How Might Schools Better Serve Marginalized Youth?

• In Event: Roundtable Session 22
  In Roundtable Session: How Do Perceptions, Attitudes, and Identities Affect the Learning Opportunities of Underrepresented Students?

Abstract

This paper highlights the various ways a focus group of African American males uncovered the further marginalization of low-income students in a rural, southeastern high school. The words of those students, when compared with previous studies of marginalized youth from the past few years, emphasize the need for attention (Noguera, 2001; Conchas, 2006). Researchers, teacher educators, and school districts need to work together to reach the marginalized youth in rural societies during the shift to Common Core Standards, particularly in the language arts classroom. The primary objective of this paper is to draw attention to how those youth perceive a lack of empowerment in their academic lives.

Author

• Megan Adams, Kennesaw State University