It is no big surprise that blacks are outperformed by their white counterparts on tests in many cases. Upon first glance, it would appear that whites are smarter than blacks. The media puts so much emphasis on performance as it relates to race. It would seem that there is a racial gap in intelligence. Well, there has not been a study that has supported the relationship between race and intelligence. As of recent, there hasn't been a study that has found direct genetic evidence for or against the theory that the black-white gap is innate, because we have not yet identified the genes that affect skills like reading, math, and abstract reasoning according to the writers at
http://www.brookings.edu/articles/1998/spring_education_jencks.aspx.
It seems that the more possible reasons would be those that relate to economic status, living conditions, and other factors that may directly affect the education of students. It has been shown that students in low income families will most likely attend lower performing schools which will produce low test scores. Although, blacks' financial status has greatly improved, the truth is blacks are still those amongst the lower social-economic status. Also, the fact that schools blacks attend have less resources, tendancy to have higher student teacher ratios, and a less demanding curriculum must also be considered. In many schools, the focus is on passing state tests to keep the doors open. This means that the lessons are based on building up test scores and not learning to build thinking skills, abilities, and reaching potential.
Based on these few facts, it would seem that we should take the focus off of race and focus on the real issues that contribute to the gap of performance. It would appear that race of an individual does not predict the true potential of that person. A black person can do just as well as a white if given the same opportunities. You would think that a country such as the US would be proud to provide equal education for all of her citizens. Afterall, we have the same hopes and dreams. We all want to raise our children, work, live, have fun, etc.
According William L. Bainbridge and Thomas J. Lasley II in their article POVERTY NOT RACE , HOLDS BACK URBAN STUDENTS at http://www.schoolmatch.com/articles/poverty.htm. It is not race that is the factor contributing to lower academic performance, it is the financial status that has a much higher bearance on the type of education children receive in school. Also, the education level of the parents and other adults in the child's life also can determine school success. Parents with higher education tend to have higher social status. higher vocabulary (which they use in the presence of their children), more access to out school learning experiences, and so on. All of these factors can lead to better learning experiences and higher school success. So, as I stated previously, maybe we should stop referrring to performance based on race and focus on the factors that have been proven to matter.
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Amen! My students cant even take their some of their books home because there aren't enough for all the students. Luckily I registered my teachers manuals online so they can access their books from home. How would I assign homework if I didn't make that move? We ask for copies and get them 4 days later.
ReplyDeleteComing from a 2 parent African American household I was blessed to have a Mother who was a teacher. I had summer vacation from the school building, but not from actual academic work. My mother stressed higher education and pushed me all summer to master the lessons for the coming school year. I learned to love education and see that in order to really get ahead in life you need a good education. When I think about my peers their parents didn't stress education, they stressed getting a trade or joining the military.
If predomin. African American schools had the same budgets as "other" schools they would have the same opportunities. Students need to be exposed to new ways of learning other than ditto's and a book.
One thing that really pisses me off about my people is the lack of stressing education. The majority of youth ages 16-25 are primarily concerned with having rims and big speaker in and on their cars, jewelry, and "kickin it." I'd say 60% of young A.A. males want to be entertainers or athletes. My people as a whole need help. We to plan and implement a way to turn things around in the African American community.
I know we make it. We just need to wake up.
what do you think of my contention in last week's class that there is no such thing as race?
ReplyDeleteI agree that race is not really the factor as much as the culture of a person. Young children look up to elders as role models, and for the most part the role model is of the same culture as the youth. Young African American males look up to famous African Americans (with an overwhelming majority who are athletes and entertainers) because they see cultural similarities. Being of the same culture, especially in the US, usually means that you are of the same race. I believe that is why the two terms are interchanged so often.
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