers.
The practice of tracking in education began in the 1930s in response to an influx of immigrant children enrolling in school in the United States. High school students were placed on one of three tracks: high, average, and low. Tracks were typically determined by test results and prior academic performance. Students of racial minority were often placed on the low track as they were viewed as less intelligent. Tracking is still being utilized in schools across the United States. Unfortunately, tracking has resulted in the separation of students by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
People who support ability tracking in schools argue that separating students into tracks allows educators to better meet the needs of the different groups or tracks. Grouping could allow the opportunity for different curriculum to be taught to each the low, average, and high track. Although this narrows down the amount of workload for one educator it is unfair to maintain practices that mainly benefit one group of students. Lifelong educators have stated, “That students rely on each other for support and growth.” By separating a student population, they are not given the opportunity to grow from peers with greater academic abilities.
People who disagree with ability tracking in school argue that tracking causes barriers to students of lower minority groups. Ability tracking often only benefits students from advantaged homes. Many students have confirmed that minority and low-income students of all ability levels are over-represented in the lower tracks and underrepresented in the higher tracks. There were several students of color who were seeking to enroll in advanced placement courses who were advised not to by their school guidance counselors. Separating students will also limit their social skills ability. If we want quality education for all students, we must examine the use of ability tracking within the public-school systems. We must be more intentional in becoming an advocate for students who do not feel they are given an equivalent education to their peers.
Ability tracking used within education will greatly affect my future career as an educator. If the use of tracking continues, I will be focused on a group of students with similar academic ability. If the use of tracking is no longer used, I will be given the opportunity to work with a wide variety of students of all abilities. Although, it would require more preparation, I would prefer to be given the opportunity to work with a wider range of students.
Part Two
Tracking Myself: African American High School Students Talk About the Effects of Curricular Differentiation
Written By: Darrius Stanley & Terah T. Venzant Chambers at Michigan State University
This article discusses educational reform issues, like tracking, from a student standpoint. Seven African American high school students were asked to redesign a tracking policy for their school as part of the study. In the beginning of this article there is wonderful background knowledge of tracking in the school systems. The students vocalize how they would like to see tracking implemented at their school.
The Gender Revolution in Context: How Later Tracking in Education Benefits Girls
Written By: Lotte Scheeren, Herman G. van de Werfhorst, and Thijs Bol at University of Amsterdam
This article discussed the gender gap in education that is often caused by implementing tracking. Students are generally separated into different tracks during their middle school years. The focus of this article is to identify the age at which national educational systems separate students into different tracks and how this will affect their educational career. This study was conducted to investigate how tracking can alter gender perspectives.
References
Stanley, D., & Chambers, T. T. V. (2018). Tracking Myself: African American High School Students Talk about the Effects of Curricular Differentiation. International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership, 13(1).
The Gender Revolution in Context: How Later Tracking in Education Benefits Girls. (2018). Social Forces, 97(1), 193–220. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/sf/soy025