What's Wrong with American Schools?

[CrimsonTide4]

Hello EVERYONE,
I am in need of your help and serious input. I have to do a project for my graduate course and was undecided as how to proceed. I finally decided to focus on fixing some of the problems of education, particularly in regards to helping our BLACK students. However, my project can and will look at students of all races.

That being said, I have drafted questions that I want your input on. You can reply to me privately via my e-mail account (crs875@yahoo.com) or here on the thread. I consider you all to be the voice of America because a lot of you are parents and teachers, but regardless the products of America's schools will impact us all, either directly or indirectly.

1. Name at least 3 problems of education.

2. For each problem that you identified, please name a possible solution.

3. Is education fair to all of its students?

4. Is education color blind? Should it be? How?

5. Are you in favor of public single race schools with same race teachers? Why or why not? Advantages? Disadvantages?

6. Are you in favor of public single gender schools being taught by that respective gender? Why or why not? What are the advantages? Disadvantages?

7. For at risk students or students who are disadvantaged in terms of class and inferior school settings, what should be done to help these students?

8. As members or prospective members of BGLOs, our focus is service. How can we help our own more PROACTIVELY? What are you doing right now or have done in the past?

I would really appreciate any and all responses by Friday, March 8, 2002 because the project is due the following Thursday.

[Three_Love]

Okay, I'll bite.

Name at least 3 problems of education. For each problem that you identified, please name a possible solution.

1. Disproportionate resources - some schools have better facilities/resources than others. The only solution I can think of is for cities and counties to pool funds and disperse them equally, rather than the rich cities taxes providing for their schools, while poorer cities provide for their schools (hence the smaller resources). This would never happen tho.

2. Young, uneducated parents. Babies having babies is resulting in babies with kids who don't know HOW to emphasize an education for their children, probably because it wasn't emphasized in their home. Vicious cycle. The long term solution is to discourage teenage pregnancy. The short term solution is to educate the parents - encourage them to participate in their child's education, to come to PTA and Parent nights and such. This is a tough one tho.

3. Boring, underqualified teachers. Folks who only go into teaching because they can't do anything else, and don't care about teaching the children, who are bored by the whack, underqualified teachers. The only solution is to pay teachers more money to make the field more enticing and actually pay teachers so that they can AFFORD to teach. But of course this ain't gonna happen either.

Is education fair to all of its students?

Of course not. Life isn't fair. You can't choose your parents, and I truly believe that a person's education has a lot to do with their parents' attitude. My parents always stressed education, and as a result, my siblings and I are all college educated. Growing up, knowledge, learning, and good grades were our top priorities - not Tommy Hilfiger, Coogi, and FUBU or whatever.

Is education color blind? Should it be? How?

UH, OF COURSE education isn't color blind. It SHOULDN'T BE color blind either. Why? Because LIFE isn't color blind. And when you have a color blind education and then get thrown into LIFE, then you are CAUGHT out there, thinking life is fair and color blind, when IT ISN'T.

Are you in favor of public single race schools with same race teachers? Why or why not? Advantages? Disadvantages?

Yes, I am in favor of public single race schools with same race teachers, because I think it's important for minority children to see and interact with educated minority adults. The advantages would be that our young black men would see black male teachers as role models, and maybe want to go into education. The disadvantages would be when the all white schools would pop up and say NO BLACKS ALLOWED and black folks start to lose their minds over it.

Are you in favor of public single gender schools being taught by that respective gender? Why or why not? What are the advantages? Disadvantages?

I'm also in favor of public single gender schools being taught by that respective gender, for similar reasons to above. Plus, an advantage would be taking the whole "boy/girl relationship" drama out of the educational setting. The disadvantage might be because nowadays, young girls and guys are out the closet sooner, so you might have a lesbian fest/gay fest on your hands (not that there's anything WRONG with that...).

For at risk students or students who are disadvantaged in terms of class and inferior school settings, what should be done to help these students?

