[Dumblydorr]

Except that schools are drastically different depending on your neighborhood, so poor kids have far less exposure to knowledge and mentoring that would allow them to succeed individually.

I taught science across the Chicago school system. One of my worst schools literally had 3 kids exceeding standards...only 3 out of 500. It's simply not on the children's shoulders alone, they need force multipliers like good teachers, computers, home stability, even food and sleep and safety from gang violence are not assured.

So, individual action is multiplied by opportunity and mentoring.

[Waterluvian]

I'm convinced that the single most important issue is a stable home where the parents have the time and energy to engage in their kids education.

But any time I try to unpack this issue it becomes a seemingly impossible systemic problem. How can you possibly have time for your kids if your marriage isn't stable or you're working multiple jobs?

This leaves me equally convinced that we need to raise children as communities, tribes, villages, and not as individual families. But I have no idea how to make that happen.