Teachers, in turn, must recognize that money is a necessary but insufficient prerequisite for reform. Our urban communities, not just our urban schools, are in crisis. We cannot make our schools work for all our students unless our cities work for all their residents. Joblessness, poverty, substance abuse, and sub-standard housing are undeniable factors in the problems of urban schools. Reforms that work Across the country, specific initiatives have been useful in various districts.
Smaller classes make sense.
When there are fewer children in a classroom, a teacher can better meet the needs of individual students. A groundbreaking study in Tennessee found that smaller classes were especially beneficial to minority children and children in inner-city schools. Improved teacher education. Many districts, especially in urban areas, are forced to rely on teachers with little experience or without certification. In particular, we must increase the number of teachers of color and educate all teachers to be more culturally sensitive.