Mentoring programs really help at risk students, in my opinion. It gives them someone to look up to and aspire to be like. A mentor can be that child's cheerleader.

As members or prospective members of BGLOs, our focus is service. How can we help our own more PROACTIVELY? What are you doing right now or have done in the past?

My chapter (Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta) has several mentoring programs with young girls. Of course we have the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy, which encourages young girls to go into technical fields. My chapter has a program called "Project 3D" that is for girls age 13-14 and the goal is to prevent teenage pregnancy. We are also mentors to the young project 3D girls. Personally, I have also participated in the Big Sisters of America program, and always volunteered as a tutor whenever possible.

[tickledpink]

1. Name at least 3 problems of education.
a. Lack of resources: My children have gone to 2 different schools. The first one was an Exemplary School for 4 years in a row. I worked there for a while and every classroom had new computers (The PTA's wrok help with the funding), & plenty of materials & supplies. The new school where they are now ... uggggh. Every classroom does not have a computer. The 1st grade teacher informed my child (when she ran out of manuscript paper) "Well, your parents will have to buy it, we don't have any more". I went to the class & they didn't have enough books, the kids were sharing. AND we paid for our child's journal at the beginning of the year only for her to receive a USED journal due to they ran out. I am disgusted and I've noticed a definate differene in the resources available to children in different school zones!
b. Poor pay for teachers.
c. Overcrowded Classrooms.

2. For each problem that you identified, please name a possible solution.

a. Resources should be distributed among schools, making sure that schools with more students and less resources are properly allotted.
b. Teacher should have a starting salary of at LEAST $30-$40k in this area. Teachers in this area generally come in @ 23k-25k. Customer service reps make more than that & do less. We can get more qualified teachers with more attractive salaries & bonuses.
c. The ratio of student to teacher should change. It is ineffective to have 30 students to 1 teacher. Also, EVERY teacher should have an assistant, regardless of grade level.

3. Is education fair to all of its students?
No.

4. Is education color blind? No. Should it be? Yes. How? Even though we want to recognize diversity and different cultural backgrounds to create a comfortable learning environment, the quality of education that each student receives should be color blind.

5. Are you in favor of public single race schools with same race teachers? No. Why or why not? I feel it would be easier for the government to allot more funding to "certain" schools if we did this. Also, by segregating children, we subject them to a secluded world that does not exist. We have to teach children to relate to people of all races so that they can be successful in the real world. Advantages? Disadvantages?

6. Are you in favor of public single gender schools being taught by that respective gender? No. Why or why not? For the same reasons as above. What are the advantages? Disadvantages?

7. For at risk students or students who are disadvantaged in terms of class and inferior school settings, what should be done to help these students? Unfortunately, I don't have any solutions for this right now.

8. As members or prospective members of BGLOs, our focus is service. How can we help our own more PROACTIVELY? Participation in Big sister programs, volunteer to tutor children that may need help afterschool (on school grounds). What are you doing right now or have done in the past? Both of the previously mentioned.

[prayerfull]

Name at least 3 problems of education.

1. Mis-management of resources by the school boards. That's why there's low pay for teachers, large class sizes, no technology, and run-down buildings and equipment. Our local school district is now $8mill. in debt and is looking to trim $6.3 million annually from it's budget. How? School closures, larger class sizes, cutting the "gifted and talented" program, eliminating all school librarians, cutting music departments.....? WTF? Now does anyone have any questions as to why my kids are in a private school?

Solution: A MAJOR federal and state government focus on Education. Not just a couple of commercials. We're talking CASH...to completely renovate facilities and provide ongoing resources. Does this have to mean additional taxes? Not necessarily. A major study would have to be done to see where funds could be diverted from.

2. Not enough parent participation. Unfortunately, you can't force parents to get involved. In my area, it's the Mexican parents who are most involved. They are always the first ones to sign up for parent/teacher conferences and are the main ones visibible up at the schools. Parental involvement makes a big difference - the kids appreciate and recognize when their parents are involved, the teachers and administrators recognize and work harder with those kids when they know the parents are tracking and monitoring.

