Who’s Impacted the Most?
Illustration By: iFp Teen Creative Maxwell
One of our through-lines or guiding themes for this project is Equity versus Equality. We define equality as treating every student the same. Equity means making sure every student has the support they need to be successful. Today we will explore some of the disparities between the Port and Kendall Square. These communities are two blocks away from each other, yet worlds apart. The inequities have been highlighted even more so with the pandemic.
From a student perspective, I noticed new school buildings are being built which is cool. However, no major changes have been made with the way we learn. Has thought been given to what ultimately fosters learning and creativity? I have attended school committee meetings and there is often talk about integrating the new space with the learning, but that’s not what we are experiencing.
If we shift this lens into the Port we see the same ideology. Kids, teachers, and residents of the Port are living in an internalized bubble where everything inside the bubble stays the same but everything outside the bubble is shifting and adapting. This is a real crisis. Schools need to be a place where students can know that their creativity is being fostered. Once they leave the space they are confident knowing that they are productive members of society.
No one who resides or goes to school in the Port is less worthy or capable than anyone else who lives in the city of Cambridge. However, there is a significant difference in resources, programming, and statistical barriers separating this area from the rest of Cambridge. From our research, 2 Blocks reveals that education is an underlying factor in most of these issues.
According to the Cambridge Community Foundation’s Boomtown / Hometown report 2017 there are many data points that describe the inequities throughout the city. The article shows that 60% of white families are high-income households whereas over 65% of black families are low-income households. This correlates to the racial achievement gaps we are seeing in science and math. White students significantly outperform black students.
Overall we noticed the similarities between low-income and achievement and how living in a bubble can be both metaphorical and physical for many Cantabrigians. A more equitable investment of resources into the Port will change the trajectory of student lives!
Illustration By: iFp Teen Creative Maxwell