Educational researchers at UCLA studied the effects of ending affirmative action on college admissions in Texas, Florida, and California, and guess what they found out. African-American and Hispanic enrollment dropped, sometimes in half, and four of five of those places were filled by Asian-Americans.
Although I appreciate the intent of affirmative action to open up educational opportunities to underrepresented populations, it is a feel-good, band-aid solution that fails to cover the very serious problem of racial imbalance in educational achievement. Waiting until college to close the gap is thirteen years too late. The inequality is rooted in poverty and is evident in kindergarten, where middle-class children walk in school-ready with a vocabulary of 5,000 words and age-appropriate motor skills and self-control. Children from poverty homes may know only 1,000 words and never have held a crayon before. Harvard education scholar Dr. Ronald Ferguson firmly believes the racial gap can be closed with research-based, effective teaching practices that start early. I was fortunate to hear him speak at a district in-service this year. He asserts:
Measurements of the intelligence of kids less than one year old show virtually no racial or social-class differences, yet racial and social class achievement gaps are firmly established by the time students start kindergarten. Something happens before kindergarten that produces differences in proficiency.
Achievement gaps are not facts of nature. They are mostly because of differences in life experience. We’ve got to figure out how to get all kids the kinds of experiences that really maximize access to middle-class skills. That’s the challenge.
41 Comments
Train better parents.
It has always been my opinion that college admissions should be NEED based, not RACE based.
If someone is from a disadvantaged economic situation, but is smart and shows a willingness to work hard, we should provide additional opportunities regardless of what color the person may be.
@#1:
My school and many others offer free parenting classes. I asked our school counselor, who teaches the weekly sessions, what kinds of parents show up. She said most were ordered to attend by the court or some other government agency. A few were voluntary participants.
I patrol the front door for morning arrivals and afternoon departures. I asked for this duty because I wanted fresh air and sunshine and a chance to observe and interact with caregivers. I learn a lot about the kids and why they are the way they are by seeing who drops them off and picks them up.
We can’t do much about incapable parents, but their children can become self-directed learners through early intervention. Our lead teacher explained to me that children from troubled homes often develop two behavior modes - one for at school and one for at home. As an ESL teacher, I rarely see the serious behavioral problems that frustrate classroom teachers because our immigrants are generally fit parents.
Sonagi,
Are you an ESL teacher in the US?
If so, which city?
I read about this in USAToday, the funny thing is that many Korean associations were involved in lobbying for affirmative action, and were involved in some of the court’s decisions in the matter.
The alleged problem (bad parenting skills) is as bogus as global warming.
If we fall for this ruse, then government becomes
the ruling nanny in our homes.
Quite daft! Old girl.
boshintang… that was probably in the 60’s and 70’s right?
You’d think so, but unbelievably, that was quite recently!
psst…..affirmative action = racism
but its the kind that the ACLU likes!!
I’m with you McNut. Unfortunately it took history to prove it to the left-wing nuts.
Eight posts before some right-wing extremist used the topic to start blathering.
Must be getting distracted by their long march to cultural irrelevance.
Must be getting distracted by their long march to cultural irrelevance.
Although you may think I am more than one person due to my superior intelligence, it is only I, ESL cowboy.
Am I the only one having a hard time figuring what the header
“It’s Official: Ending Affirmative Action Helps Asian-Americans, not Whites”
has to do with the rest of this post?
@13 Probably, but we’re used to you having a hard time figuring things out. Maybe you should read the first paragraph of the post a few times. For comprehension.
Just going on the post alone, I wonder what significance the one year old intelligence test has. I bet if they compared the intelligence of a dog and a baby 2 seconds after opening their eyes for the first time, they’d be pretty close too. My point is this, is one year of age long enough to prove that race is not a factor in intelligence?
Some things are certain:
Eugenics is a pseudoscience and teachers’ perception of their students’ ethnic backgrounds will have some affect (negative and/or positive) on their students.
