If a child isn\u2019t performing well in school, whose fault is it? The child\u2019s? The school\u2019s? The parent\u2019s?<\/p>\n
This is one of the questions those that study the achievement gap have been facing. Unfortunately, it is usually a mix of all those listed factors, among others. This begs the question: whose problem is the achievement gap to solve?<\/p>\n
Multiple contributors to Education Week<\/em><\/a> have looked at the issue. Walt Gardner, a former teacher and lecturer from Los Angeles, expressed his beliefs in his article, The Hard Truth About the Achievement Gap<\/em><\/a>. He believes, based on his 28 years of teaching experience, that the more a parent is involved with their children\u2019s education, the better their performance in school will be. Gardner states, \u201cWhen parents don’t do their job, however, they set their children up for failure in school.\u00a0 The streets take over, making it impossible for teachers.\u201d Gardner finds that fault mainly lies with parents and that schools cannot succeed in their task if the parents do not first take on a bigger role in the education process.<\/p>\n Following Gardner\u2019s post, a response<\/a> to the editor was submitted by Eugena Oh, the President and CEO of the \u201cI Have A Dream\u201d Foundation<\/a>. She remarks that Gardner\u2019s argument did not consider the weight of systemic inequality. Oh notes, \u201cA single parent may have to work multiple jobs, leaving little time to volunteer in the classroom or spend evenings helping with homework. And these challenges are amplified for first-generation college students.\u201d Her reminder that the gap goes much deeper than a simple lack of parental involvement is significant. A parent\u2019s personal background creates obstacles for support they may want to contribute to their child\u2019s education. Oh highlights in her response that the solution to closing the gap can be found in a community-based approach. Instead of wasting time blaming parents, energies should be spent on supporting them. Below is a video of Oh\u2019s \u201cI Have A Dream\u201d Foundation and it reveals how it has impacted student\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n