My Problem With Tracking

The Tracking system furthers oppression in America's education system. White children all over the nation are consistently being tracked into the higher level-learning classes at a quicker rate than that of minorities. Typically minorities, especially Blacks and Hispanics, are tracked into the lower level performing classes simply because of the color of their skin. Where is the equality in that system? No where to be found, quite honestly. Even tracking students who they know will be able to perform at a high level is dangerous because the school system only perpetuates the status-quo. This holds truth because as mentioned above, white students are more likely going to be taking AP, IB, and Honors classes than their minority counterpart. Why is that? Why does society believe that minorities are not capable of achieving at high levels? We all know how much media plays a role in portraying minorities as the "underdog."

Tracking has too many repercussions that outweigh the argued benefits. It doesn't give students to prove that they are truly capable of performing at the same or higher level as their white counterpart. We diminish the minority students chances of entering into the academically challenging classes that push you. They are deemed as incapable thus they are placed in classes that don't push them to their fullest potential. That is what they need--they need high expectations. We need to stop instilling false notions of incapability in their heads because once they internalize those false truths, they will look at themselves in the mirror and say "I'm not good enough because society tells me so." How incredibly disheartening is that? I have witnessed in my school career the negative impact tracking has on a student. My brother was tracked in school therefore he felt indifferent about school. He didn't really care about his grades nor did he care about his teachers or what he was learning. The system told him that he might as well give up because he will not be able to succeed in high-achieving schools. Luckily he did have a teacher who pushed him. She cared enough about his success that she would ingrain a seed of hope.

High achieving classrooms are seen as "white property." Only the whites can attend those classes and be successful. This isn't just the belief of the system--minorities are fully aware of this issue yet they have twisted it against them. Because of this idea that high-level classrooms only have white students in them, minorities start hassling and mocking minorities who are in those classrooms. "Oh, you're acting white" has been a common phrase I have heard my entire life--even coming to Whitworth. "You're conforming to the ideals of everyone else, Ticcia... you better watch out." It's a sad reality.