In the 21st century, with all of
the new advancements within American culture and society one would think that the
progression of educating African Americans would be somewhere on the fore
front. But, sadly we are nowhere close to progressively advancing the education
of African American males. The sad song that is in being replayed over and
over, district by district state by state is the “Pipeline to Prison” for our
young African American men. In schools with high populations of African
Americans, services provided to this subgroup are dismal to almost none. In retrospect, these children are not
adequately being prepared for their tomorrow.
According to a report written by Starla Muhammad, the Chicago Public School System
has been changed into nothing more than a prison preparation industry. This way
of educating African American males in particular is a growing trend across
school districts within the illustrious United States. Moreover, a compliant
has also been filed with the United States Department of Justice against Meridian,
Mississippi, and other defendants. The lawsuits main complaint is; the schools
are operating school-to-prison pipelines. The lawyers claim that students
are being denied their basic constitutional rights; they are also sent to court
and incarcerated for minor school infractions. These infractions include,
talking back to white teachers, being out of dress code to other minor
insignificant infractions. In Shelby County, Tennessee, similar complaints were
raised against the school system. According to further research their local
officials are being fully cooperative with the Justice Department to alleviate
this matter.
In addition to poor quality education, many
educational reformers make claims that this particular subgroup is not
interested in education and they are not serious in regards to their education
and their educational outcomes. Therefore, poor and lack of preparation
in K-12 schools leaves many black male students without an adequate academic
foundation to succeed in college and in the labor force.
What are significant ways that we can tackle this Pipeline to Prison?
Over the past 20 years school systems nationwide have removed the programming that would engender a love of learning. Today's student is forced to tackle advanced math and literature then, upon graduation, reminded that they have no viable skills, that some kind of pist-secondary education is a must just so you can qualify to be a janitor in the school you just left.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - December 26, 2012 - - Yes, school systems nation wide have changed the face of education, the requirements and the curriculum & instruction. As parents and educators, we need to voice our opinions, concerns, and add significant input to those conversations.
DeleteAll to often the change within education takes place with little to no support from parents and the community at large. Once the changes have been made and set forth, it becomes a greater challenge to reverse the decision. Moreover, children of color are on the short end of the totem pole. Meaning, they do not receive top quality instruction, their teachers are young and inexperienced and many of them are not vested in the long haul. This is the way many districts are leaning. The new inexperienced younger teachers, stay in the classrooms for a maximum of two years, with their student loans repaid, and then they move on to something other than education. But, for veteran educators, school districts are trying to get them out, remove their tenure,stop their pay and they are also going so far as to stop and take away their retirement.
The time is now to spark the change in how our children are being treated, under educated and failing out of control in the current system set up. Children of color are suffering drastically. We need to step-up and take a stand.
The most significant way to tackle and destroy the problem of pipeline to prison is to remove our children from the public school system. We must admit that public school has failed in prividing an adequate education for our African males and now the time has come for us to go back like our ancestors, Booker T. Washington and Marcus Garvey and build our own educational facilities and teach our own children... There is no other way... If we keep participating in there way and ways of life not just limited to education, then we will never escape this grasp that ignorance has on our African males.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - January 1, 2013 - - Let's be realistic about the situation. The removal of our children from public schools are not in our best interest. For the simple reason, charter schools and private schools do not function in the same capacity as public schools.
DeleteThe children will start there but the least little infraction, will cause the student to be removed from the school. Which will result in the student returning to a public school. Removing the children is what i consider a band-aid strategy meaning that it is only a temporary fix. We need to brain storm some legitimate strategies that will benefit our children in the long run.
We need to be a strong united force when it comes to the education of our children. Stepping up and making our voices heard will be powerful if we are all untied and speaking the the same language.
In retrospect, Booker T. Washington, was not in the best interest of our children and our future. He had a problem with the progression of the average African American becoming more successful. He in terms, held us back in more was than one.
