Marita is one of the students who attend the KIPP Academy in the South Bronx of New York City. The middle school is an institute in which you do not pass an entrance exam to get in; the students who attend this school are chosen by a lottery, and any fourth grade student who lives in the Bronx is allowed to apply. KIPP is “an organization that has succeeded by taking the idea of cultural legacies seriously” as said by Malcom Gladwell in his book Outliers. Gladwell also says “84 percent of the students are performing at or above their grade level” in mathematics. With expectations high and success rates undeniably high, you may be wondering what is the price for this academy that gives students in the Bronx a chance to get out of poverty and go on to a higher education? The price is not weighed in dollars, but it is instead a bargain you must keep if you attend this school. The school day is 7:25am to 5:00pm on the week days and 9:00am to 1:00pm on Saturdays. Summer vacation is shortened due to classes from 8:00am to 2:00pm held three weeks in July. The students who attend KIPP are “spending fifty to sixty percent more time learning than the traditional public school student”. Determination and self-discipline are required of students who attend KIPP.
Marita must keep this bargain to attend the KIPP Academy. She wakes up at 5:45am and sometimes stays up till midnight to finish her homework, and then finally heads off to bed to wake up in the morning to do it all over again. This would be difficult for even an adult to do. Marita also has given up the friends she had outside the KIPP Academy. She gave up a “normal” childhood for one that promises to give her the opportunities she needs to get out of poverty and give them a chance to “get out”.
I like the way you explained that Marita gave up her normal childhood for a better chance of success. The break down of the amount of time spent at the school helps to show how much the students give up in order to become better, smarter members of society. This also shows how bad the students want to become better students because of all the things they give up, including old friends.
ReplyDeleteI like how detailed you were when describing what is required of a KIPP student. I thought saying determination and self-discipline are required was a nice way to explain what type of character KIPP students need to have to excell in the program. Not only do I agree with you that even some adults could not handle being a KIPP student, but this point also tied your post together well.
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