How do we come together as a nation of Black Americans to take a stand against the moral degredation that's plaguing our communities?

[Brian Kennedy]

I am a leader and activist in Washington D.C. I want to lead my city on a journey to moral reform. I need some feedback on this subject, so I can objectively form a meaningful discussion no this matter.

[Beverly Parker]

yes rodney, that's exactly what i'm referring to. tests are created by human beings from "their" perspective. therefore they can be biased. this has been proven in the case of the SAT. academic vocabulary is case in point, words such as find the product or quotient, evaluate, solve, and the sentence structure also might not make the questions or directions understandable to disenfranchised populations. parents and citizens need to demand access to the actual tests and not just examples, both state tests and district tests. i teach in a k-8th grade and i've seen them all. most adults would fail at 4th or 5th grade level. side note-teachers are sworn not to discuss the test questions with anyone! i always wondered, why is that? i think i'm safe with this discussion because it is general and not specific but who knows??? top secret stuff. i think it's strange because if you give a spelling test, don't you give students the words and let them practice? it's called high stakes testing. can't have everybody succeed...

Rodney Prince said:

Beverly, are you saying that these mandates are culturally and/or class biased? Are you saying that our children are not passing these tests because they haven't been exposed to the experience or information that will allow them to interpret the questions? The reason I am asking, is that I heard that this is the case. I was once given an example that illustrated how a child born into a middle class family would have been exposed to certain words that poorer children would not have been exposed to. If this is what we are dealing with, we should demand that these mandates be created after class and cultural differences have been taking into consideration.
Beverly Parker said:

i agree with you sister safirah 100% to further that, we need to look into state and federal mandates in standardize education and testing, with regards to how does it marginalize our children. even if you start a charter school, it will still be controlled by these government mandates. schools in areas of inner-cities often have difficulty recruiting good teachers and many colleges don't really teach them multicultural education; let alone anti-bias curriculum. many schools and teachers, because of the testing atmosphere, are having to "teach to the test," which results in rote, superficial learning. critical thinking skills are left by the wayside. there are many problems resulting from this. one is that the testing ends up including thinking skills after 4th grade. students are at risk of "tracking" but we don't use that term any more. the thinking skills are what are most critical. teachers often base intelligence on reading skills and they think reading skills are of utmost importance but if you think about it, in the civil rights movement in the 1960s they had to teach black adults to read in order for them to vote. could they not think? well of course they could and many brilliant minds they were. i digress.

point at hand-i believe #1 dialog such as in this forum, is powerful. #2 i believe critical thinking skills need to be insured for our children, at home, in our communities and at school. #3 parents need to exercise their presence and power in the school system. just be there, be visible, ask questions...

how many times have you heard of kids doing stupid things and you say to yourself, "what were they thinking!" when it comes to gangs, crime and drugs, that's where i ask myself, if they had a sense of belonging and purpose in there community AND critical thinking skills, how might this all change?

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

youth empowerment. if we could start our own afro-centric charter schools. establish a youth mentoring program where mentors could garner college tuition.

[Rodney Prince]

Wow....I finally get it.  I am going to see if I can get my hands on some of these tests.  Thanks Beverly!

Beverly Parker said:

yes rodney, that's exactly what i'm referring to. tests are created by human beings from "their" perspective. therefore they can be biased. this has been proven in the case of the SAT. academic vocabulary is case in point, words such as find the product or quotient, evaluate, solve, and the sentence structure also might not make the questions or directions understandable to disenfranchised populations. parents and citizens need to demand access to the actual tests and not just examples, both state tests and district tests. i teach in a k-8th grade and i've seen them all. most adults would fail at 4th or 5th grade level. side note-teachers are sworn not to discuss the test questions with anyone! i always wondered, why is that? i think i'm safe with this discussion because it is general and not specific but who knows??? top secret stuff. i think it's strange because if you give a spelling test, don't you give students the words and let them practice? it's called high stakes testing. can't have everybody succeed...