Solution: Programs that encourage parent participation and show parents how participation positively affects their children's progress

3. Not enough stress on Excellence. From Pre-K and K, there needs to be a major emphasis on the foundations of achievement...phonics, reading, math. In California, high schools are just worried about making sure that those kids can pass the required state graduation exam...that's just average...we need more than that.

Solution: Complete curriculum overhaul.

Is education fair to all of its students?

Nope....

Is education color blind? Should it be? How?

Education in the inner-city is much different than education in other communities...it's just a plain fact of the matter. I can even look at test scores locally and see a complete geographical difference.

Are you in favor of public single race schools with same race teachers? Why or why not? Advantages? Disadvantages?

No, I'm not in favor of single race schools. That's a blast from the past. We've been there (slave days) and done that. That does nothing but create a blatant racial divide and children need diversity in order to progress and be productive once their finished with school.

Are you in favor of public single gender schools being taught by that respective gender? Why or why not? What are the advantages? Disadvantages?

Now, this may be a bit different than the race issue. There are private all-girls and all-boys schools and it seems to have some strong advantages. However, there must be some type of interaction between these single-gender schooled children to encourage diversity.

For at risk students or students who are disadvantaged in terms of class and inferior school settings, what should be done to help these students?

Improved facilities, resources, teachers and programs that focus on Excellence.

As members or prospective members of BGLOs, our focus is service. How can we help our own more PROACTIVELY? What are you doing right now or have done in the past?

We can implement programs that focus not only on children, but include the parents at the core focus of the programs. So, if it's a mentoring program for chidren, also provide a mentor for the parents to foster long-term success.

[CrimsonTide4]

I want to give a sincere and hearty thank you to all of you have replied thus far.

To those who have not thus far, PLEASE!! I am not begging begging but I am lightweight ASKING REALLY HARD.

ANYONE ANYONE ANYONE can give their input!!!

[Sugar_N_Spice]

1. Name at least 3 problems of education.
a.) Teachers, esp. the really good ones, are Under-Valued. They do not get enough recognition or pay, which results in less and less people wanting to become teachers. People don't realize how much teachers really do (even myself, who is not a teacher, therefore cannot completely comprehend). Teachers don't just show kids how to conjugate verbs or how to some the derivative of an equation--they are leaving impressions on children (be it positive or negative) that the kids will remember for the rest of their lives...

b.) Unfair/ Unequal Resources. Having attended schools both in the inner city, and outside the "ghetto", I have seen both sides of the tracks. It's not fair that the high school I graduated from had only 3 AP classes at the time (and none of them were science). It was very hard for me to transition from High School to a Prestigious, Predominantly White University (and I wouldn't have been able to do it w/out the help I received). I had to work twice (sometimes three-times) as hard as other people who came from schools with more AP Classes, better qualified teachers, books for every student, smaller classes, labs with equipment that wasn't outdated, classes w/ computers, etc.

c.) Lack of parental involvement. If all the parents got together and mobilized (instead of merely complaining), so MUCH could be accomplished. We are the ones that vote these people into office, therefore, we are the ones that hold them accountable for doing or not doing their jobs. First, off, kids would do better academically in school, instead of acting up in school (I know my Mom made sure I had my homework done, even helped me with it, and if i were to act up in class--believe I would be punished later). Children, for the most part, are a reflection of their upbringing. Secondly, if most of the parents attempted to keep track of the ongoings of the schools (does my child have to share a book in class, does his/her classes have computers, is her teacher actually teaching, etc.), then the schools would be on their P's & Q's.

