equity post!

1) One thing I wonder is if there is any example of a student who went through school 137 having done all the work, and, if so, how did they turn out?  Because what I perceive from this video is that the root of the issue is that the kids don't do the work. 

2) Their environments have absolutely everything to do with their failure or successes.  It makes complete sense that Lonnie, although as bright as John, will not behave or act similarly.  He has no models in his life of people who were academically successful.  John does.  John lives in an environment in which there are good models everywhere.  Environment is everything.  The two kids, themselves, could surely get along fine.  But they are now completely different people because of their environments. 

3) The biggest difference between the schools is the environments surrounding the schools.  Yes, the teachers of 141 were more qualified to teach their specific subjects, but if the teachers of 141 moved to 137, I have trouble believing the results would be that different.  The opportunity exists in both schools.  Teachers in school 137 have little to no expectations for their students, since everyday in class they see unmotivated students who don't pay attention and don't care.  Teachers in school 141 obviously have higher expectations, and with reason. Although the teachers of school 137 could stand to refresh their attitudes, once again, I have trouble believing this would alter the results. 

4) Students at Riverdale are more successful, academically because they are faced with countless role models every single day.  Their parents, their friend's parents, their neighbors are all people who lead productive lives that are the results of hard work.  Lonnie, towards the end of the video, got sick of being reprimanded by his mom for his grades, and instead of saying he would work harder next semester, he blamed it on the school (as did his mom).  Yes, better teachers logically means better education.  But, in a school like 137, you MUST have motivators, not just teachers.