Rodney Prince said:

Beverly, are you saying that these mandates are culturally and/or class biased? Are you saying that our children are not passing these tests because they haven't been exposed to the experience or information that will allow them to interpret the questions? The reason I am asking, is that I heard that this is the case. I was once given an example that illustrated how a child born into a middle class family would have been exposed to certain words that poorer children would not have been exposed to. If this is what we are dealing with, we should demand that these mandates be created after class and cultural differences have been taking into consideration.
Beverly Parker said:

i agree with you sister safirah 100% to further that, we need to look into state and federal mandates in standardize education and testing, with regards to how does it marginalize our children. even if you start a charter school, it will still be controlled by these government mandates. schools in areas of inner-cities often have difficulty recruiting good teachers and many colleges don't really teach them multicultural education; let alone anti-bias curriculum. many schools and teachers, because of the testing atmosphere, are having to "teach to the test," which results in rote, superficial learning. critical thinking skills are left by the wayside. there are many problems resulting from this. one is that the testing ends up including thinking skills after 4th grade. students are at risk of "tracking" but we don't use that term any more. the thinking skills are what are most critical. teachers often base intelligence on reading skills and they think reading skills are of utmost importance but if you think about it, in the civil rights movement in the 1960s they had to teach black adults to read in order for them to vote. could they not think? well of course they could and many brilliant minds they were. i digress.

point at hand-i believe #1 dialog such as in this forum, is powerful. #2 i believe critical thinking skills need to be insured for our children, at home, in our communities and at school. #3 parents need to exercise their presence and power in the school system. just be there, be visible, ask questions...

how many times have you heard of kids doing stupid things and you say to yourself, "what were they thinking!" when it comes to gangs, crime and drugs, that's where i ask myself, if they had a sense of belonging and purpose in there community AND critical thinking skills, how might this all change?

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

youth empowerment. if we could start our own afro-centric charter schools. establish a youth mentoring program where mentors could garner college tuition.

[Beverly Parker]

well here are the "release questions" from the state of california, meaning questions they used before and retired. let me know what you think.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/css05rtq.asp

another thing, we teachers are not allowed to tell the parents of our students that they have the option of having their child opt out of the test. isn't that weird?

Wow....I finally get it.  I am going to see if I can get my hands on some of these tests.  Thanks Beverly!

Beverly Parker said:

yes rodney, that's exactly what i'm referring to. tests are created by human beings from "their" perspective. therefore they can be biased. this has been proven in the case of the SAT. academic vocabulary is case in point, words such as find the product or quotient, evaluate, solve, and the sentence structure also might not make the questions or directions understandable to disenfranchised populations. parents and citizens need to demand access to the actual tests and not just examples, both state tests and district tests. i teach in a k-8th grade and i've seen them all. most adults would fail at 4th or 5th grade level. side note-teachers are sworn not to discuss the test questions with anyone! i always wondered, why is that? i think i'm safe with this discussion because it is general and not specific but who knows??? top secret stuff. i think it's strange because if you give a spelling test, don't you give students the words and let them practice? it's called high stakes testing. can't have everybody succeed...

Rodney Prince said:

Beverly, are you saying that these mandates are culturally and/or class biased? Are you saying that our children are not passing these tests because they haven't been exposed to the experience or information that will allow them to interpret the questions? The reason I am asking, is that I heard that this is the case. I was once given an example that illustrated how a child born into a middle class family would have been exposed to certain words that poorer children would not have been exposed to. If this is what we are dealing with, we should demand that these mandates be created after class and cultural differences have been taking into consideration.
Beverly Parker said:

i agree with you sister safirah 100% to further that, we need to look into state and federal mandates in standardize education and testing, with regards to how does it marginalize our children. even if you start a charter school, it will still be controlled by these government mandates. schools in areas of inner-cities often have difficulty recruiting good teachers and many colleges don't really teach them multicultural education; let alone anti-bias curriculum. many schools and teachers, because of the testing atmosphere, are having to "teach to the test," which results in rote, superficial learning. critical thinking skills are left by the wayside. there are many problems resulting from this. one is that the testing ends up including thinking skills after 4th grade. students are at risk of "tracking" but we don't use that term any more. the thinking skills are what are most critical. teachers often base intelligence on reading skills and they think reading skills are of utmost importance but if you think about it, in the civil rights movement in the 1960s they had to teach black adults to read in order for them to vote. could they not think? well of course they could and many brilliant minds they were. i digress.

point at hand-i believe #1 dialog such as in this forum, is powerful. #2 i believe critical thinking skills need to be insured for our children, at home, in our communities and at school. #3 parents need to exercise their presence and power in the school system. just be there, be visible, ask questions...

how many times have you heard of kids doing stupid things and you say to yourself, "what were they thinking!" when it comes to gangs, crime and drugs, that's where i ask myself, if they had a sense of belonging and purpose in there community AND critical thinking skills, how might this all change?

