My First Job Out of College Lecture

Introduction

• Speaker's first job: Academic researcher at a large juvenile detention center in Chicago.
• Daily routine: Driving to the West Side, going through security, walking through hallways to the basement to observe intake.
• Kids observed: Ages 10-16, predominantly black and brown, from impoverished areas.

Initial Observations

• Kids should be in school: Fifth to tenth grade.
• Frequent returns: Some kids returned up to 14 times before 15.
• Initial question: Why didn’t schools do more to prevent this?

Systemic Issues

• Revised thoughts after 10 years: Issue is systemic, schools might perpetuate social divide.
• Analogy: Similar to how the healthcare system profits from keeping people sick.
• Belief in potential: Kids can achieve despite odds.
• Opportunity gaps: Not just achievement gaps.

Funding Disparities

• 2019 EdBuild report: Majority-white districts receive $23 billion more annually than nonwhite districts.
• Resource disparities: Lower quality equipment, obsolete technology, lower teacher pay.
• Example in New York: Schools serving homeless students.

Misplaced Blame

• Atlanta scandal: Teachers helped students cheat on standardized tests due to funding pressures; some received sentences up to 20 years.
• Teacher struggles: In Tulsa, low pay forced teachers to rely on food pantries.
• Address fraud: Parents criminalized for using relatives' addresses for better schools, while bribery in elite colleges often ignored.

Economic Implications

• McKinsey study: Closing achievement gaps could have increased GDP by $500 billion by 2008.
• 2008 gaps: Deprived economy of up to $2.3 trillion.

Moral and Democratic Reasons

• Democracy and equality: A child's future shouldn’t be predetermined by birth circumstances.
• Public education's role: Shouldn’t widen social divides.
• Property analogy: Neglected parts devalue the whole.

Community and Solutions

• Teacher strikes (2019): Community support for smaller classes, more counselors, and better pay.
• Baltimore initiative: Free breakfast and lunch programs increased attendance and achievement.
• Memphis program: Scholarships for local students to teach in inner cities.
• Bronx partnerships: High schools, community colleges, and businesses creating internships in finance, healthcare, technology.

Conclusion

• Revised question: Can schools save more students? Yes, if schools are saved first.
• Future concerns: Caring for education of others' children is crucial for a better future.
• Investment in talent: Encouraging diverse groups in STEM and teaching is essential.
• Value of teachers: Modern-day miners helping students shine.
• Call to action: Support and resources needed for teachers and students to thrive.