I don’t know what to think about the IQ debate because if I look at various countries, their level of development seem to reflect the international IQ test results.
The white and NE Asian countries are at pretty similar levels of development which would make sense if IQ can be used to measure how nations develop. These two groups have similar IQ, NE Asians have slightly higher than whites.
When I look at African nations, it makes sense as to what’s going on in that continent if most of the population has the functioning level of 12 yr olds.
When you look at academic achievement here in US, ie. NE Asians are a disproportionately large group in top universities, you also see the different levels by ethnicity. Of course, culture has something to do with it as well but people create culture to suit their needs. Hence, different cultures for different races.
I am still very unsure on what to think about the racial IQ debate. Initially, I rejected it but it seems to explain some puzzling and frustrating phenomenon.
“When you look at academic achievement here in US, ie. NE Asians are a disproportionately large group in top universities, you also see the different levels by ethnicity.”
Could that be attributed to the number of educated NE Asians immigrants who moved to the US specifically because they wanted to improve their kids’ chances of entering top American universities?
@#13:
The first paragraph is a summary of the findings. The first sentence of the second paragraph is a transition, stating my opinion about affirmative action and the racial gap in achievement. The second and third paragraphs support my opinion.
“The inequality is rooted in poverty.”
That’s a Western myth.
If it was, Lee Myungbak and Roh Moohyun wouldn’t have achieved what they have done in their lives.
You might think they’re exceptions, but you can find many not-so-famous examples if you look around.
Korea, possibly the poorest, and America, one of the richest countries in the developed world, produce the opposite results when it comes to collective academic performance, at least in high school level. It has been like that consistently since the early 90’s when such results started coming out in the media, and Korea was much poorer back then.
““The inequality is rooted in poverty.”
That’s a Western myth.”
What fucking cave have you been living in? Go almost anywhere in the world where one group has been screwed over by another and it is pretty clear that inequality plays a role in poverty. Unless you would care to believe that certain ethnic/racial groups are too stupid and/or unwilling to want to succeed.
“Korea, possibly the poorest, and America, one of the richest countries in the developed world, produce the opposite results when it comes to collective academic performance, at least in high school level. It has been like that consistently since the early 90’s when such results started coming out in the media, and Korea was much poorer back then.”
Even the hagwan system and private lessons that augment a mediocre-at-best rote learning, Korean education system, and the resulting test scores (WHO GIVES A SHIT AT THE END OF THE DAY?!) haven’t produced any real indications of innovation - or, for that matter, happiness/satisfaction about life - when it comes to real educational outcomes. Test scores are nice, but what beyond that indicator? Sweet fuck all.
And, Korea hasn’t been anywhere near the poorest in decades. Piss on that loser attitude! Congrats on the test scores, but why are Koreans the first to deride their own education system?
Two examples plus a vague generalization? Well, you’ve definitely disproven the myth.
Poverty, or rather socioeconomic class, is one explanation for achievement gaps within a country but not necessarily between countries. Ambition and a strong expectation of high academic achievement drive success in certain Asian countries and among Asian-Americans. Moreover, the school and neighborhood environments of poor Korean children and poor American children differ greatly.
Global, I didn’t say poverty didn’t play a role in inequality. You sound like one of those who like to blame poverty for their failure. I’m sure poverty is a disadvantage in life, but if you believe it’s the decisive factor, you’re the one with ‘loser attitude’.
Of course, there is difference in various abilities between different ethnic groups, just as there is difference between individuals in the same ethnicity.
PS. I meant to say, Korea, possibly the poorest, in the developed world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I.....uality.png
Some additional fuel for the impending flamewar.
