Today I read Bland Campbell's email to my students. I wish I had a picture of their faces...interest, concern, seriousness, thoughtfulness- all these words describe what they looked like as I told them about this school in the poor region of Mississippi. We talked about how schools like this get less funding and consequently have difficulty attracting teacers because even the salaries are less than in the richer parts of the USA. We discussed how it is difficult for areas like this to get ahead and how they can in effect become "locked' into poverty. I reminded them about the right of all children to a quality education and told them about President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" policy. I asked them to Blog about their thoughts concenring this new partnering school in Mississippi. Here are some of their thoughts:

Andrea wrote:

"I feel very bad for these kids because they live in such a poor place. I don't think it is very fair that the government gives only a little bit of money to them, but mostly gives it to larger cities. I think the money should be distributed equally to all of the villages, towns, and cities. These kids are very young and souldn't be experiencing poverty. Since the majority of them are black, it must also be a very hard life because in the past many blacks were slaves in Mississipi and also in other places of the USA.

It would be really neat if we could meet these kids in person and go down to Mississipi to see what it is like to live down there. It would be a really neat learning experiance and I think the other kids would also enjoy it. To make the money to go there we could do a fundraiser. We probably won't be able to go there, but it would be wonderful if we could."

Blake wondered:

"I would like to try to compare our community to theirs. I would like to learn if they want to get out of that community and if so how would they do it. I think it is being compromised by the fact that they get a lesser rate of education and they should have a chance to go to other schools."

Chase had some thoughts about the term "minority":

"After listening to that letter from the teacher in Mississippi, I was extremly suprised that 75% of the school is African American and suprisingly they are called the minority. When the teacher wrote that I was shocked that the black people who are exactly the same as the white are called the minotity. It makes them sound not as important as othr races. When that was read out to us I got an immeddate reaction that it was similar to when the African American people were treated poorly and unfairly. I don't uderstand those kids are poor and don't have as good a schooling as the other kids in the U.S.A. do. The President of the United States has a motto of "No Child Left Behind."
Personally I dont think the circumstance that these children live in supports that motto at all. It seems they are getting the 'left overs" of what the rest of the American children are getting. When I say this I mean the rest of the U.S.A are getting all of the tax money to add extra doodads to there class rooms and the southern classes get the left over money for the thing they need the most.

I would really like to learn why they are getting the left over money and not being completly satisfied with their school needs. I also want to know why the U.S.A. government is not doing anything about this problem.

I believe that everyones right to have good teachers and have a good education is being compromized in Mississippi. I want to do all that we can to help and I will really enjoy talking and socializing with these so called "minority kids".

Kristen pointed out some of the glitches found within the "No Child Left Behind" policy:

"After listening to the e-mail from the teacher in Mississippi, the thing that struck me was how the black people are called the Minority. In my opinion, I think this makes them sound lower and not as important as white people. Also, if the U.S. Constitution says that all children have the right to learn, and their motto is "No Child Left Behind," they are not living up to their rules in the Mississippi. These schools down in the Mississippi Delta in Inverness are not being properly funded, which means the teachers get paid less (meaning the teachers there are probably not as good), and the children loose out on better education, which means they are not successful like the U.S. government said they would be. It is totally unfair that other wealthy schools farther north have tons of money that they don't always need, and these schools and children down south are living in poverty. I am looking forward to corresponding with this gr.8 class in the Mississippi Delta, and I hope to learn many things about their culture. I hope that we will get to send many letters and e-mails to them, as well as pictures and possibly Christmas gifts. "

Quinton tried to make sense out of giving less governemnt funding to poorer areas of the USA:

"Why not more funding? As soon as they fix Mississippi they will gain more money from taxes by geting more people out of poverty and into jobs. Everyone should be educated thats there motto but they are letting it behind. They are not living up to their standard. They are leaving the teachers to do everything. Everything is compromised. They don't care about them. They care about the voting citizen. They think the minority does'nt matter. If they please the majority of people they figure "Hey my work is done as long as I get into office again."
They really need to take a look at someone elses shoes to see what's wrong. The teachers are minimaly paid so the good ones go to the high priced schools. Leaving these poorer schools with the left overs. Some of those teachers may be good but still they need better pay."