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

youth empowerment. if we could start our own afro-centric charter schools. establish a youth mentoring program where mentors could garner college tuition.

[Min. W.D. Patterson]

You brothers and sisters, I trust, are awesome in that you've dialogued so perfectly clear the reasons that white people are able to remain innocently ignorant of the very "culturally-unfriendly communicative factors" that have been implemented and practiced in this country since the inception of the educational system itself. I would guess that one could possibly trace this all the way back to the very King's (George) English that America brought to these shores as early as the mid 1400's when the white's forefather's fled persecution in England. How else could they protect and control their interests by keeping the laborers more ignorant than they themselves for generationsS I've not yet done the research to validate the latter.

But I assure you that I am seldomly wrong based on unbiased insight and my own lernid cultural perceptions. Basic common sense no longer eludes me! If current test makers are blinded to this insight as being culturally-biased then where does the fault lie? Well, I will venture to answer my own question for us. It lies with us and people like us!!! Especially the B.T.H.O.B.B's amongst us who serve an appointed linkage as our own academic power-brokers. They are traditionally trained in sanitized white academies just the same as I, speaking only for myself. Most all of the highly successful ones began at HCBU's. Unlike myself!

This is why I have preserved the grades and academic transcript standings and measures to prove it from the University of Washington, Seattle. It was hell on earth for me and no one seemed to care or try to figure out why other than the fact that I was undoutedly "just plain studpid." Especially for being a radical about this very subject matter since 1971 and approximately $100, 000.00 or more dollars later in tuition and college expenses. This is without interest and penalties! This was incurred despite the fact that I worked a legal part time job and sold drugs in the black community on the job that they gave me to lock me up too. Are there any of your own family members or friends experiencing this phenomna now? Is this not the same insanity practiced today by our young black gangs? The young and old black males do not stand a chance against the wiles of this so-called snake as Frederick Douglass (www.history.rochester.edu/class/douglass/home.html ) termed. A lot of that sub-prime interest debt and late penalties was biased student loans that served to even dig my pit deeper to this day. I have finally dried my own eyes and I am 'movin on up now in the words of the late great singer/composer Curtis Mayfield. I'd love to bring some of us with me but the Willie Lynch Syndrome in most of my cultured people yet prevents it from happening.

Yes we can certainly blame ourselves if after reading this Tavis Smiley and Cornell West's threaded web and continuing to turn our heads to the systemic failures of our youth. This exists in the very same academies across the USA which by the way is not the same as "America" in case you are not geographically and politically aware? America id a land mass not a people nor a nation. Ask the king himself? Do they teach that in their schools? Find out what the www.aag.org is and who is large and in charge of that entity.

 

All I am sayng is somewhere along this timeline someone has to make a sacrifice for everyone's future both black and white. I feel that I've more than adequately explained how I've chosen to make mine! I am yet attacked for my socio-academic and political accomplishments less the un-fulfilled economics that continue to needlessly and unjustly plague my sanity. Who's crazy now? I really and truly believe in and practice Albert Einstien's definition of insanity. By who's standards was he rated the smartest man in the world or perhaps I should say to be correct, "The man with the highest IQ of his day?" Have we not figured this out here and resolved what needs to be done about it too?

I will personally direct this threaded web and its full content to the attention of Alberto Retana, the well-traveled U.S. Department of Education's own Director of Community Outreach. He appears to be competent enough to represent our case before the Supreme Court as an expert witness on the winning side. But even he is nothing without our collective backings and committed support! You see, it really does not take the king's horses and all the king's men in order to both save and insure the very future that hangs in the balance now for every U.S. citizen <---(the latter term is used with extreme predjudice).