When I was growing up in my working-class, first-generation Korean immigrant family in the Bronx, my parents used to tell me “you need to be several times better than whitey in order to succeed in this country”. The fundamental belief at the core of this is the notion that despite a lot of outward pretenses, American society is fundamentally racist and the playing field is slanted against minorities. So the Asian-American response to this is to try to outperform the whitey. Not knowing any better then, I believed it and took it to heart. Also, I don’t doubt many of my peers heard similar things while they were growing up. This is one of the reasons why Asian-Americans dominate the schools and not a small reason why some of us may be a bit fucked up in the head.
Now for many Blacks…well, I didn’t grow up in a Black household so I don’t have any inside scoop on the matter, but I understand that for many poor, urban, young blacks sneer upon academic achievement as a “white folk’s thing” and there is enormous peer pressure that discourages studying.
Many moons ago, as a undergraduate at CCNY (the former home of open admissions) I’ve had the opportunity to tutor poor, inner-city black students who somehow were able to make it to an engineering school. But they were obviously ill-prepared, and needed lots of extra help in Calculus, Physics, and Chemistry. To be quite honest, initially I’ve had my doubts whether they could actually solve these problems. But I found that when I made a conscious effort to put aside my preconceived notions based upon the usual stereotypes, and treated them as if they were any normal person, I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered they could successfully solve complex problems that I thought were beyond their ability.
Perhaps someday I’ll quit my pointless 9-to-5 corporate job and go into pedagogy.
Internalized beliefs planted early in one’s developmental psyche matter a lot.
Peer pressure is another. Especially for teens.
How the teachers and the educational system views you as a student is another.
CityCNY stopped open admissions?
I heard CCNY was highly regarded, PRIOR to open admissions. This, from a science PhD who graduated from there.
I was also told by my parents,
Whitey and Blacky looks down on you,
UNLESS you get a job involving intellect.
You work behind a counter, no matter how hard you work, they treat you like shit.
So, read up.
@#25:
You have articulated what many education scholars like Ronald Ferguson believe - children of all races and ethnic backgrounds want to achieve, but some groups face greater peer pressure and aren’t held to the same high standards by their teachers, who consciously or unconsciously discount their abilities. Individual tutoring is highly beneficial for struggling learners as they are more willing to take risks when their peers aren’t around.
All I gotta say is that in my undergraduate math classes, the Smiths and Jones freaked out when they saw a classroom full of Kims and Chans. They knew we were gonna screw-up the curve. However, us Kims and Chans would pee in our pants when we saw the Guptas and Patels walk in.
#28 - hilarious and true.
I was hoping there would be no math on this thread.
SomeguyinKorea: “Some things are certain:
Eugenics is a pseudoscience and teachers’ perception of their students’ ethnic backgrounds will have some affect (negative and/or positive) on their students.”
This is true, and I am often amused by the degree which people allow themselves to be fall for unproven premises based on purely anecdote al data.
This from Wikipedia:
“Anecdotal evidence is an informal account of evidence in the form of an anecdote or hearsay. The term is often used in contrast to scientific evidence, such as evidence-based medicine, which are types of formal accounts. Some anecdotal evidence does not qualify as scientific evidence because its nature prevents it from being investigated using the scientific method. Misuse of anecdotal evidence is a logical fallacy and is sometimes informally referred to as the “person who” fallacy (”I know a person who…”; “I know of a case where…” etc. Compare with hasty generalization). Anecdotal evidence is not necessarily typical; statistical evidence can more accurately determine how typical something is.”
An analogy that illustrates the fallacy assumed causality is attempting to predict the future direction of a boat by observing its wake.
It is not logically precluded that the elimination of affirmative action could have the exact opposite affect with regard to college admissions by motivating African Americans to excel and exceed the achievements of other ethnic groups.
The inference of causal relationships is also far to facile considering the numerous intervening influences that also play a part in shaping events. For instance, the election of a brilliant African American such as Barach Obama could prove a profound influence on African American education.
There is also the fallacy of equating educational excellence with intelligence, creativity, genious or social success, as such a causal relationship has not been proven.