I feel this problem stems from the up bringing in these homes. Once babies stated having babies, and not having time to raise them properly. The streets started raising them to be disrespectful. Thus for carrying over into the schools. Now this disruption along with peer pressure to other african americans to be accepted by the "cool crowd" I'm sure has become an overwelming to the under paid educator. We need to educate and allow the parent to discipline the child early, to avoid the disrespect and disruption in the class rooms. Which hinders that student and others around them from learning the proper skill sets needed to survive in this information age. Our kids are applauded by their YOUNG PARENTS when they learn the lyrics to a song on the radio, but are giving nothing for learning their ABC's. So by the nature of the beast, they're going to continue to do what brings praises. I think the problem starts in the home, not in the classrooms with the under paid, overwhelmed educator.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - January 1, 2013 5:12 - - Yes, young parents are a problem with their lack of regard and concern for education for their children. Moreover, that is another problem within itself. But, the problems we are facing with our children in public schools that are sending our students on a fast trajectory to prison is hitting us hard in the face of reality. We have to address that problem as well as our deep concern for the lack of parenting skills from our young inexperienced parents.
ReplyDeleteWe can see that the school system is at it's weakest link however, I do believe that parent involvement can create a huge impact on a child and HELP demolish this "Pipeline to prison" theory. You see, society already has their viewpoint about educating minorities and it is our responsibility to prove their ideologies wrong. If a person/persons has a mindset to want better for themselves they will get an education, regardless if its not the best. This is why it is important for mothers and fathers to be supportive of thier child's education, and not only suppprtive but parents need to be ENGAGED.. If teachers and administrators can focus more on teaching and finding better ways to keep children involved on an academic level instead of worrying about if a student is in dress code then we could see student improvement and potential growth in public schools.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - January 1, 2013 - 8:46 - - Yes, parental engagement is very critical in the progression of education. We have two serious problems that have been identified, parent engagement and the pipeline to prison. The pipeline to prison is serious and we as educators, parents, and the community at large must discuss the seriousness of this issue to prevent future children from being thrown into this path. It's one thing to have lack of parental support but it's another thing for educators to push children down a destructive path because of it.
DeleteAs a AA woman, when I became a teacher, black males were my initial concern. However, after years of seeing our children disrupt schools ... I'm not as concerned about them. In my opinion, too many of these kids destroy their own privilege for a free education. I say, teach the ones who want to learn and allow the rest to learn how valuable education is the hard way!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous January 2, 2013 8:26 a.m. - Yes,that may be true to a certain degree. But, the majority of African American males need guidance and strong leadership. Many of them feel lost and alone with no where to go or no one to turn to. It is up to us as Black educators to reach them. We can not give up on our students. Don't get me wrong, it is not going to be an easy task. We need strong males and females figure to fill those gaps. 9 times out of 10 when the students are consistently disruptive, they are crying out for help. They do not know how to channel that energy or to ask for help.
Delete"In addition to poor quality education, many educational reformers make claims that this particular subgroup is not interested in education and they are not serious in regards to their education and their educational outcomes. Therefore, poor and lack of preparation in K-12 schools leaves many black male students without an adequate academic foundation to succeed in college and in the labor force."
ReplyDeleteThis herein is where the issue lies in my opinion.
A quality education at the earliest ages (before birth) and quality parenting leads to a quality individual in society. Parents who are adamant about the resources and quality of their educational tools, as well as their home environments, will lead a wide eyed, willing to learn, productive child to a teacher who is just as insistent. A well qualified teacher can lead the child into the next phase of learning. Parents and teachers must understand that the growth of a child is a collaborative effort and these efforts will circumvent the pipeline. This can make it more obvious who the deterrents to an equal quality education for all, actually are and we can then address those folks head on.
Holloway Ventures - Yes, parenting is a big issue nowadays. In today's world, we are not dealing with parents who are grounded and centered with strong morals and values. We are dealing with parents that are not old enough to drink, drive or vote. That is a major problem within itself.
DeleteThe task at hand is stopping the pipeline to prison strong hold that some of these school districts have on our children. As black educators, the black community and parents we must ban together and unite so that our voices are heard.
