Irl Solon’s class on history is described as a highlight in the book. Solomon, the teacher at an urban school who has been there for 30 years, said that he had originally planned to go to law college, but realized that it wasn’t his thing after only a short time. He decided instead to become a school teacher. He had four pregnant girls or women who have recently given birth in his class. The girls in his class were either pregnant or had just given birth. The author explained to the girls that their ghetto diploma would not be valued in America.
Jennifer, a Rye student, stated that her parents were originally from Bronx. She claimed that schools in Bronx/East St. Louis are “hell”, she said, and this was one reason why her family had moved to Rye. Jennifer believes it is up to the residents of that area themselves to make a difference in their lives and education. Jennifer agrees everyone should get the same education. However she doesn’t think that text or government money can make a significant difference in the lives and educations of the residents of Bronx/East St. Louis. She believes that it is not her parents’ responsibility to pay for text messages in order to support poor areas.
East St. Louis had a large black population and was an area of extreme poverty. The city didn’t spend enough money on anything. They could not even afford toilet paper. There were piles of trash everywhere, including the sidewalk and street. East St. Louis Area School did not have the proper funding and support to run the school. They faced many issues, including a lack of supplies, staff shortages and sewage in the school. The school was a horrible place for children. As a result, parents are willing to give the school a generous amount of money. The schools in this area were able provide students with the educational supplies they needed and a relaxed, good environment.
I think that the educational system has changed in the last 20 years. The old belief was that students with lower income had a lesser chance to have a good educational experience. Students can now get an education even if they don’t make much money. Now, schools can offer students financial aid, books and transportation.
