Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future
Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future
Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future
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White students, for instance, scored an average of 530, 555, <strong>and</strong> 508 on reading, m<strong>at</strong>h, <strong>and</strong><br />
writing portions of the SAT, whereas Black students scored 426, 436, <strong>and</strong> 408; Mexican or<br />
Mexican American students scored 451, 451, <strong>and</strong> 451; Hispanic, Other Hispanic, L<strong>at</strong>ino or L<strong>at</strong>in<br />
American students scored 449, 446, <strong>and</strong> 449; <strong>and</strong> American Indian or Alaska N<strong>at</strong>ives scored 484,<br />
479, <strong>and</strong> 474, respectively (Abdul-Alim 2010).<br />
These st<strong>at</strong>istics show th<strong>at</strong> minority students‘ test scores are worse than white students‘ test scores.<br />
Since minority test scores are usually the lowest many people might be oppose to bettering<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ion for minority. People might wonder why these students cannot help themselves. All these<br />
minority students have to do is apply themselves by studying harder. Some might believe in a well-known<br />
theory called social Darwinism. In terms of intellect only the well- educ<strong>at</strong>ed succeeds <strong>and</strong> become<br />
financially successful. This is not a communist n<strong>at</strong>ion. Why should wealth have to be shared? Not<br />
everyone can become successful.<br />
Others may not think there is anything wrong with inner city schools. The problem is these<br />
children are not gr<strong>at</strong>eful to receive free educ<strong>at</strong>ion. How can you complain about something th<strong>at</strong> is free?<br />
Others may think th<strong>at</strong> minorities make excuses for themselves. The poem, ―Invictus‖ by William Ernest<br />
Henley, st<strong>at</strong>es ―I am the master of my f<strong>at</strong>e… I am the captain of my soul.‖ In other words, you make the<br />
decision for your own life. If you want something you need to work hard <strong>and</strong> earn it. History should not<br />
be an excuse of why you cannot do better economically.<br />
Some people just do not care, while others are unaware about the injustices in the inner city<br />
schools. Some people wonder why help these underprivileged children if they have a history of failing.<br />
There are st<strong>at</strong>istics to prove it! New York City Public Schools in 2007, black students scored an average<br />
of 30 points lower than white students in m<strong>at</strong>h <strong>and</strong> reading. The majority (55 percent) of black eighth-<br />
graders in New York City <strong>and</strong> 48 percent of Hispanic eighth-graders haven't reached basic proficiency in<br />
m<strong>at</strong>h, <strong>and</strong> about half haven't achieved basic proficiency in reading (Harris).<br />
Why should we care about these inner city schools when we do not live in the inner city? We<br />
cannot teach these inner city parents how to raise their kids. It is best th<strong>at</strong> we mind our own business.<br />
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