CSI essay
Thesis: The government should attempt to close the widening socio­economic gap by
allowing students to transfer into better quality public schools to improve educational
achievement and encourage diversity.
The classroom is abuzz with talk about summer vacation when Tara walks in; all her new
classmates are focused on their conversation so she sits in a corner and takes a quick inventory of
the classroom. Four big windows open out to a large courtyard for the students. The walls of the
classroom are covered with inspirational posters and hint at the fact that this room belongs to a
history teacher. Somehow everything here seems brighter and cleaner than her old school. After
the bell rings and the students settle in their seats, it becomes apparent to Tara that she is one of
about five African American students; which makes sense considering that the majority of
middle­class public schools are made of caucasian and asian students (Stegmeir 1). “Tara Smith,”
called the frazzled teacher Mrs. Green during attendance.
Tara sheepishly mumbled a, “Here,” and raises her hand a couple students look at her
realizing she must be a new student. After Mrs. Green goes over a few important points in the
handbook she lets the students talk amongst themselves. Tara immerses herself in a book and
remains isolated from her classmates.
“Hey Tara can you come up here for a second.” Tara marked her spot in her book and
walked up to her teacher's desk.
“So I see that you transferred here to White Haven from Formanne this year,” Tara
nodded and she continued, “this transition may be tough for you in the beginning but I just
wanted to let you know if you need any help getting acclimated, don’t be afraid to come to me, or
any other of the dedicated staff here, for advice or guidance. I say this because I know that the
right environment can allow low­income minority students to perform at high levels and I would
like to encourage all students’ academic careers (Kahelberg 2). In fact, one of my favorite
teachers helped me and inspired me to become a teacher myself. Any way that’s my little speech,
don’t take it the wrong way I just don’t want you to get discouraged at a new school. This is a
place for flourishing academically.”
Tara almost could not believe the level of investment the first teacher she met at White
Haven seemed to have. “Thank you so much,” she gushed.
“Any time Tara, good luck on the rest of your first day!”
Mrs. Green smiled at her, and with that the bell rang and Tara gathered her stuff and
scurried out of the class to find her next class.
***
“So how was your first day, honey?” Tara’s mother asked her apprehensively.
Tara shrugged off a quick fine through her mashed potatoes. She decided not to tell her
about eating alone at lunch in order to avoid giving her mother the chance to give an empathetic
expression of ‘Mother knows best’. It took long enough, the entire past summer to be exact, to
convince her parents that the switch was a good move for Tara.
The problem was that her parents never valued the traditional education as Tara wished to
receive. Her parents loved to tell her how their best decision ever was to defer from college and
start a family. As romantic as this sounds, Tara has always wanted to do more with her life than
becoming the local hairdresser married to an overworked truck driver. She adores her parents,
however Tara has always been determined to diverge from her parents’ life path. As if on cue her
mother chimed in with her usual remark.
“You know your father and I are quite happy with our life together and neither of us
decided to go on to college. We relied on our natural talents so, if you ever feel pressured at your
White Haven we would completely support a move back to Formanne,” she exclaimed
all­knowingly (Unify 2).
"Well you know despite your amazing emphasis on the importance of education I
actually want to go to college."
Tara elaborated to her mother about the school’s amazing resources and facilities that she
would be able to use throughout her high school career. She explained how stimulating this would
be for her education and how teachers like Mrs. Green would help her. She tried to mirror the
research she had done over the summer in order to convince her parents that the switch would be
a good move for her.
******
"... And in conclusion I know that I can succeed in a more challenging school. I am
constantly disappointed and not academically challenged at Formanne and I believe that
transferring would be the best option for me to further my education because I would like
to go on and graduate, not only from high school, but also college.
Not allowing me to pursue a higher educational career would only force me to become
one of nine percent of people who graduate from college from the poverty class versus one third
of the higher income class who graduate (Tavernise 2). Also, this does not only create a divide
of education, because graduating from college has become the greatest predictor for success
in the workplace and therefore financial success according to Sabrina Tavernise of The New
York Times so without an equal education the classes will continue to grow farther apart
from one another (Tavernise 1).