2. For each problem that you identified, please name a possible solution.
a.) Teachers should be paid WAAAAAAY more and should receive more accolades (awards and benefits) than they do. More incentives should be provided so that people will be motivated to want to teach.

b.)Not just more money being put in the schools, but better management of the money. We (parents and voters in general), need to elect officials that make education one of their top priorities.

c.) This is a tough one, b/c you can't make parents do anything they don't want to do. But if the schools and government officials gave the parents more incentives to become involved in the education of their students, such as being paid for hours of work missed to attend parent-teacher conferences, then more (but probably not all) parents would be involved. Social Workers should be making sure that things are going okay for the students at home also, b/c as someone else stated earlier, your home life does affect how well you do in school. This means that the teachers will need to be educated on how to notice certain "warning signs" in children (w/out jumping to conlusions).

3. Is education fair to all of its students?
No, Of course it's not. Nothing in life is fair to everyone (not even the IRS).

4. Is education color blind? Should it be? How?
Education is not color-blind, nor should it be. Life is not color-blind, so why should education be? Everyone' culture should be accepted and celebrated, rather than diminished. Students should be able to learn about their own culture in school too, not just someone else's. The K-12 system should have more programs that recognize the achievements of minorities--not just during Black History month, b/c every month is White History month. Students need to see positive images of themselves year-round.This is also why I believe colleges should have a diversity requirement (it will make you appreciate other cultures).

5. Are you in favor of public single race schools with same race teachers? Why or why not? Advantages? Disadvantages?
No, b/c as I stated earlier, life is not color-blind. In the real-world, you are forced to interact with people of various races and cultures, esp. living in America. Students need to get used to interacting with people that are different from them and accepting and appreciating those differences. But I do believe there should be more qualified teachers and administrators that represent various races, esp. the ones that are most prevalent in certain areas.

6. Are you in favor of public single gender schools being taught by that respective gender? Why or why not? What are the advantages? Disadvantages?
No, for the same reasons stated above (even more so here).

7. For at risk students or students who are disadvantaged in terms of class and inferior school settings, what should be done to help these students?
While I whole-heartedly agree with what REIKI stated in response to this question, we do have to try to help the students who are still in the system while attempting to revamp the system. Some possible solutions are: Tutoring programs in the high schools; teachers being more available to help the students when they need it; more mentors to serve as positive examples for students, more parental involvement; and also making the students aware thatthere are ways to supplement the education they are getting now (such as taking classes that are not available at their high schools at community colleges), w/ the help of the schools (providing transportation for these students).

8. As members or prospective members of BGLOs, our focus is service. How can we help our own more PROACTIVELY? What are you doing right now or have done in the past?
Members of BGLO's can help by creating more programs that focus on helping these students. BGLO's have pull that sometimes other orgs on campus don't. BGLO's can pull in people to volunteer and aid in their efforts. Volunteering not only benefits the student, but it benefits you, too, b/c in the bigger picture, these students are "you". I am a mentor and I also volunteer as a tutor once a week (minus weeks that I have midterms) at a high school. But we have to remember that we can't help anyone else unless we help ourselves first, which means we need to make sure we have our "stuff" mostly "together" before we can help someone esle. I see my peers too many times try to help others swim and they are themselves drowning.

[VirtuousErudite]

[B][b]1. Name at least 3 problems of education.

1. I feel that the number one problem within our educational system is the lack of parental involvement within our school system. An enthusiastic parent can combat most issues present in our schools. When parents are actively involved in their child's education children are generally more interested in learning or at least too scared to act up.

2. Lack or resources: Many schools lack the funds to provide the basic resources for their students.

3. Lack of RESPECT for the American teacher: Many people take on the attitude that people become teachers because they can't do anything else. This lack of respect for the educational profession in general causes many teachers to become burnt out with the profession.

Again, an enthusiastic parent partnered with a dedicated teacher can over come any issue within our schools system serving as a catalyst for change within the system . You can probably tell I'm a future teacher here.


2. For each problem that you identified, please name a possible solution.

1. Teachers should reach out to parents early in the year welcoming parents into the classroom BEFORE problems arise and work to establish open dialog throughout the year with parents through every possible medium.

