Tracking: Why Schools Need to Take Another Route by Jeanne Oakes

       "Students who are placed in high groups have access to far richer schooling experiences than other students" (Oakes). I believe that this is so true because the students who are in schools that have more resources have better grades than the students who are in schools that do not have the resources that they need. It is so sad because students should have the same opportunity no matter where they go to school. I am not saying that every student who attends a school that doesn't have the resources never gets good grades, but those resources could really help them accell later in life. They could get the skills that they need to forever changing society. The area that the school is in that does not have the resources that it needs might not have the money to get those resources. It is a shame that schools do not the access to get what the students need. In my school, in my opinion, there are many students that need some extra help and either the school does not have the resources that it needs to get the extra teachers to help those students or the families do not the resources go get their child the help that they need. 

         " Other important differences have been noted in the classroom atmosphere. Most teachers realize that for students, feeling comfortable in class is more than just a nice addition to learning. They also know that when teachers and students trust each one another, class time and energy just trying are freed up for teaching and learning" (Oakes). If a child does not feel comfortable or does not trust the teacher, then the student is going to have a tough school year. The student needs to know that they can trust their teacher because building that trust can lead to the student feeling comfortable enough to let the teacher know if they are getting abused at home. Having that trust could potentially save a child's life. Their learning could improve as well because they could ask questions on things that they do not understand. Not asking questions could lead to students not passing tests or even the grade that they are in, so they would have to repeat the grade. 

            “Typically, low-tracking high school students have been in low-ability groups and remedial programs since elementary school. The gap between them and more successful students has grown wider—not only in achievement bit in attitudes toward school and toward their own ability to succeed. By the time students reach secondary school, track-related achievement and attitude differences are often well established” (Oakes). This makes me so sad because the kids are getting frustrated because they are not doing well in school. I feel like the teachers should help these students get out of where they are and get them to a place where they like school and they want to do well.