Yesterday I stumbled upon a podcast by Malcolm Gladwell (and I know it's been out for years now) that really struck me. Most people know that I'm a big advocate for diversity and inclusion while also having very critical opinions of how our system is set up, specifically our education system. Within the first season of this podcast, Gladwell produces a three episode arc focusing on the inequalities of our education system and how brilliant kids from low-income families slip through the cracks.
The first episode, "Carlos Doesn't Remember," uses the story of a kid from LA who goes to one of the worst schools in the county and very nearly slips through the cracks before a wealthy donor finds him. This episode hit me hard as I think of all the people I went to school with in the city, or students I have worked with there, that I knew were smart but didn't have that support system to keep them going and keep them focused.
As I have driven up and down every street in the City of Syracuse this summer (400+ miles), it has become even more apparent how much place matters. Dividing lines make themselves known, and you begin to see where support systems exist and where life is a daily struggle. Families sitting on porches that are nearly falling in, attached to houses that barely have a roof. Yet we expect these children to focus on school while they barely have a physical home to go home to, if they have one at all.
Some of these students, much like Carlos, will see the value of education and put it above everything else. Not everyone is as strong as those few and will fall back into what they see around them. Many may join gangs to feel a sense of belonging, or need to leave school to help support their families that are struggling to get along. Yet we compare them to students who have every support system available to them, with comfortable homes and schools with adequate funding.
The podcast goes on to focus on the inequities in college attainment and access. Our society has become even more of a winner-takes-all reality. This is talked about in terms of cities often by Richard Florida, but is also more and more evident in our education system, especially higher education. Rich universities continue to get richer, while public and private universities that cater to lower income families are struggling to get by.
I will not be able to dissect these subjects as well as the podcast does, but the final idea of the podcast is worth noting. When you think of sports, some rely heavily on their best player while others are defined by their weakest link. Basketball teams can be carried by their very best players (think Michael Jordan or LeBron James). That single player can pick up the slack of the weaker players and allow a team to be competitive. Meanwhile, soccer is defined by the weakest player on a team. One goal that is made by a mistake can be the difference in whether a team wins or loses. Basketball is a strong link sport, while soccer is a weak link sport.
American society is a weak link society. We will only ever be as good as our weakest link, yet we spend our money and resources supporting our strongest links. It’s time for us to reorganize our priorities.