2. Resources are a big problems in all schools, it seems that the only solution would be equal distribution of materials regardless of socio economic status by the government.

3. Teachers should recieve fair pay for doing one of the hardest jobs out there and also should be given the same reverance as doctors, lawyers, and community leaders.

3. Is education fair to all of its students?
No.

4. Is education color blind? Should it be? How?

Education is not color blind but it definately should be.

5. Are you in favor of public single race schools with same race teachers? Why or why not? Advantages? Disadvantages?
Not quite sure. These could be wonderful mediums for children to be exposed to leaders within thier own communities with whom they look up to, however the United States is not a single race society, and the ability to be exposed to, collaborate with, and learn from other colors is essential in this day in age. I could see this being extremely detrimental if students are from neighborhoods largely dominated by one race and do not have the opportunity for exposure to other cultures in school.

6. Are you in favor of public single gender schools being taught by that respective gender? Why or why not? What are the advantages? Disadvantages?

Yes. I believe that single gender schools are an excellent idea. Studies have shown that girls have greater chances to suceed in math and science in single sex classrooms.

7. For at risk students or students who are disadvantaged in terms of class and inferior school settings, what should be done to help these students?

Mentoring, shawdowing, and self-esteem programs.

8. As members or prospective members of BGLOs, our focus is service. How can we help our own more PROACTIVELY? What are you doing right now or have done in the past?

I currently volunteer weekly at a local area Boys and Girls club as a tutor and mentor I also volunteer with Girls Incorporated during the summer. These programs afford me the opportunities to work with young people within my community.


Hope that helps.

[Three_Love]

Dayum, so am I the only person in favor of black schools with black teachers?

Some folks say that integration messed us black folks up big time...some folks believe that when we were educating our own, thangs were better...

Me, myself, personally, I attended black public schools in a black city from K - 12 - black mayor, black city council & school board, black neighborhood...the only white folks I knew before the age of 18 were teachers (and I had some EXCEPTIONAL teachers growing up). We didn't have a lot of resources. But I know a WHOOOLLLLEEEE lot more black history than most folks my age. Shoot, growing up, we used to sing this song about Martin Luther King that I thought ALL kids learned and grew up singing - I thought EVERYONE learned Black History and had Black History Month programs...until I went to college and my white roommate said, "I know that King was assassinated, but why is he famous -I don't really understand why he got a holiday". Me, from my ol' busted ghetto girl, gangsta, 90% black, 9% mexican, 1% samoan/tongan/islander public high school...I blew up the SATs in the 10th grade, had ivy league schools hunting me down in the hood and begging me to come be their token black girl (had to pass tho - as a Cali native, the idea of snow turned a sista off). The predominantly white school that I initially attended (before transferring to an HBCU) was the first time I had ever interacted with white people my own age. And guess what? I WAS SMARTER THAN ALL OF THOSE FOOLS. Because MY PARENTS had prepared me. When they didn't have a high enough level math at my junior high school, I went to the high school across the street for math. When I finished the highest level math at my high school by the 10th grade, I went to the local jr. college and took math...BECAUSE MY PARENTS WERE INVOLVED IN MY EDUCATION. And even tho I had grown up in a black city and been around black folks all my life, I KNEW about white america - it wasn't like I was disillusioned or anything. If anything, I felt even MORE prepared to deal with white devils AND THEIR PREJUDICES.

I'd prefer my kids, when I have them, to be in a black environment with black teachers and black students. I WANT MY KIDS TO KNOW THEIR PEOPLE AND KNOW ABOUT THEIR PEOPLE AND NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR PEOPLE!!! Yeah, I know the world is not all black - of course I'd teach my kids that. But there is NOTHING I hate MORE than seeing a black kid who has been raised all around whites, is SCARED of black folks/black neighborhoods, and thinks that "there is no such thing as prejudice or bad white folks". "We're all created equal" (said in that "brotha white boy voice)...YECH!! THOSE are the ones who go off to college and out into the world and get teary eyed when they get called "n*gga" for the first time...they are the ones who have to figure out how to deal with the fact that LIFE and MANY WHITE FOLKS AIN'T FAIR...the RUDE AWAKENING that white folks will INVARIABLY look out for their own (if you disagree with this...phew...all I gots ta say is that if you plan to remain in the world of Disney b.k.a. "FantasyLand", STAY AWAY from corporate america!!!).