All this reminds me of the Korean person in the 1970s who informed me of his belief that Americans chew gum all the time. When I asked him what led him to conclude this he replied that American baseball broadcasts showed that Americans even chew gum while engaged in sports!
Is this any less logical than some of the inferences made here?
Netizen Kim: “American society is fundamentally racist and the playing field is slanted against minorities.”
Another typical Korean fallacy. American society is demonstably less racist than Korean society. It was recently pointed out that Obama mania could not even be conceived of in Europe.
Netizen Kim makes a good point by the way. He writes:
When I was growing up in my working-class, first-generation Korean immigrant family in the Bronx, my parents used to tell me “you need to be several times better than whitey in order to succeed in this country”. The fundamental belief at the core of this is the notion that despite a lot of outward pretenses, American society is fundamentally racist and the playing field is slanted against minorities. So the Asian-American response to this is to try to outperform the whitey. Not knowing any better then, I believed it and took it to heart.”
Let me also make the point out that both my children have excelled in their careers despite not having been told such racist platitudes.
Success has a great deal to do with attitude, drive and motivation, nothing to do with race.
What brave pioneers your parents were! Walking from Korea to an unfriendly land where they voluntarily subjected themselves and their innocent young son to such prejudice and hardship.
#6…..It’s really sad to see some little kids come to school with dirty clothes, sometimes hair thats not combed… Obviously theres something wrong at home. If kids aren’t supported by their parents it makes it harder for them to learn. Of coarse there are those that were born with natural gifts that just make it through no matter what. But really ,sometimes bad parenting is the issue…
“Another typical Korean fallacy.” (American society is fundamentally racist and the playing field is slanted against minorities.)
I wouldn’t call it a “Korean” fallacy, since it is a common idea among nearly all non-white groups in the US. Even many whites believe it!
“American society is demonstably less racist than Korean society.”
Isn’t this a tu quoque retort?
“It was recently pointed out that Obama mania could not even be conceived of in Europe.”
Isn’t this a tu quoque retort?
#33… What country on the face of the earth ISN’T racist?
“ ‘It was recently pointed out that Obama mania could not even be conceived of in Europe.’…Isn’t this a tu quoque retort?”
No, because strictly speaking, a tu quoque is a retort accusing an accuser of the same charge. In this case, there was no accuser or accused and I find myself not in the least at odds with Netizen Kim’s excellent exposition here, which is one of the most wwell considered and well written contributions I can recall reading here.
However, I would like to take the opportunity to apologize to Netizen Kim for my use of the unfortunate term “racist platitudes.” I did not mean to imply in any way that his parents were racists. Quite the contrary, they appear to have been excellent parents, fostering a competitive spirit in Kim and prodding him to excellence. It was a poor choice of words.
I lost my own Mom last year, and my hasty response brings to mind a poem she often recited to me in my early youth. So far as I know, it is the only poem she ever wrote:
A wrecker of homes am I
A creature of impulse wild
Dwelling were hopes all die,
Shunning the places mild.
Who can I be, you ask
With claims that seem so absurd?
The truth you shall learn at last,
I am the hasty word.
“What country on the face of the earth ISN’T racist?”
Vicky, I would like to state my belief that no county is. I believe that people generally mean well, although we are all sometimes manipulated by fear cultivated by various societal influences. If I did not have such a generally optimistic view of human nature and underlying sense of commonality, I would not attempt to shed light on some of our unexamined assumptions. This is why I am fundamentally opposed to the casting of aspersions on others using the highly charged and generally meaningless accusation of racism. I already regret my rhetorical use of it above, and apologize for it.
#38…..Your answer was so eloquent and beautifully put, it was poetry. Thankyou!
#38….. Note to self.. Install sneeze guard in front if computer monitor…….
Ending affirmative action (mainly legacy preferences, which disproportionately helps whites) at private universities would help Asian-Americans out, also. Harvard’s Asian pop., already relatively high at around 20%, would probably go up at least another 10%.