Ivette Hernandez

Sociology 001
June 20, 2015
Savage Inequalities
1. Irl Solomons history class
Mr. Solomons history class is considered to be the highlight of East St. Louis Martin
Luther King High School. In his class he has four senior girls who are pregnant and feel
as though going to school is going to do them no good, so they feel as though why not get
pregnant. One of the students expressed that he doesnt attend physics class because they
do not have any equipment. Another student mentioned that the typewriters in typing
class do not work. While another student asked the question Are we citizens of East St.
Louis or America? Bringing a very good point, as to why America hasnt done anything
about the conditions their schools are in. Mr. Solomon later explained that of the 55% of
students that actually graduate only 20% will attend a four year college and 10-20% well
get some sort of higher education and an equal amount of students will enter the military.
2. Jennifers views on schools in poor areas
Jennifer is a student at the local high school in Rye, New York. She is formerly from the
Bronx, her family chose to move out because they felt that the school system was not
good enough for her. Jennifer feels as though people in poor areas and schools should
stay where they are at, but classes and schools should be equal to the one that she is
attending. She doesnt feel that it is hers or anyone elses responsibility to pay their taxes
and have that funding go to schools who are in poverty. She believes that people in those
areas must have the want to receive a higher education, someone else cant want it for

them. Jennifer ends by agreeing that everyone should have the same chances at having
the same curriculum.
3. Contrast East St. Louis with the schools in Rye, New York
The schools in East St. Louis were completely run down and collapsing. The middle
school had to be shut down because of an overflow of sewage. The students from the
middle school had to be moved to the high school to resume their studies. Some of the
childrens language wasnt so well. Children who were in elementary school couldnt tell
time by the age of 9. The kids didnt even know at what time classes started; nor did
some know their grade level. The school district had to lay off over 280 teachers and
were staffing permanent substitute teachers to avoid having to pay a full teachers salary.
The kindergarten class sizes went up to 30 students per class and from 4th grade to 12th
grade the class sizes were 35 students per class. While in Rye, New York the high school
was made of gray stone and set in a landscaped campus. Their auditorium had recently
been remodeled with funding that the parents of the students gathered. The students had a
lounge where they could study and relax. Their population was majority Caucasian and
Asian with some Hispanics and about 1-2% of Black students. The teachers salaries
were close to reaching $70,000 and per-pupil funding was above $12,000. Unlike the
students in East St. Louis, the students in Rye were lucid, with well-chosen language, and
made well arguments.
My perspective
The article was astonishing to read because of the great differences in these two cities. I
was blown away by the poverty in East St. Louis and the conditions in which these people were
living in and going to school in. It was clear to me that this has been a forgotten city. It is sad to
see that not even our government would help them. I do believe that things have changed to a

certain point. For instance, the schools of South and East Los Angeles once struggled very much
to get by and werent so well funded by the Los Angeles Unified School District. I remember
being in school and having bullet holes on our outside walls because of the dangerous areas we
were in and no security protecting us. I remember our music programs having to be cut because
there was no funding for it or in recess not having any balls to play with because they werent on
the budget. Although my previous school conditions didnt come close to East St. Louis poverty,
it did affect many of Los Angeles school. However, now all these underfunded schools have an
increase in security, have funding for music programs, art programs, sports and many other
things. Yes, there still maybe some schools who are suffering or teachers being laid off or being
underpaid, but it is not as bad as it could be. Change will always happen when we as a
community make it happen.