In this project, students investigated the U.S. education system to answer the question: “Is the education system broken?” Initially students explored what it means to be genetically human, how similar we are and what makes up our differences. Students took their own phenotype data and compared it between the class, school and community data sets. 

Students then explored different “flashpoints’’ throughout the history of US Education to provide a social and political context of that data, while they also analyzed and graphed current educational outcome data (SAT scores, rates of disciplinary actions, teacher-student diversity gaps, graduation rates)  to recognize patterns across racial groups and social class. Students interviewed people in our community about their experiences in the US education system, which culminated in recording a set of podcasts. These podcasts were curated in a life-size shoebox museum built by students called “Walk in our Shoes” where guests would wear the actual shoes of the storyteller while walking and listening to their stories. The goal for this project was for students to understand the way in which social structures and institutions can impact the lives of individuals. Specifically, how racism and other discrimination has played a role in the formation of our education system which has been designed to create different outcomes for different people.

Teacher Reflection

While doing this project, we had to become comfortable with having difficult racial and social construct conversations with students. Listening to the audiobook, Stamped by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi helped us form a common knowledge and grounded our conversations. The outcome we are most proud of is that students were able to discuss racism and other forms of discrimination in a productive and reflective way, both in our classroom, as well as with our community partners.  

—Shelby & Matt

Student Reflection

In this project I appreciated that we were able to connect to things that are happening now in education. I also think it was really important that we got to hear first-hand experiences by interviewing people in our community. In our interviews we were able to make an emotional connection to how the education system impacts people and sometimes causes harm. One thing that will always stay with me is the data we analyzed in math because I realized how important it is to have teachers who look like you and have similar experiences as you.

—Alexandra