Poorly Funded Schools

A lack of proper course materials is extremely detrimental to the overall success of the students in these poorly funded schools. In many of these schools there is often too many students per class only making the problem worse. It is not uncommon for students to not receive their own textbooks until late in the term, by which time, they are already too far behind in the course to recover. In many cases, the teacher is forced to pay out of pocket for the materials that they see as being essential to the class, but this is often not enough to provide for each student. Other teachers of science classes where labs are cunducted have to improvise materials out of garbage or broken equipment just to barely get by. If the problem persists, we will continue to lose an increasing number of potentially great minds as time goes on.

Reeling in Research

There is a growing diversity in todays classroom. In the article "Effective Management of Cultural Diversity in a Classroom Setting" by Dominick Sturz and Brian Kleiner, the common issues of having such a diverse group learning together are acknowledged, and teaching strategies are suggested to better accommodate these students as well as promoting cultural awareness. Certain themes are shared with the "Passion Project" video such as the need for the teacher to explore the minds of every student and to formulate a teaching strategy for a group of individuals rather than just one type of student. The article states, "A diverse educational background is essential for the success of the student." This is productive for both native students as well as students of differing cultural backgrounds by giving a broader view of the world while providing a sense of belonging and acceptance in the classroom.The article also stresses importance of cooperation, the merging of ideas through interpersonal activities and giving students more opportunities to express their individuality in a productive manner. "When students learn through cooperative learning, students work together toward a goal for the group." When students learn from each other and work together, it helps them understand the materials better and students become more comfortable with each other.

Works Cited

Sturz, Dominick L., and Brian H. Kleiner. "Effective Management of Cultural Diversity in a Classroom Setting." Equal Opportunities International 24.5 (2005): Proquest. Web. 3 Sep. 2013