Boundaries in Baltimore's Education

Last Wednesday I went to go hear Martin Orr lecture on the last part of “Baltimore’s Big Three.” Martin Orr is the Fred Lippitt Professor of Public Policy and Professor Political Science and Urban Studies at Brown University. He focused his discussion on the major challenges of education in the city.
Mr. Orr started his lecture off by talking about the study called, “Baltimore 2000.” The study was hoping to get a sense of what Baltimore would look like in the year 2000. The future did not look bright and even today the public school system face tremendous challenges. The school system is faced with lack of technology, scarce material for classrooms, and unqualified teachers. Baltimore’s public school systems drop out rate is three times the state average!
Martin Orr discussed two major social and economic trends that have had a large influence on education. The drastic change of race population attributed to these two changes. In 1950, 24% of Baltimore population was African American, today 64$ of the city is African American. Whites claimed they fled because of taxes, schools, and neighborhood conditions, causing a major impact in education.
The second major trend of economy has affected many blue collared jobs. The blue collared jobs have been replaced by many high paying white collared jobs. As a result poverty levels has increased in which 30% of families with children in Baltimore live below the poverty line.
Mr. Orr’s speech clearly brought up the major issue of boundaries that we discuss in class. Baltimore is faced with numerous educational boundaries. The poverty level that the people of the city face everyday creates a boundary to learn as efficiently as other students in different areas. Unqualified teachers are limiting a student’s ability to learn correct information. Lack of technology is allowing for students to fall behind in educational opportunities.
In conclusion, I found Mr. Orr lecture to be quit informative. The statistics he presented were mind boggling and opened my eyes. Baltimore schools are faced with numerous problems and it is time we make a difference!