Black Kids Are Thriving In Afro-centric Schools
By: Krystle Crossman
It is no secret that black youth are not getting the education that they need in schools that are not afro-centric. When they are placed in schools that meet their cultural needs as well as their educational needs however they are thriving. An education professor from Northwestern University named Carol Lee started a charter school called the Betty Shabazz Charter School. Each day the students (who are all African-American) begin with a fact about black history, a message that teaches them about having respect for their elders, and a pledge of pride.
Lee states that students do not do well in regular schools because they are faced with racism every day and stereotypes that they must overcome. These barriers are not helping their education at all as they lose focus. Lee also says that people claim that the all-black schools are another form of racism and that they need to look at it from another point of view. Culturally mixed schools do not give the proper attention to each culture that is in attendance at the schools. Everything becomes lumped together and those with a different culture do not get to learn much about their history.
Chicago is home to a few African-centered schools and they have seen a marked improvement in the students’ performance as opposed to being in a traditional public school. When the students do not have to deal with racism and stereotypes they are able to concentrate more on their studies as opposed to concentrating on figuring out how to belong. It may seem wrong to develop schools that are only made for one culture, but that is because people aren’t looking at it from the perspective of the students who are under-performing in schools.
The goal of these schools is not to block other races and cultures from learning with black students but to strengthen the black community. They aim to send these students off into the world with respect, dignity, and a bright future. Unfortunately this is not what happens for many black students in traditional public schools. The students are taught by black teachers and are able to have role models that have gone through the same things that they are going through and know of the same struggles.
http://www.theblackhomeschool.com/2014/09/03/black-kids-are-thriving-in-afro-centric-schools/
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ReplyDeletehttp://www.theblackhomeschool.com/2015/05/22/more-and-more-black-kids-in-elementary-school-are-killing-themselves/
A new study has shown an alarming trend in suicide amongst elementary school children (ages 5-11). While the number of children in this age group that commit suicide is still well below other age groups there are still too many children that feel that suicide is their only option. The good news is that the number of white children has decreased significantly since 1990. According to data from JAMA Pediatrics, 1.14 out of every one million children in this age group who were white committed suicide. The number has fallen to 0.77 per million. The bad news is that the number of black children committing suicide has taken an alarming climb. In 1990 the number of black children committing suicide was 1.36 per million. As of 2012 the number was up to 2.54 per million. Why has the rate almost doubled amongst black children and decreased significantly for white children?
DeleteDepression in young children is often overlooked. The data on depression in teens and adults is extensive but in young children is lacking. Black Americans historically have a disadvantage when it comes to many things and access to mental health care Is one of those things. The researchers from the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH conducted the study that was published in JAMA Pediactrics’ journal. They stated that while they do not know the exact reason that the suicide rates of black elementary students is on the rise they have suspicions. The researchers believe that the depression in young children is due to increased violence and trauma in the home. Another risk factor is severe over-punishments in schools.
They also found that the number of white children committing suicide with guns has gone down, but has remained steady in black children. They believe that this is because gun safety education is not reaching the black communities. The most common method of suicide in young black boys is hanging, which has tripled while the number for white children has remained the same. At this point more studies need to be done on the mental health of black children and how to give them better access to the resources they need to prevent these tragedies from ever happening.