The problem with students that want to learn is poor teachers that lack cultural diversity knowledge and skills. Dress code violations and disrespect are not reasons for children to be handcuffed and arrested. These children are being place in the juvenile system very young. Research shows that white students that exemplify the same behavior(s) do not receive the same punishment that Black or Hispanics students receive. The Blacks and Hispanic students punishment is much harsher.
Yes, parenting is part of the problem. Moreover, teachers, principals, school officials, school board members and superintendents need to be held accountable. The problem is they do not care because the students are Black and Hispanic.
Agreed that a lot of schools are turning into a pipeline for school to prision and having been a educator in the past and a African American male I can pinpoint a couple factors for this reason.
ReplyDeleteFirst the parent involvement isn't what it use to be when I was in school and the PTA Parent Teacher Association is pretty much extinct these days, and it seems to have become an epidemic of letting the teachers be the only ones with responsibilty of educating the students. The parents themseleves have to become more involved and the positive teaching they recieve has to be reinforced at home. I remember where there were not only parents that were involved in the schools in the communities but also those who lived in the community who lived around the schools which didn't have to have a child in the school but they cared enough about the community and the children growing up to be productive citizens. The involvement of those who live in the community too has fallen by the way-side as much of society in America.
We now are so self-absorbed that our concerns don't extend beyond our front doors that open up to the communities in which we live in and if it doesn't personally affect us then we are not concerned enough to get involved.
As far as the issue with students recieving a record or jail time because they are talking back to teachers or poor dress codes is utterly insane, which this is probably occuring for another host of reasons. They include a poor and unconcerned school board and superintendant, city council, of course lack of parent involvement. Show me a society where the parents and all the aforementioned entities are not dialed in to what is going on the schools in their communities and she will see the above mentioned going on.
Black Men do need to do a better job in stepping up to the plate and mentoring some of these at risk youth, and I assume that you do live, work, and teach in our nation's capitol based on your profile so my question is this! Why hasn't the Department of Education or the White House themselves become more active in rectifying some of these issue? The short answer is the voters or parents haven't one showed that they were concerned enough themselves to enact change or held these public servants accountable. Also living in the area Washington, DC all I see the city councilmen, aldermen, and DC politicans furthering their own self-interest and lining their own pockets.
politicallyspeaking1 - Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with you. On July 26, 2012 – President Barack Obama signed the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans Executive Order in the Oval Office. I haven't heard anything other than he signed the initiative. Who has been delegated to lead and work on this particular initiative still remains a mystery in my book. I am eagerly awaiting for this to be released.
DeleteThe Department of Education has been collecting data since the 60s regarding the inequality in school education when it comes to Blacks. Under the leadership of Bush the data was halted and not being collected. Since President Obama has taken office the data is being collected again. They are aware of the problem. The question is "What is the U.S. Department of Education going to do about it?"
FYI:
According to http://www.blackdemographics.com/education.html
BLACK EDUCATION BY THE NUMBERS:
1.6 million
Among African Americans age 25 and older, the number who had an advanced degree in 2011 (e.g., master’s, Ph.D., M.D. or J.D.). Fifteen years earlier—in 1995—only 677,000 blacks had this level of education.
3.9 million
Number of black college students in 2011. This was an increase of roughly 2 million from 18 years earlier.
18.7%
Percentage of African Americans age 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or more in 2011. In many states, the rate was higher. Just over 22% of blacks this age in Massachusetts, for instance, had this level of education.
Black Youth Project
Deletehttp://www.blackyouthproject.com/2012/03/report-black-students-face-harsher-discipline-in-schools/
REPORT: Black Students Face Harsher Discipline In Schools
Blueprint of Black America
http://www.blackdemographics.com/education.html
Black Youth Project
REPORT: Policing of Chicago Public Schools Sets Students Down Road to Prison
http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2012/01/report-policing-of-chicago-public-schools-sets-students-down-road-to-prison/
Black Youth Project
Report: Nearly All Arrested NYC Students Are Black or Hispanic
http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2011/11/report-nearly-all-arrested-nyc-students-are-black-or-hispanic/
Black Youth Project
Report: Educational Inequities Still Hold Black Students Back
http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2011/07/report-educational-inequities-still-hold-black-students-back/