[e-mail]
Director of Community Outreach
U.S. Dept of Education
http://www.ed.gov
cell: 323-868-7404
buss: 202-453-7480
buss. fax: [phone]

[safirah chinwe]

min patterson i appreciate your words of encouragement. i'm on an indefinite hiatus from the classroom but education is still my passion. i've placed my masters in education on hold but if you know any real incentive for me to continue please share. peace and blessings...
Min. W.D. Patterson said:

Beverly, Rodney, & safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu:

First of all I'd like to thank each of you for your wise input into this discussion. Apparently you've taken the leadership here and not by choice I assume? What I mean is that I know there are more people who read this Smiley and West thread since its inception. I feel that this evidences an invaluable sampling as to just where most blacks are at when it comes to restructuring the/an educational system in the United States of America that is both user friendly and inclusive of the least accomplishing of our youthful populace in this day and age.

 

Based on what you three have shared here in this forum I motion that you three are ceratinly qualified to head-up a new agency inside of the Department of Education as Czars for Action in Undertaking Scholastic Education (C.A.U.S.E.) for all black descendants of slavery in this country. <---This is my own personal recommendation to President Barack Obama and his current administration! We know very very that the very foundations of education in this country were not inclusive of blacks/negroes. As a matter of fact the Horace Mann Curriculum is yet widely practiced here. When this foundation was laid if a black had been caught with a book it would have meant certain punishment, usually death. This is very serious to me and should be to every reader of this forum. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out why our children do not measure up and/or lack interest to standards and measure designed to fail them by not including their basic cultural behavioral factors.

 

I have for years been modeling my own behaviors and actions in a very noticiable public fashion in order to influence others in the ways evidenced to work successfully for our chiildren. I chose this method based on past studies and documented evidence of learned from experts and laymen alike as to what not to do in many cases when it came to the failure of educating black youths. having once been a black youth myself I could toatlly relate to my discoveries. Therfore, in my mind this qualifies me to nominate the three of you to the highest positions in the land for the post antebellum restructuring of education for the targeted groups.

Unless we become proactive and take a momentuous and continous stand for implementing these ideas both now and into well the future we will inevitably continue to fail them as in the past. In order to build a parallel foundation of education for our brilliant minded youths such ideas and strategies should not be an option up for argumant nor debate! I am here for you to do my small part in whatever way that God allows. Let us keep our ears to the rail and our hearts full of compassion for our black culture while we join together to go where no one has lead us before onward into the 21st century?

 

Lastly, Beverly Parker mentioned evidence of how technology impacted students of a similar dilema on the reservation. Having done scientific research under the Digital Divide Acts of 1999 & 2000 during the Clinto Administration I can share that the findings suggest a parallel behavior for blacks. Unless black students are taught this technology by culturally-competent instructors and tutors using state of the art equipment and software applications that are keep up-to-date we very well could be fighting a loosing battle. We blacks have a well-known inherent fear of this computer and internet technology which is totally treatable. The first step is an admission of this and being innocently ignorance through no fault of their own. This would clear the slate learn a technology that was not designed with blacks in mind and make the interest more appealing to our chlidren in a classroom setting.

 

I know a lot of what I've written here may sound silly but that's what was thought of us when this all this technology came into existence. The same way it came in we must employ a similar more inclusive strategy to usher that ideological mindset out. <---for what its worth-->my 2 cents!

 

Beverly Parker said:

just a quick comment about safirah's mention of technology. it is essential to provide technology to all students in this day and age but it doesn't ensure success. i work at a school that's population is primarily native american (casino money) and we have EVERYTHING! whole classes where each student has an iTouch with internet access on their desk! computer lab, class computers, LCD projectors, Elmos, all wireless. the district has full subscriptions to many online sites, you get it....well our kids are failing "the tests" and not motivated to be in school. dropping out in high school....: (

Rodney Prince said:

So, we galvanize the people around the issue of a failed school system.  We petition elected officials to push for policy changes that allow charter schools.  We do this all under the leadership of someone who has worked in charter school administration and can provide vision and direction.  We keep the community active and interested by engaging them through protest/activism.  We allow consensus recommendations to be built in to the structure of the schools. Does charter schools have a Board of Directors?  If so, is this board voted in by people of the community?  What I am thinking is that the members of the board can reflect the will of the people if they were voted in by the people......that way if a new norm or value needs to be transmitted, the board can vote and that will serve as community consensus.  These board members can be made up of identifiable community leadership.  Just my thoughts.  What do you think?

