Week 3

It saddens me to see those kids with all those hopes and know that they might not reach their goals. I think the movie was very accurate in saying that kids do well in school up until they reach middle school, that's when they are really tested. I cared a lot about school when I was in elementary school. Homework was a big priority for me. If it wasn't done, I couldn't watch television or go outside to play. It had to be the first thing I did when I got home and my mom made sure of that. I remember she used to check my backpack for any assignments or important papers. Once I entered middle school it was more of my responsibility to get my work done, unfortunately, that was also around the time I started to lose interest in school and it build into a pattern that still follows me to this day. It makes me feel bad saying this but in a way, I take advantage of my education. I don't always put my best forward. Especially now in college where sometimes it's so easy just to slide by.

I don't think that a lot of parents take a good look at a school district when they are looking for a place to live. They either look at the area and how nice it is and/or the affordability. I was fortunate enough to go to a good middle school, well at least that's what it was when I attended. Now, I believe it has digressed somewhat, but back then it had earned a California Distinguished School title. The elementary school I attended was good too, they really paid attention to the students and made sure to place us in different groups within a class that was appropriate for our levels of learning. It wasn't until my parents moved us to Arizona after 8th grade that I noticed a major difference in the education system. Back in California, it was expected to take Algebra in 7th grade, while here, that was the class that you started in 9th grade. They were teaching me things here that I had already learned in 6th grade. Luckily, I was placed in advanced and AP classes where the teachers actually had an interest in teaching. I would hear some of the other students taking regular level classes say how they never did anything. They would just sit and talk with each other or watch a movie. I later on saw first hand when I was making up a math class that all the teacher did was teach according to the test. He would look at the book and say "oh that's not on the test, let's not go over that", then he would sit at his desk and text. I would later find out that he wasn't even certified to be teaching.

It really does depend on the area where one lives that determines the quality of education. The middle school I attended was in an upper-middle class area whereas the high school I went to was more lower-middle class.  I also think that family plays an important role in whether the child stays in school or not. My parents put a huge emphasis on education early on. College was never an option, it was a must. If those kids in the movie have the support of their families, I think they will stay in school and graduate.