(ThyBlackMan.com) Summer break is at a conclusion, Labor Day festivities, traveling, cookouts, parties, and all the fun thrown in; the “business of education” begins for many schools across the nation. 180 days of learning, 180 days of educational strategies, curriculums, differential instruction, ESOL, Benchmarks, Common Core, reading initiates, state assessments and the goal to finish another academic year and on to the next grade or graduation.
In the 20th and 21st centuries as the agricultural demands diminished because of technology innovations the educational structure did not change. Summer months are turning into missed educational opportunities at an enormous cost.
Black on Black Education is a missed opportunity for the expansion of learning in the months that are summer break. The Department of Education has shown the consistant levels for Children of Color to be lower than non-children of color. The levels for math are affected and shown that reading levels affect success in math and science where high paying careers are: STEAM is now an educational movement.
The mentality is that summer is a “break from school,” thus a break from
learning. This needs to change if America is to continue to compete in a global learning network where students globally are attending schools year around whether traditional, hybrid or completely online, learning is now year around.
Students are losing two months’ worth of math skills each summer, two months of science learning and even up to three months of reading, literacy and comprehension abilities. Students of Color are being placed behind the educational eight-ball as they are released for summer break because too many already are not reading on grade level and struggle with literacy and comprehension.
The key element to student success is parental participation; Parents of Color must break the course of educational directions of non-involvement, the dangerous practice of not reinforcing learning at home and blaming teachers for THEIR child’s challenges.
Observe cities like Philadelphia, Detroit, Jacksonville, Chicago and others. Nationally libraries are closing, learning centers are shutting their doors and tutoring services once abundant are disappearing. Parents of Color are not fighting, working, striving for equal educational opportunities as they did in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. The dangerous thinking of too many parents is “let the schools teach the kids, it’s not my responsibility,”
Empowering Parents, http://www.empoweringparents.com/
The “March on Washington” is a “Movement not a Moment” it should be continuous in its growth, progressive in its involvement in education, politics, religion, and economics. What happens when the speeches are done, when the singing stops, when the reminiscing is over and the MOW is over? So many issues were addressed, the reality is nothing will be achieved nor changed if Children of Color do not improve their educational levels. Black on Black Education by churches, learning centers, and community organizations is needed.
Blacks cannot wait on anyone to change the failing schools in THEIR neighborhoods. Parents of Color are the FIRST teachers, mentors, role models and supervisors of learning. Parents of Color set the expectations for success.
Solutions:
a. Teach Black boys and girls to read before entering school.
b. Enter Black boys and girls in activities that support discipline and high self esteem
c. By third grade they should have a library card and museum memberships with parents.
d. Provide positive role models for Black boys and girls.
e. Allow and encourage Black fathers to nurture and spend time w/ their children.
f. Expose Black boys and girls to libraries, museums, cultural centers.
g. Control negative influences of movies, music, video games on Black boys and girls.
h. Teach Black boys to respect all girls and women and Black girls to respect themselves.
i. Black parents volunteer at schools and religious organizations.
j. Involve Black boys and girls in academic clubs and organizations.
k. Invest in reading libraries in the home.
l. Use technology to learn with not just sharing gossip or bullying.
m. Connect with other parents of similar interests and goals.
n. Have high expectations for success in Black boys and girls
o. Learning and education are not trying to be white.
p. Black parents get out of traditional thinking and traditional actions be involved in schools in any way.
q. Black fathers get involved even if you have a criminal background. You have a right to visit your child’s school.
r. Divorced fathers get involved at the school your child attends you cannot be denied or turned away. You do have rights to help your child.
s. Step-fathers you are a STEPUP so get involved also in all your children’s educational and academic pursuits.
s. Black parents learn from the elders and their past experiences. Don’t forget their wisdom and accomplishments. Blacks use to honor and praise their elders. Too many times they are not forgotten and ignored.
Black on Black Education: begins at home and is year around. Think about what the alternatives are if parents don’t take education seriously for their children.
Stories like this will grow across this nation. Pennsylvania Judge Mark Ciavarella Jr. has been sentenced to almost three decades in jail after conspiring with private prisons to trade kids for cash. Emily Smith, May 22, 2013
Staff Writer; William D. Jackson
Find out more about this talented writer over at; OCS For Education.
Also check out; http://www.About.Me/WilliamDJackson