Stop the prison pipeline one book at a time by Daisy

Stop the prison pipeline one book at a time by Daisy - April 2022 Scholarship Essay

The school to prison pipeline is a huge problem that is not talked about enough. Anyone who has ever attended public school can attest to the lack of resources. Public schools all over the country are lacking in so many ways including resources, qualified teachers, funding, etc. The areas that are lacking have a huge impact on children as conveyed in the school to prison pipeline. This theory says that some of the disciplinary tactics that take students out of class have a correlation with children ending up in the criminal justice system at some point in their life.I have always been interested in criminal justice which is why I am now majoring in it. Specifically, I am interested in the criminal justice system in relation to juveniles. This is why I volunteer at SEAL.
Students Expanding Austin Literacy is an organization where college students partner with nearby elementary schools. We are paired with a reading buddy and help them grow their love for learning and improve their reading skills. Many of the kids we read with feel more comfortable speaking Spanish than English. As someone who mainly spoke Spanish at home, I completely relate to this. School is predominantly taught in English and navigating the switch between Spanish and English can be difficult. It always made me doubt my reading and writing abilities. I want to help our reading buddies feel comfortable in their abilities. I also want them to love to read. Most importantly, I want to build a foundation for them. In order to continue to grow and strive you need to have an understanding of writing, reading, and math. I strongly believe that having these foundations set will make a child’s life a lot easier in the future. They will have skills they can use in the real world. They might also develop a love for school if they find something they like and are good at.
A child is more likely to stay out of trouble if they find something they love and are good at. It will capture their attention and they will dedicate time to mastering their craft. This is why education is extremely important. Having an education will allow them to decipher right and wrong. They will be able to weigh the consequences of certain actions. The most important thing I have learned is that kids are extremely smart and brave. If you give them a bit of your time to help them improve a skill they will be inspired to keep going. They learn fast and they are eager to grow. I am excited to be a part of an organization that prioritizes education and sets them up for success.