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

i think other members and yourself spoke to how communities need to mobilize and, first, acknowledge that there is a moral degradation; second, these meetings should honor solutions to this plague. i believe it more effective for a community to propose a charter school than for a charter school to outreach because parental (community) involvement is vital in the success of youth empowerment. we should look to the parents of mckinley elementary school in compton, ca who chose to request a charter school in lieu of their present school that has failed their children for years. schools cannot miraculously saves lives; the saving force comes from an entire village(community). to request a charter school is a step by step process that varies from state to state but i suggest targeted communities have the the willpower to ferociously petition and withstand tedious board meetings. 

Rodney Prince said:

How can schools involve community in defining the desired norms and values?  Or, how can community develop shared norms and values and in turn partner with schools to help reinforce those norms and values?  Is there a step by step process?

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

hi rodney. yes i do believe schools should play a more active role of defining and transmitting the norms and values of its community. it's such a sticky issue because we can hardly define american norms and values. that's why i suggested a charter school that spoke to an african-american community. the school should reinforce what the parents instill in their children. we could free up from the politics of US public education and focus on knowledge of self and a god-fearing moral compass. studies have shown that the black literacy rate has decreased since integration. i condone separate but equal politics. if the black schools  had the same technological resources as white schools, i guarantee a higher graduation rate among blacks. if the black youth understood their heritage, even from the civil rights movement, they would be more aware of the odds against them and hopefully become more inspired to equip themselves with tools to postively impact society.
Rodney Prince said:

Hello, Safirah......I have a two part question. Should schools play a more active role in defining and transmitting norms and values? How would our children benefit from attending an afro-centric school versus a euro-centric school? 

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

youth empowerment. if we could start our own afro-centric charter schools. establish a youth mentoring program where mentors could garner college tuition.

[safirah chinwe]

using the example of DC, i would suggest that parents and community members regularly attend meetings of the DC board of education (and DC public charter school board) for starters. (in other states you would attend the board meetings of the school district where your child attends, they occur once a month). Observations will reveal the personality of the board members (who are voted in), the problems raised by other concerned parents and teachers. that's where vital networking can occur (recruiting of passionate teachers). in addition to a charter school administrator, the petition for a new charter school will definitely need a  very COMPETENT proposal writer. that proposal to the authorizing school board determines the fate of the school. i would love to do something like that but one could only thrive from community support. the proposal has to be able to project how many students would tentatively enroll its first year. the beautiful thing about board meetings is that they are open to the public. if we check one out we should share with each other.

Rodney Prince said:

So, we galvanize the people around the issue of a failed school system.  We petition elected officials to push for policy changes that allow charter schools.  We do this all under the leadership of someone who has worked in charter school administration and can provide vision and direction.  We keep the community active and interested by engaging them through protest/activism.  We allow consensus recommendations to be built in to the structure of the schools. Does charter schools have a Board of Directors?  If so, is this board voted in by people of the community?  What I am thinking is that the members of the board can reflect the will of the people if they were voted in by the people......that way if a new norm or value needs to be transmitted, the board can vote and that will serve as community consensus.  These board members can be made up of identifiable community leadership.  Just my thoughts.  What do you think?

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

i think other members and yourself spoke to how communities need to mobilize and, first, acknowledge that there is a moral degradation; second, these meetings should honor solutions to this plague. i believe it more effective for a community to propose a charter school than for a charter school to outreach because parental (community) involvement is vital in the success of youth empowerment. we should look to the parents of mckinley elementary school in compton, ca who chose to request a charter school in lieu of their present school that has failed their children for years. schools cannot miraculously saves lives; the saving force comes from an entire village(community). to request a charter school is a step by step process that varies from state to state but i suggest targeted communities have the the willpower to ferociously petition and withstand tedious board meetings. 

Rodney Prince said:

How can schools involve community in defining the desired norms and values?  Or, how can community develop shared norms and values and in turn partner with schools to help reinforce those norms and values?  Is there a step by step process?