YEAH, WHITE FOLKS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR OWN - don't get it twisted. So why shouldn't we? I say we need black schools with as many black teachers as we can find for the black students. It's the same theory as HBCU'S - and since I've been to BOTH predominantly white institutions and the nation's top black college (Tuskegee), I am qualified speak on it.

(using my ghetto girl voice) CAN'T NOBODY TELL ME THAT MY BLACK PUBLIC SCHOOL AND HBCU EDUCATED AZZ AIN'T THE BRIGHTEST, BESTEST THANG ON THE BLOCK!!! And I'll beat E'REY ONE OF Y'ALL NEGROES IN JEOPARDY TOO...BALEEVE DAT!!! LOL!!

(getting serious again) I am also an advocate of public schools. My siblings and I graduated from a public high school with one of the worst reputations in LA, and ALL of us have post graduate degrees. IT'S NOT THE SCHOOL...IT'S THE PARENTS. And since I gots ta pay taxes anyways, my kids (when I have them), will be in PUBLIC SCHOOL. And I will be WRECKIN' on that public school too, er'y day if I have to.

Reading the responses to this post have been very enlightening...I honestly would have thought that more folks would be for same race/same sex schools. Interesting.

[VirtuousErudite]

Originally posted by Three_Love
Dayum, so am I the only person in favor of black schools with black teachers?

Some folks say that integration messed us black folks up big time...some folks believe that when we were educating our own, thangs were better...

Me, myself, personally, I attended black public schools in a black city from K - 12 - black mayor, black city council & school board, black neighborhood...the only white folks I knew before the age of 18 were teachers (and I had some EXCEPTIONAL teachers growing up). We didn't have a lot of resources. But I know a WHOOOLLLLEEEE lot more black history than most folks my age. Shoot, growing up, we used to sing this song about Martin Luther King that I thought ALL kids learned and grew up singing - I thought EVERYONE learned Black History and had Black History Month programs...until I went to college and my white roommate said, "I know that King was assassinated, but why is he famous -I don't really understand why he got a holiday". Me, from my ol' busted ghetto girl, gangsta, 90% black, 9% mexican, 1% samoan/tongan/islander public high school...I blew up the SATs in the 10th grade, had ivy league schools hunting me down in the hood and begging me to come be their token black girl (had to pass tho - as a Cali native, the idea of snow turned a sista off). The predominantly white school that I initially attended (before transferring to an HBCU) was the first time I had ever interacted with white people my own age. And guess what? I WAS SMARTER THAN ALL OF THOSE FOOLS. Because MY PARENTS had prepared me. When they didn't have a high enough level math at my junior high school, I went to the high school across the street for math. When I finished the highest level math at my high school by the 10th grade, I went to the local jr. college and took math...BECAUSE MY PARENTS WERE INVOLVED IN MY EDUCATION. And even tho I had grown up in a black city and been around black folks all my life, I KNEW about white america - it wasn't like I was disillusioned or anything. If anything, I felt even MORE prepared to deal with white devils AND THEIR PREJUDICES.

I'd prefer my kids, when I have them, to be in a black environment with black teachers and black students. I WANT MY KIDS TO KNOW THEIR PEOPLE AND KNOW ABOUT THEIR PEOPLE AND NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR PEOPLE!!! Yeah, I know the world is not all black - of course I'd teach my kids that. But there is NOTHING I hate MORE than seeing a black kid who has been raised all around whites, is SCARED of black folks/black neighborhoods, and thinks that "there is no such thing as prejudice or bad white folks". "We're all created equal" (said in that "brotha white boy voice)...YECH!! THOSE are the ones who go off to college and out into the world and get teary eyed when they get called "n*gga" for the first time...they are the ones who have to figure out how to deal with the fact that LIFE and MANY WHITE FOLKS AIN'T FAIR...the RUDE AWAKENING that white folks will INVARIABLY look out for their own (if you disagree with this...phew...all I gots ta say is that if you plan to remain in the world of Disney b.k.a. "FantasyLand", STAY AWAY from corporate america!!!).

