Written by: Jasmine Walker
Recent statistical data confirms that Black males are less likely to graduate high school than White males. According to the Schott Foundation for Public Education, in 2007 and 2008 only a meager 54% of Black males graduated high school whereas 78% of White males graduated. That presents a 24% gap between the cohorts.
This depressing news shows how badly education is overlooked. If no changes are made, many of our young black males will continue to struggle and add to the declining rate of dropouts and possibly even a life of crime and drugs.
The Schott Foundation expressed this as their concern with schools:
Stacks of research reports have indicated for years that Black male students are not given the same opportunities to participate in classes offering enriched educational offerings. They are more frequently inappropriately removed from the general education classroom due to misclassifications by the Special Education policies and practices. They are punished more severely for the same infractions as their White peers. On average, more than twice as many White male students are given the extra resources of gifted and talented programs by their schools as Black male students. Advanced Placement classes enroll only token numbers of Black male students, despite The College Board urging that schools open these classes to all who may benefit. In districts with selective, college-preparatory high schools, it is not uncommon to find virtually no Black male students in those schools. Finally, the national percentage of Black male students enrolled at each stage of schooling declines from middle school through graduate degree programs.
Simply stated, the message in Yes We Can is that Black male students can achieve high outcomes—states, districts and communities can create the conditions in which all students have an opportunity to learn— the tragedy is, even against the historic backdrop of the U.S. having a Black male President, most states and districts in the U.S. choose not to do so.
For more information about The Schott Foundation and to view the full Yes We Can report visit: http://www.blackboysreport.org/bbreport.pdf
The first and primary initiative has to inform parents and teachers of empowering strategies to overcome this educational genocide. Then, we have to create a collaborative inclusive system that won't allow failure early on in their education. This system is cost effective because it pays for achievement on the front end of educational spectrum and not after failure has already occured. We must protect the interest of all students...Education is a civil right.
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