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

hi rodney. yes i do believe schools should play a more active role of defining and transmitting the norms and values of its community. it's such a sticky issue because we can hardly define american norms and values. that's why i suggested a charter school that spoke to an african-american community. the school should reinforce what the parents instill in their children. we could free up from the politics of US public education and focus on knowledge of self and a god-fearing moral compass. studies have shown that the black literacy rate has decreased since integration. i condone separate but equal politics. if the black schools  had the same technological resources as white schools, i guarantee a higher graduation rate among blacks. if the black youth understood their heritage, even from the civil rights movement, they would be more aware of the odds against them and hopefully become more inspired to equip themselves with tools to postively impact society.
Rodney Prince said:

Hello, Safirah......I have a two part question. Should schools play a more active role in defining and transmitting norms and values? How would our children benefit from attending an afro-centric school versus a euro-centric school? 

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

youth empowerment. if we could start our own afro-centric charter schools. establish a youth mentoring program where mentors could garner college tuition.

[safirah chinwe]

thanks brother zak x. i am a supporter of boarding schools. i am a graduate of an all girl high school and i think i came out pretty ok :) however, when you juxtapose boarding schools with charter schools, efforts would flock more to charter schools because it would be easier for them to receive public funding.
Zak X said:

Nicely said Good Sister. Question for you. In respects to education, what is your opinion on starting Boarding Schools verses Charter Schools?

"Separate schools for OUR girls, and boys." My reasoning for this is, if we are going to do it right, we need to look at all the conditions that have created this Mutation of an Hue-man-Being the so-called African American. One being, is the the black home is not normal in the first place, and in many situations parents, and or guardians are just as uneducated in their responsibilities of establishing the basic foundation of a (Mentally and Physically) healthy home environment .

So in establishing this institution, we need to consider removing all possible contaminates from are children leaving no room for toxins (inferior ego complex) ever seeping in the mind and hearts of are beautiful future. Returning the Black Man and Black Woman to their rightful place in this universe.   Peace be unto you all and your families.
safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

 

hi rodney. yes i do believe schools should play a more active role of defining and transmitting the norms and values of its community. it's such a sticky issue because we can hardly define american norms and values. that's why i suggested a charter school that spoke to an african-american community. the school should reinforce what the parents instill in their children. we could free up from the politics of US public education and focus on knowledge of self and a god-fearing moral compass. studies have shown that the black literacy rate has decreased since integration. i condone separate but equal politics. if the black schools  had the same technological resources as white schools, i guarantee a higher graduation rate among blacks. if the black youth understood their heritage, even from the civil rights movement, they would be more aware of the odds against them and hopefully become more inspired to equip themselves with tools to postively impact society.
Rodney Prince said:

Hello, Safirah......I have a two part question. Should schools play a more active role in defining and transmitting norms and values? How would our children benefit from attending an afro-centric school versus a euro-centric school? 

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

youth empowerment. if we could start our own afro-centric charter schools. establish a youth mentoring program where mentors could garner college tuition.

[safirah chinwe]

it seems that the desire of public funding for a school comes with the stipulation of subjecting students to state mandated tests. if some how it can be proposed that students' results on these standardized tests are just a (small) portion of the overall assessment of their academic performance, then that can alleviate some of tha "teaching to test" pressure. with regards to technology in low performing schools, i agree that it's not the sole cure of academic handicaps. the context of that technological solution assumed that the teachers were competent to utilize the resources but are unfortunately denied access to those tools.

Beverly Parker said:

just a quick comment about safirah's mention of technology. it is essential to provide technology to all students in this day and age but it doesn't ensure success. i work at a school that's population is primarily native american (casino money) and we have EVERYTHING! whole classes where each student has an iTouch with internet access on their desk! computer lab, class computers, LCD projectors, Elmos, all wireless. the district has full subscriptions to many online sites, you get it....well our kids are failing "the tests" and not motivated to be in school. dropping out in high school....: (

Rodney Prince said:

So, we galvanize the people around the issue of a failed school system.  We petition elected officials to push for policy changes that allow charter schools.  We do this all under the leadership of someone who has worked in charter school administration and can provide vision and direction.  We keep the community active and interested by engaging them through protest/activism.  We allow consensus recommendations to be built in to the structure of the schools. Does charter schools have a Board of Directors?  If so, is this board voted in by people of the community?  What I am thinking is that the members of the board can reflect the will of the people if they were voted in by the people......that way if a new norm or value needs to be transmitted, the board can vote and that will serve as community consensus.  These board members can be made up of identifiable community leadership.  Just my thoughts.  What do you think?