YEAH, WHITE FOLKS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR OWN - don't get it twisted. So why shouldn't we? I say we need black schools with as many black teachers as we can find for the black students. It's the same theory as HBCU'S - and since I've been to BOTH predominantly white institutions and the nation's top black college (Tuskegee), I am qualified speak on it.

(using my ghetto girl voice) CAN'T NOBODY TELL ME THAT MY BLACK PUBLIC SCHOOL AND HBCU EDUCATED AZZ AIN'T THE BRIGHTEST, BESTEST THANG ON THE BLOCK!!! And I'll beat E'REY ONE OF Y'ALL NEGROES IN JEOPARDY TOO...BALEEVE DAT!!! LOL!!

(getting serious again) I am also an advocate of public schools. My siblings and I graduated from a public high school with one of the worst reputations in LA, and ALL of us have post graduate degrees. IT'S NOT THE SCHOOL...IT'S THE PARENTS. And since I gots ta pay taxes anyways, my kids (when I have them), will be in PUBLIC SCHOOL. And I will be WRECKIN' on that public school too, er'y day if I have to.

Reading the responses to this post have been very enlightening...I honestly would have thought that more folks would be for same race/same sex schools. Interesting.

Three Love,

Your post is very interesting, I definately agree that young black children definately need positive Black role models, however I think the idea of sending children to all Black schools with all Black teachers is still not the best idea.
The reason I can attest to this is because I am currently attending a very very predominantly white state university and many of the white students here have never come into contact with African Americans or other minorities. These students often times have the most warped ideas about Blacks and other minorities without even realizing it, however once they take the time to get to know others they tend to break out of that ignorance, whether that be through classes, clubs, or other activities. I don't think these people are purposely trying to be hateful, they just PLAIN OLD DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER.
I would hate for our young black children to grow up in situations that would force them to harbor the same uneducated beliefs about others, not saying that you do, but it does happen. The fact is that if all you know about another group of people you have learned from the media then you don't know much. I would hate for any person to gather all of their information about African Americans from American media.
Public schools provide the perfect opportunity for children to work together, collaborate, and communicate with one another and it is up to teachers to make sure those social interactions are occuring. The only way our children, not just Black children but all children, can begin to learn from each other is through positive interactions. I am not saying send Black children to all white schools, but I am so happy and blessed that my parents sent me to a very racially diverse school, about 40% Black, 40% White, and the rest made up a variety of Asian, Hispanic, African, German, Italian, and other students from all over the world. America is becoming increasingly more diverse. It is wonderful that you know more Black history than many people, but I think it would be even better if all of those White, Hispanic, Asian, and other students could boast the same thing.


V.E.

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by VirtuousErudite




Three Love,

Your post is very interesting, I definately agree that young black children definately need positive Black role models, however I think the idea of sending children to all Black schools with all Black teachers is still not the best idea.
The reason I can attest to this is because I am currently attending a very very predominantly white state university and many of the white students here have never come into contact with African Americans or other minorities. These students often times have the most warped ideas about Blacks and other minorities without even realizing it, however once they take the time to get to know others they tend to break out of that ignorance, whether that be through classes, clubs, or other activities. I don't think these people are purposely trying to be hateful, they just PLAIN OLD DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER.
I would hate for our young black children to grow up in situations that would force them to harbor the same uneducated beliefs about others, not saying that you do, but it does happen. The fact is that if all you know about another group of people you have learned from the media then you don't know much. I would hate for any person to gather all of their information about African Americans from American media.
Public schools provide the perfect opportunity for children to work together, collaborate, and communicate with one another and it is up to teachers to make sure those social interactions are occuring. The only way our children, not just Black children but all children, can begin to learn from each other is through positive interactions. I am not saying send Black children to all white schools, but I am so happy and blessed that my parents sent me to a very racially diverse school, about 40% Black, 40% White, and the rest made up a variety of Asian, Hispanic, African, German, Italian, and other students from all over the world. America is becoming increasingly more diverse. It is wonderful that you know more Black history than many people, but I think it would be even better if all of those White, Hispanic, Asian, and other students could boast the same thing.


