Experiencing Education from the other side: A Reflection of Justice in our Educational System by Elizabeth Doveno, Campus Ministry Intern

Education is one of my greatest passions with just so much to discuss here. I have one of my good friends, Quentin from Texas A&M University, to thank for this. He asked me once to really evaluate how many students failed to recognize all the possibilities that await them after their graduation and the system that creates that problem specifically in Texas but in the whole nation as well. September is the time to think and really reflect on education; students are returning to school some with reluctance and others ecstatically, parents are buying new school supplies and taking their children clothes shopping hoping these supplies will last till May, parents are listening to what their children will be learning this year, teachers are preparing lesson plans and decorating their blank classroom walls with as many materials as possible, parents are being concerned about child care for while they are still at work, teachers are concerned about teaching all the material for the new school year and having to teach again those things students did not learn, parents are spending lots of money for education and all the things that go with it. There are so many issues that may not effect us, but something that must be looked at. Students who live in the poorest of areas are not given the same educational opportunities as students living on the rich side of town. The state education system requires teachers to teach particular things, which is all in good intention, but looses value when teachers are forced to teach to a test. Beyond that, teachers are at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to support from administration, parents, and students. The work they put in is not always appreciated. Addressing the current issue of education, while being a Catholic striving towards holiness, I must be aware of the underprivileged and poor who are not given the best education, the state and federal education laws that inhibit some and benefit others, and who and how students are being educated.

One of the discussions Quentin and I had in the issue of education was that the poor and the underprivileged, those living in inner-city Houston, are given less opportunity and ability to achieve higher education than compared to someone living in the outskirts of Houston, like The Woodlands. Typically, the further a person lives away from a city the more money that individual has. This is because the person is able to spend the extra expenses on travel and time while those who work and live in the inner cities usually have less money and are the poorest of the poor. Because of this, there is less money in general but also towards education. They must spend the money on the necessities of life including food, water, and shelter. But even thinking beyond primary and secondary education a person in a lower income situation is less likely to be able to attend a university such as Washington University in St. Louis. Personally, I don’t think this is fair or right. Why should our society dictate that individual who was born into a lower economic standing to be unable to attain the same position than someone born into a higher economic standing?

Now, don’t get me wrong. WashU has created an adult program in the evening for those who would like to take extra classes and there are still means of getting funds such as scholarships and even going through particular organizations like the military to be given a free education for their service. But I do believe that the community could do more to help such as continue to support scholarships, make FASFA more available for our high school graduates in the schools where students are less privileged, and help at these schools through volunteering or tutoring. If you listened to the second reading at mass today you heard James tell us that it does no good to use our words to wish well when we are capable of giving a portion of ourselves to help those who are in need. We are all part of the Body of Christ, even those who are economically less privileged than others. What are we doing for the part of Christ’s body that is not as lucky?

Something else Quentin and I talked about was how in Texas the state regulates what students are being taught and expects to see it be taught through a standard test rather than taught through experiential learning, such as letting the kids to have more hands on experience in a lab doing research for cancer or seeing how an engineer constructs a bridge. In many cases, by teaching to a standardized test stifles creativity and expand the knowledge horizons. Students become less challenged by their teachers because there is only a need by the test and no further comprehension. Therefore, education has now placed boundaries on what is acceptable and what is not; in what can be learned and the endpoint of learning. After moving to St. Louis, I have talked with several different people and they have expressed distress in that the public schools of St. Louis are under the jurisdiction of the city with simplifying education down to a simple state test as well. It is good to have a desire to see students learning particular reading, writing, math, science, and history skills. However, it becomes a problem when this is all that is cared about. Teachers become concerned about their jobs in that if their students do poorly they could loose their job. The state is more focused on receiving money than to expand horizons on education. What is sad is that there are still a great number of students who cannot read even making it through graduation! My fiancé told me how his dad’s company had an employee who miraculously made it through his public university essentially illiterate. This is absolutely appalling and sad. Fortunately, for this person was lucky enough to be given the resources and the means to learn how to read.

In St. Louis there are many programs that address the issue of illiteracy; one is called the YMCA Literacy Council that helps adults who did not learn to read in their primary and secondary education that you can get involved in. There is an importance to make it known to our government, especially locally, that as Catholics we believe this to be unjust. While reading you may be thinking that those people do not effect me in any sort of way, why should I even care? Think of the verse in 1Cornithians 12:25-26 “so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. If (one) part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.” What we do to and for one another effects our church in some way or another. In what ways do your actions effect the church as a whole?

Lastly, I have learned though conversations with friends who are teachers, there is a lack of support with high demands. It comes as no surprise why there is such a high burnout rate. One friend told me that they had an entire day within their district devoted to the state test and how they must teach to it otherwise they could lose their jobs. Beyond that, I have heard from teachers from Texas of the lack of support they have received from their districts for getting materials and resources needed. In more recent history one of the bigger struggles for teachers has been to play teacher, parent, mentor, and discipliner. School is not meant to be a home, but sadly it is so for many students. Teachers are not trained to be those roles. They are trained to be educators for all those who come into their classroom. Not only that, but many teachers do not want to be in that situation of playing that role. This creates just a very unhappy situation, but what else can be done?

For me as a Catholic, it is important to support not only those friends who are teachers back in Texas but also those teachers here in St. Louis. They, like Jesus, are using their faith in action in teaching. Sometimes they must teach what is difficult such as geometry and may be rebuked in that students feel it is pointless in a similar manner like Jesus was. We can pray for our teachers in that they are given the courage and the ability to face all the challenges that the classroom presents today. We can send letters of encouragement to those teachers in especially those schools with the lack of funding, support, and help. And as for those students who may not see the point in their education or school is essentially home we can pray and offer our time through programs like Big Brothers/Big Sisters in helping taking away some of those extra burdens teachers bear.

In the past, I volunteered once a week for an hour helping kindergarteners learn to do simple math and reading through a program at Texas A&M University. You could also do the same through tutoring through schools. We can write letters to those teachers in those areas that are not as economically privileged such as those working for Teach for America and other service corps. By sending letters of encouragement and appreciation for a job that is not always so appreciated in hopes that they will be given the strength and courage to get through the tough moments of the day. We can continue to pray for students, teachers, and leaders in education in that they make good choices and decisions. We can send letters to our congressmen telling them to give our schools more assistance. We can be mentors and tutors to students helping them succeed into something greater than the status quo. We can get involved in the school districts to play an active part of the education system. So, in what way are you going to be Jesus for our educational system?