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

i think other members and yourself spoke to how communities need to mobilize and, first, acknowledge that there is a moral degradation; second, these meetings should honor solutions to this plague. i believe it more effective for a community to propose a charter school than for a charter school to outreach because parental (community) involvement is vital in the success of youth empowerment. we should look to the parents of mckinley elementary school in compton, ca who chose to request a charter school in lieu of their present school that has failed their children for years. schools cannot miraculously saves lives; the saving force comes from an entire village(community). to request a charter school is a step by step process that varies from state to state but i suggest targeted communities have the the willpower to ferociously petition and withstand tedious board meetings. 

Rodney Prince said:

How can schools involve community in defining the desired norms and values?  Or, how can community develop shared norms and values and in turn partner with schools to help reinforce those norms and values?  Is there a step by step process?

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

hi rodney. yes i do believe schools should play a more active role of defining and transmitting the norms and values of its community. it's such a sticky issue because we can hardly define american norms and values. that's why i suggested a charter school that spoke to an african-american community. the school should reinforce what the parents instill in their children. we could free up from the politics of US public education and focus on knowledge of self and a god-fearing moral compass. studies have shown that the black literacy rate has decreased since integration. i condone separate but equal politics. if the black schools  had the same technological resources as white schools, i guarantee a higher graduation rate among blacks. if the black youth understood their heritage, even from the civil rights movement, they would be more aware of the odds against them and hopefully become more inspired to equip themselves with tools to postively impact society.
Rodney Prince said:

Hello, Safirah......I have a two part question. Should schools play a more active role in defining and transmitting norms and values? How would our children benefit from attending an afro-centric school versus a euro-centric school? 

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

youth empowerment. if we could start our own afro-centric charter schools. establish a youth mentoring program where mentors could garner college tuition.

[Rodney Prince]

Thank you for the step by step.  I am going to have a couple of my peers look at this.  I believe this may be the start to something.  We have a pretty strong community empowerment movement taking place in our city.  I appreciate your dedication to this discussion.  You, Beverly and Min. Patterson have been wonderful. 

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

using the example of DC, i would suggest that parents and community members regularly attend meetings of the DC board of education (and DC public charter school board) for starters. (in other states you would attend the board meetings of the school district where your child attends, they occur once a month). Observations will reveal the personality of the board members (who are voted in), the problems raised by other concerned parents and teachers. that's where vital networking can occur (recruiting of passionate teachers). in addition to a charter school administrator, the petition for a new charter school will definitely need a  very COMPETENT proposal writer. that proposal to the authorizing school board determines the fate of the school. i would love to do something like that but one could only thrive from community support. the proposal has to be able to project how many students would tentatively enroll its first year. the beautiful thing about board meetings is that they are open to the public. if we check one out we should share with each other.

Rodney Prince said:

So, we galvanize the people around the issue of a failed school system.  We petition elected officials to push for policy changes that allow charter schools.  We do this all under the leadership of someone who has worked in charter school administration and can provide vision and direction.  We keep the community active and interested by engaging them through protest/activism.  We allow consensus recommendations to be built in to the structure of the schools. Does charter schools have a Board of Directors?  If so, is this board voted in by people of the community?  What I am thinking is that the members of the board can reflect the will of the people if they were voted in by the people......that way if a new norm or value needs to be transmitted, the board can vote and that will serve as community consensus.  These board members can be made up of identifiable community leadership.  Just my thoughts.  What do you think?

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

i think other members and yourself spoke to how communities need to mobilize and, first, acknowledge that there is a moral degradation; second, these meetings should honor solutions to this plague. i believe it more effective for a community to propose a charter school than for a charter school to outreach because parental (community) involvement is vital in the success of youth empowerment. we should look to the parents of mckinley elementary school in compton, ca who chose to request a charter school in lieu of their present school that has failed their children for years. schools cannot miraculously saves lives; the saving force comes from an entire village(community). to request a charter school is a step by step process that varies from state to state but i suggest targeted communities have the the willpower to ferociously petition and withstand tedious board meetings. 

Rodney Prince said:

How can schools involve community in defining the desired norms and values?  Or, how can community develop shared norms and values and in turn partner with schools to help reinforce those norms and values?  Is there a step by step process?