I would like to believe that my parents would know to have better intentions than to
knowingly discourage economic mobility and instead allow the gap between socio­economic
classes to widen in America more than it already has (Stiglitz 2).
I rest my case and hope that you both will make the right decision in allowing me to
attend a better quality school because of how it will improve my educational opportunities.”
Tara felt triumphant in her presentation of research to her parents. When they asked her a
week before to find research to back up her intention to transfer schools her parents had hoped
that the topic would dissipate on its own; either because of Tara’s lack of motivation or because
of evidence conflicting her opinion. However, neither occurred and so her father respected her
research.
“Well done, Tara. Of course your mother and I still have to discuss this on our own
because you know we do have our fears with the prospect of transfer.”
“We are just afraid the switch will not live up to your expectations. I don’t want you to
make this huge leap into an unfamiliar setting and expect to be automatically accepted into a
society where you won’t look exactly the same, or have the same clothes and products that we
cannot afford to give you.”
There was a tone of disappointment that Tara sensed in her mother’s voice. A
disappointment in herself. Tara wanted to reassure her parents of her happiness with them.
“I am happy with what you have been able to give me growing up and I don’t resent what
I haven’t had, that isn’t what this is about,” she started, replacing the hard debate tone she
projected before with a more conversation one. “I would just like a chance to be in charge of my
own future and maybe attend college and I believe this transfer would be the first step for that.”
“I am so proud of you for that sweetheart, your ambition inspires me. Even though I
know that you could work hard enough to get into any college you want the mere cost of a
secondary education has risen more than any other good or service in the U.S economy
since 1978, when your mother and I could not even afford it for ourselves (Kamenetz 1).”
Tara’s father was always the voice of reason, and he was right. Tara knew that financially
it would be difficult to achieve her dream of graduating college and she hoped that scholarships
and aid would be enough to allow her to at least try. She just had to begin, start something,
somewhere.
******
Tara cannot believe how distant her first day feels a year later as she rides next to her best
friend Jenna on the coach bus back from a triumphing debate victory. Jenna is sleeping, but the
excitement from the victory keeps Tara awake as she looks over the rolling hills as they pass,
imagining what life would have been like if she hadn’t transferred schools.
For instance, she would not have been able to be a part such a highly acclaimed and
enthusiastic debate team. Tara also discovered that her new school offered activities that, without
even involving in them herself, enhances the high school experience. She discovered that school
spirit and involvement could have just as much merit as maintaining a high GPA.
The modern teaching styles at White Haven encouraged a more creative environment for
students to learn on their own (Kamenetz 2). The dedication to learning that the majority of
Tara’s teachers possess never ceases to amaze her.
Bored of her own thoughts, Tara begins to pass the time away on her phone. An editorial
recommendation popped up where someone was urging a politician to address achievements gaps
by allowing transfers. She stifled a laugh realising that her Google account was recommending
this based on the research Tara had done for her parents before she transferred.
She began to read the article out of boredom and read that the academic gap between
urban minority students and white suburban counterpoints should be the core of the politicians
strategy (Baker 1). Also he said, “The state’s economy will increasingly depend on preparing
black and Hispanic students for success in college and careers (Baker 1).
Latinos and African Americans still get paid less for the same jobs in the workplace so
increasingly allowing ethnicities to mix in school would be a step into equality (Stiglitz 2).
******
“Hello all and welcome to the Graduation of 2015. I would like to take this opportunity to
thank everyone here. The class of 2015 honestly could not have gotten through the years without
the dedicated staff, our supportive parents and relatives, and possibly most important of all, each
other.
The three years that I have been here have felt like a lifetime. Our school has become a
welcoming place for a variety of people. Our school has come a long way in diversity of ethnicity
and personality, ensuring that everyone can find a place to fit in.
I actually was one of the students who transferred here from Formanne. I have been lucky
enough to watch as a program that allowed me and countless others to transfer into, White Haven
has positively diversified the school (Stegmeir 2). ...”