Saturday, November 10, 2012
Making a Way Out of No Way - - Questions and Answers
Parents can submit questions that will be answered in consultation with Editors and Consulting Editors of the blog.
Electric Drum
Postings of Information. In this section you will find, articles, reading lists, book
reviews and other resources for teachers and parents pertaining to
education.
Community-Based Education. There are many ways that parents, family members, and community members influence our children. Education is not only what occurs within the classroom. It is the sum total of experiences our children are immersed in when they wake through when they return to sleep. Everything shapes who we are. Community based education refers to those practices, programs and institutions that are generated from the student’s home community. In African American culture, the tradition of community-based education precedes formal schooling.
For more information on African American community based education, check out these resources:
Community-Based Education. There are many ways that parents, family members, and community members influence our children. Education is not only what occurs within the classroom. It is the sum total of experiences our children are immersed in when they wake through when they return to sleep. Everything shapes who we are. Community based education refers to those practices, programs and institutions that are generated from the student’s home community. In African American culture, the tradition of community-based education precedes formal schooling.
African
American cultural practices have their origin in the far-flung ethnic groups of
Africa. Enslaved Africans brought these practices in their very bodies and
minds. During slavery, African American societies reorganized themselves through
force and through choice, creating ways to sustain the culture and survival of
the collective community. Today you find these practices in church groups providing
troops, rites of passage programs, or even informal gatherings like church
lunches and socials. Each opportunity to connect, to share stories, and shape
our children is an opportunity to educate.
Beyond
informal and formal practices and programs there also exists a strong history
of educational institutional run by community partners for African American
children. Historically these existed as
the first schools built by freedmen, and encompass a long tradition of creative
self-education and structural innovation, including African American segregated
public schools, and independent private institutions such as those built by the
Black Muslim community, as well as the Council of Independent Black
Institutions (CIBIs).
Even some
contemporary charter and public schools should be considered community based. For
parents looking to find more information on charter schools offered in your
community, the National Charter
School Resource Center is a good start. The important key is that the
education reflects the values, interests, and best vision of the community
being schooled. We want the best for our children and through our collective effort;
we demonstrate that in a variety of ways. Are their spaces in your community
that you are grateful for? Where does community based education happen in your
town? Post your responses here and share
your resources.
For more information on African American community based education, check out these resources:
Hale, J. E. (1986). Black children: Their roots, culture, and learning styles. Johns
Hopkins University Press.
Chant of Saints - - Reports from the Front Line
Parents and teachers can share their stories of
dilemmas they solved or innovations they created to address challenges faced by
African American (and other learners) in school.
One family's Story. All school year, at every parent teacher conference, my son was considered being below average and at risk of being retained for 2nd grade. We attended countless meetings, both his dad and I were volunteers in the classroom, and we enlisted the help of an outside tutor. The school staff only offered to help by placing him in the front of the classroom. I recall the teacher telling my dad (who is a special education teacher) that she was not going to repeat or spend extra time on the curriculum because one child didn't understand. She believed that the rest of the class understood. When I asked about other options such as summer school the principal said that my son wasn't scoring low enough to go to summer school. Summer school, in this district, was only for students who were at a lower level than our son was performing. They kept telling me to go to his pediatrician and have him evaluated for ADHD so that he could take meds if he was diagnosed. I talked to several other African American parents and they had some of the same concerns. We finally changed schools and he finally got the services he needed, one of which was an IEP. An IEP was never offered at the other school. Now he's on honor roll and has received student of the month awards.
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| Latisha Harris-James |
One family's Story. All school year, at every parent teacher conference, my son was considered being below average and at risk of being retained for 2nd grade. We attended countless meetings, both his dad and I were volunteers in the classroom, and we enlisted the help of an outside tutor. The school staff only offered to help by placing him in the front of the classroom. I recall the teacher telling my dad (who is a special education teacher) that she was not going to repeat or spend extra time on the curriculum because one child didn't understand. She believed that the rest of the class understood. When I asked about other options such as summer school the principal said that my son wasn't scoring low enough to go to summer school. Summer school, in this district, was only for students who were at a lower level than our son was performing. They kept telling me to go to his pediatrician and have him evaluated for ADHD so that he could take meds if he was diagnosed. I talked to several other African American parents and they had some of the same concerns. We finally changed schools and he finally got the services he needed, one of which was an IEP. An IEP was never offered at the other school. Now he's on honor roll and has received student of the month awards.
