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Summary Of Ain 'T No Makin' It By Jay Macleod

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Summary Of Ain 'T No Makin' It By Jay Macleod
The book, Ain’t No Makin’ It, allows us to enter the world of two distinct peer groups in a low income housing project in America. Jay MacLeod takes us on a journey to explain why the attitudes, beliefs, expectations, and aspirations of these two groups of teenagers differ so greatly despite their similarities. One of the primary focuses is on education and the Hallway Hangers and Brothers experiences within Lincoln High School. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are important documents whose intention is to guarantee basic rights to all people, including children, regardless of where they live in the world. Both documents unequivocally state that education is an important and fundamental right for all. After reading this book, it is my belief that the United States falls short in fulfilling the educational rights set forth in these important declarations. The Brothers and Hallway Hangers were not granted an education that promoted tolerance, encouraged attendance, or provided equity in their education.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 26, section 2, states the following regarding education: “it shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all
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In the section of Ain’t No Makin’ It titled The Hallway Hangers: Teacher’s Nightmare, we learn that all of the Hallway Hangers had truancy issues, skipping school regularly in favor of getting high and hanging out with their friend’s. What most struck me is that Boo-Boo once skipped school for four months and there was no effort by the school to contact him or his parents during that time (MacLeod, 2008). While I appreciate the fact that these children were obviously not easy to deal with, the school failed at even attempting to keep them at

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