Tracking: Why Schools Need to Take Another Route -Jeannie Oakes

• Practice
• Tracking
• Segregation
• Abilities
• Skills
• Educational Levels
• Schooling

Jeannie Oakes argues that tracking in schools is inappropriate and belittles all students below high-ability learning levels. She also argues that high-ability learners achieve just as well when they are mixed with all levels and the average and low-ability students achieve above their normal averages.

1. "In low-ability classes, for example, teacher seem to be less encouraging and more punitive, placing more emphasis on discipline and behavior and less on academic learning. Compared to teachers in high-ability classes, they seem to be more concerned about getting students to follow directions, be on time, and sit quietly. Students in low-ability classes more often feel excluded from class activities and ten to find their classmates unfriendly." (Page 170)
2. "The quality of classes for average students usually falls somewhere between the high and low-class extreme. For example, in average classes, many teachers expected relatively little of students." (Page 179)
3. "Taken together, these typical differences begin to suggest why tracking can and often does work well for top students. Start by providing the best teachers, a concentration of the most successful students and sometimes even the lowest class size. Ass special resources, a sense of superior academic mission, perhaps a parent support group, and these students will get the best education in town." (Page 179)

I really enjoyed reading this piece from Oakes. It was persice and direct. I have never heard of this tracking method before. It's interesting to think teachers and professional educators would even think of separating each level of ability into different classes. I feel like that is complete segregation. As Oakes explains, tracking only caters to the high-ability learners and belittles the rest of the different levels. I feel that in a classroom each student contributes to class no matter what each child's level is.