Blog post #3

 What “Counts” as Educational Policy? Notes toward a New Paradigm by Jean Anyon

 

QUOTES:  

Throughout my reading I was curious about what Jean Anyon’s comments on the economic state on 2025 would be. All his data compiled with observations on how SES (socioeconomic status) affects students is exasperated (comparably) with current year statistics. Pressure on family finances are rising exponentially, and housing costs have become unaffordable. His opinion on how everyday institutions uphold this economic gap is laid out in this quote, “policies such as minimum wage statutes that yield full-time pay below the poverty level, and affordable housing and transportation policies that segregate low-income workers of color in urban areas but industrial and other job development in far-flung suburbs where public transit routes do not reach, are all culpable.” Jean Anyon is stating that everyday institutions that are supposed to aid in a thriving society cause harm and prevent any climb out of poverty. The lack of transportation, housing, job availability, and a livable wage are all factors that affect a child’s SES. Anyon also touches on how racist policy has played a hand in segregating communities from the suburbs, where more opportunities were obtainable. As I sat here comparing the early oughts’ to today, J. Anyon also makes comparisons “In the early 1900’s… relatively few urban poor students went beyond fifth grade, the vast majority did not require further education to find employment in industries that could lead to middle-class income (Anyon, 1997; Ayres, 1909). Currently, relatively few urban poor students go past ninth grade: The graduation rates in large comprehensive inner-city high schools are abysmally low.” Here is a correlation between two urban schools from different centuries and how they were educating their students to the same degree. Teaching the skills required then off to the world equipped with the knowledge to acquire a minimum wage job. A job that will keep the students in the same poverty cycle they grew up in. A harrowing point made on how rage education system has failed students with lower SES for centuries. Of course, prejudicial policy and law have caused a ripple effect of systemic injustice in the education system. Overall, a unifying factor that predicts success in a student's education has been SES. Anyon has raked through the data and conclusively tells that “Longitudinal studies that have been carried out also demonstrate that “family income consistently predicts children’s academic and cognitive performance, even when other family characteristics are taken into account” (Duncan & Brooks-Gunn, 1997).” The studies from the 2000’s draw a clear line between SES and academic performance; against all factors it remains the most prevalent issue. Anyon didn’t lay out any other solution other than to fund under privileged communities, and to strive to live and teach for an equitable society.

 

 

 

 

COMMENTS:

Anyon mentions many places where government institutions fail students and families, but he didn’t mention health care. I thought it important to bring this up because a new family can walk out of a hospital with 10k assumed in debt by just giving birth. This is not economically supporting new families and definitely doesn’t set up a great start for raising children.

I also wanted to throw down an infographic on how our own state os failing students and other citizens by the proposed RIPTA cuts. The cuts did go from 14mil to 4mil because of public backlash. But a huge percentage of bus routes are still affected.

https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/08/28/ripta-board-approves-less-drastic-service-cuts-but-plan-is-no-victory-for-bus-riders/