V.E.

A few weeks ago, the New York Times published a piece on school integration that said that Brown v. Board of Education's real intent was to teach Black children how to operate in the wider society, not to raise test scores.
Learning how to operate in the wider society is a must, IMO. To add on that, if the child is in a school where she's in the minority, it's the BLACK PARENT'S job to give their child a strong sense of racial identity, history, et al. Period.
If I were to marry and have children in the community where I live now, it would be imperative for me and my husband to be the ones providing role modeling. That's because the county where I live now is 1.8% African American. My home county is only around 6% African American.
That's all I will say for now because I have to formulate my thoughts on CT4's overall question.

[CrimsonTide4]

Thanks again to all of you who replied. I appreciate it FAR more than you know. We received this monstrous project's assignment a couple of weeks ago and I had no idea as to what I was really curious about.

I am just going to focus on the problems and solutions of education and I really appreciate your responses.

Now off to prepare my research presentation.

Soror Three Love, I went to a predominantly Black school system and the experiences there were and continue to be invaluable. I will be back later with my own answers to my questions.

If you all want to continue to discuss, please by all means do so.

[tammy-]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Three_Love
[


3. Boring, underqualified teachers. Folks who only go into teaching because they can't do anything else, and don't care about teaching the children, who are bored by the whack, underqualified teachers. The only solution is to pay teachers more money to make the field more enticing and actually pay teachers so that they can AFFORD to teach. But of course this ain't gonna happen either.

Off the subject but I had to respond:

People are always quick to attack teachers: Teachers have to have at least a 2.5 GPA- meet state and university qualifications and pass 2 test. Most teachers have at least a Masters degree.

What is so unqualified about that?


For those who want to attack teachers- Go to a public school in a blue collar neighborhood, sit in the classroom, listen and observe!

You might just find out there really are no underqualified teachers. Maybe underqualified people in other professions who get a job in their field when they just barley graduated from college with their 2.0 GPA.

[12dn94dst]

Originally posted by tammy-

Off the subject but I had to respond:

People are always quick to attack teachers: Teachers have to have at least a 2.5 GPA- meet state and university qualifications and pass 2 test. Most teachers have at least a Masters degree.

What is so unqualified about that?

[/B]

see, that would define a QUALIFIED teacher. there are some teachers who did not major in the subject they teach. there are some teachers who are teaching as an "in the meantime" THOSE are the teachers soror Three_Love is talking about.

[tammy-]

Originally posted by 12dn94dst


see, that would define a QUALIFIED teacher. there are some teachers who did not major in the subject they teach. there are some teachers who are teaching as an "in the meantime" THOSE are the teachers soror Three_Love is talking about.

Thanks for the clarification--

I agree- people should not teach outside their subject area.

[Three_Love]

Originally posted by 12dn94dst


see, that would define a QUALIFIED teacher. there are some teachers who did not major in the subject they teach. there are some teachers who are teaching as an "in the meantime" THOSE are the teachers soror Three_Love is talking about.

Good lookin' out Soror

I CAN'T hate on teachers - my mom is a teacher (matter of fact, my dad retired and is now teaching math, so both of my parents are EXCELLENT, NON-BORING, QUALIFIED TEACHERS). I also have a LOT of friends in education - but they're not BORING or UNDERQUALIFIED.