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

hi rodney. yes i do believe schools should play a more active role of defining and transmitting the norms and values of its community. it's such a sticky issue because we can hardly define american norms and values. that's why i suggested a charter school that spoke to an african-american community. the school should reinforce what the parents instill in their children. we could free up from the politics of US public education and focus on knowledge of self and a god-fearing moral compass. studies have shown that the black literacy rate has decreased since integration. i condone separate but equal politics. if the black schools  had the same technological resources as white schools, i guarantee a higher graduation rate among blacks. if the black youth understood their heritage, even from the civil rights movement, they would be more aware of the odds against them and hopefully become more inspired to equip themselves with tools to postively impact society.
Rodney Prince said:

Hello, Safirah......I have a two part question. Should schools play a more active role in defining and transmitting norms and values? How would our children benefit from attending an afro-centric school versus a euro-centric school? 

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

youth empowerment. if we could start our own afro-centric charter schools. establish a youth mentoring program where mentors could garner college tuition.

[Rodney Prince]

Beverly, thanks for the link.  I am going to try and take at look at this tonight.  I am looking forward to picking your brain as we move forward. 

Beverly Parker said:

well here are the "release questions" from the state of california, meaning questions they used before and retired. let me know what you think.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/css05rtq.asp

another thing, we teachers are not allowed to tell the parents of our students that they have the option of having their child opt out of the test. isn't that weird?

Wow....I finally get it.  I am going to see if I can get my hands on some of these tests.  Thanks Beverly!

Beverly Parker said:

yes rodney, that's exactly what i'm referring to. tests are created by human beings from "their" perspective. therefore they can be biased. this has been proven in the case of the SAT. academic vocabulary is case in point, words such as find the product or quotient, evaluate, solve, and the sentence structure also might not make the questions or directions understandable to disenfranchised populations. parents and citizens need to demand access to the actual tests and not just examples, both state tests and district tests. i teach in a k-8th grade and i've seen them all. most adults would fail at 4th or 5th grade level. side note-teachers are sworn not to discuss the test questions with anyone! i always wondered, why is that? i think i'm safe with this discussion because it is general and not specific but who knows??? top secret stuff. i think it's strange because if you give a spelling test, don't you give students the words and let them practice? it's called high stakes testing. can't have everybody succeed...

Rodney Prince said:

Beverly, are you saying that these mandates are culturally and/or class biased? Are you saying that our children are not passing these tests because they haven't been exposed to the experience or information that will allow them to interpret the questions? The reason I am asking, is that I heard that this is the case. I was once given an example that illustrated how a child born into a middle class family would have been exposed to certain words that poorer children would not have been exposed to. If this is what we are dealing with, we should demand that these mandates be created after class and cultural differences have been taking into consideration.
Beverly Parker said:

i agree with you sister safirah 100% to further that, we need to look into state and federal mandates in standardize education and testing, with regards to how does it marginalize our children. even if you start a charter school, it will still be controlled by these government mandates. schools in areas of inner-cities often have difficulty recruiting good teachers and many colleges don't really teach them multicultural education; let alone anti-bias curriculum. many schools and teachers, because of the testing atmosphere, are having to "teach to the test," which results in rote, superficial learning. critical thinking skills are left by the wayside. there are many problems resulting from this. one is that the testing ends up including thinking skills after 4th grade. students are at risk of "tracking" but we don't use that term any more. the thinking skills are what are most critical. teachers often base intelligence on reading skills and they think reading skills are of utmost importance but if you think about it, in the civil rights movement in the 1960s they had to teach black adults to read in order for them to vote. could they not think? well of course they could and many brilliant minds they were. i digress.

point at hand-i believe #1 dialog such as in this forum, is powerful. #2 i believe critical thinking skills need to be insured for our children, at home, in our communities and at school. #3 parents need to exercise their presence and power in the school system. just be there, be visible, ask questions...

how many times have you heard of kids doing stupid things and you say to yourself, "what were they thinking!" when it comes to gangs, crime and drugs, that's where i ask myself, if they had a sense of belonging and purpose in there community AND critical thinking skills, how might this all change?

safirah chinwe ibenana ofoegbu said:

youth empowerment. if we could start our own afro-centric charter schools. establish a youth mentoring program where mentors could garner college tuition.