Behind The Veil - - Editorial
The Editor and Guest Editors will write blog articles on selected issues
relevant to the concerns of African American children and families.
Reading and standardized tests.
--> Dr. Veda Jairrels, Professor and Author of African Americans and Standardized Tests: The Real Reason for Low Test Scores provides parents and caregivers with the following practical strategies for improving academic achievement.
1. Begin reading to your children at birth.
2. Read at least one non-chapter book every day to your children who are 6 years or younger. Don't miss a day. You can also repeat your children's favorite books.
3. Take your younger children to the library on a biweekly basis, checking out at least 14 books (non-chapter books) each visit.
4. Encourage your children who can read for themselves to read for pleasure for at least 30 minutes each day of the year.
A video highlighting the importance of early exposure to language
Reading and standardized tests.
--> Dr. Veda Jairrels, Professor and Author of African Americans and Standardized Tests: The Real Reason for Low Test Scores provides parents and caregivers with the following practical strategies for improving academic achievement.
1. Begin reading to your children at birth.
2. Read at least one non-chapter book every day to your children who are 6 years or younger. Don't miss a day. You can also repeat your children's favorite books.
3. Take your younger children to the library on a biweekly basis, checking out at least 14 books (non-chapter books) each visit.
4. Encourage your children who can read for themselves to read for pleasure for at least 30 minutes each day of the year.
A video highlighting the importance of early exposure to language
Athletic Dreams
-->
Postings of Information. In this
section, articles, reading lists, book reviews and other resources for parents
pertaining to athletic participation in all sports will be posted.
Readers are encouraged to share information about AAU/travel teams, tryouts,
clinics, camps and any information pertinent to athletic skills development for
boys and girls.
Once funding is obtained, clinical services will be offered by ISAAC through Athletic Advisors. These will be counselors who will confer with parents who need advice in guiding their children through participation in sports to the achievement of college scholarships and professional sports careers.
African American excellence and dominance in sports is legendary. However, there are ever escalating demands for higher academic performance in order for athletes to qualify for participation at every level. These initiatives are rarely evaluated in terms of the impact they will have on African American children. Likewise, there is very little support provided to African American families in providing resources for meeting those standards.
Rhoden (2006) in $40 Million Dollar Slaves, makes the point that in years gone by the fortunes of African American athletes were circumscribed by exclusion, violence and intimidation. Today their fortunes are circumscribed by rules and regulations. Hence, raising the bar on ACT and SAT tests serves the same function as "gentleman agreements" in previous generations.
African American parents need support in guiding their children to the achievement of sports scholarships to college. They need information about the availability of traveling teams. They need support as they make decisions regarding the selection of secondary preparatory schools. There are acres of land mines and quicksand that have to be navigated in order for children to harness their talents and reap the benefits of their achievements. ISAAC will provide such support.
Once funding is obtained, clinical services will be offered by ISAAC through Athletic Advisors. These will be counselors who will confer with parents who need advice in guiding their children through participation in sports to the achievement of college scholarships and professional sports careers.
African American excellence and dominance in sports is legendary. However, there are ever escalating demands for higher academic performance in order for athletes to qualify for participation at every level. These initiatives are rarely evaluated in terms of the impact they will have on African American children. Likewise, there is very little support provided to African American families in providing resources for meeting those standards.
Rhoden (2006) in $40 Million Dollar Slaves, makes the point that in years gone by the fortunes of African American athletes were circumscribed by exclusion, violence and intimidation. Today their fortunes are circumscribed by rules and regulations. Hence, raising the bar on ACT and SAT tests serves the same function as "gentleman agreements" in previous generations.
African American parents need support in guiding their children to the achievement of sports scholarships to college. They need information about the availability of traveling teams. They need support as they make decisions regarding the selection of secondary preparatory schools. There are acres of land mines and quicksand that have to be navigated in order for children to harness their talents and reap the benefits of their achievements. ISAAC will provide such support.
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