Comments on Los Angelista's Guide To The Pursuit Of Happiness: School And Society

Lisa,I checked it out last night. Thanks for the ...

2007-09-18T10:02:00.000-07:00

Lisa,
I checked it out last night. Thanks for the link. I used to supervise teachers down at Bunche in Compton and there's a whole lot that other principals could learn if they'd go observe there and see the expectations the kids are held to. I had a particularly negative interaction with my son's principal this morning and I found myself thinking how what I was asking her about would be perceived as normal in a wealthier area. I want to support public schools but I think next year I'm doing private, magnet or charter.

Gyamfua,
No step-children around here, so I can't help you with that. I can imagine it can be a challenge though. But, about encouraging black and Latino college students to be teachers, I think it's a great idea, but, when you have black folks who are 10% of the population, and have lower college attendance rates, that means that there's a smaller pool of people to choose from. And, not all of them want to go into education. If they do, great, but if they don't want to do it, then don't. So, I think that means that people who are not black need to be able to do what's right by kids. Yes, it's admirable to want to go teach in a low-income area or work with children of color, but kids can get scarred emotionally by the crap that teachers say and allow other kids to say in the classroom.

Damn I wish you had step children so you could wri...

2007-09-18T06:07:00.000-07:00

Damn I wish you had step children so you could write thought provoking blogs about African american black step children...sorry I'm obviously having step child issues again!

As a mom with two little queens verusus kings, I completely understand what you are saying. However, how do we encourage more black males and females to be teachers. Its easy to point out the inherent racist attitudes of white teachers, but we do have to give them credit for going to the 'hood to teach...what is happening with the mill of young black teachers churning out of our college systems?
Have colleges, specifically black colleges create a specific track in college to teach young black students how to be effective teachers to black children?
Its so frustrating because there are so many brilliant minds out there, but along with that myraids of issues, and lots of ideas but limited resources and oppurtunities...what is a person to do?

Liz, this is a great post. Did you see the Sunday ...

2007-09-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

Liz, this is a great post. Did you see the Sunday LA Times Editorial section yesterday? "Schools can't be colorblind - Narrowing the achievement gap in schools requires acknowledging race, not ignoring it": http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-gap16sep16,0,7018381.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials

I read it and I thought of you, particularly where they talk about the teacher quality gap, which is patr and parcel of the whole issue. Thanks for writing this.

P.S. If you can't access the editorial, email me and I can cut and paste it into an email back to you. You can reach me at LMRobaire@yahoo.com.

Janie,It's really a crazy thing how every single d...

2007-09-17T07:36:00.000-07:00

Janie,
It's really a crazy thing how every single day there's stories out there in the media about how racism is impacting our society. We're like junkies that refuse to take that first step of admitting the problem.

Ian,
Those stats make me want to pack my kids up and move to Montana or something. Well, maybe not Montana, but you know what I mean. I do feel though it's something we've all got to be committed to changing, whether we feel like it directly impacts us or not.

Sharifa,
I just read that article and what happens here is that everyone goes to a neighborhood school unless they file an application to go to a magnet. I think the magnet system here is inherently flawed and wrong, but it continues. Since the neighborhoods are segregated, you have de-facto segregation of schools. There's no such thing as busing to create more diversity balances or anything like that.

I just read the NYT about a school in Alabama movi...

2007-09-17T01:45:00.000-07:00

I just read the NYT about a school in Alabama moving the black students out... do you see a lot of that going on?

This was powerful, my friend, and sometimes chilli...

2007-09-16T16:55:00.000-07:00

This was powerful, my friend, and sometimes chilling. Wonderfully and fairly considered all around. Those stats on the violent death rate of young black males are especially distressing.
But, in all, a gem of writing.

Amen on the race issue! It is very frustrating th...

2007-09-15T21:46:00.000-07:00

Amen on the race issue! It is very frustrating that we can't talk about the real issues, because of people not wanting to deal with their biases, prejudice and discomfort. Black can't be anything but black. It is there for all to see and that can't be changed by money, class, a PH'd, a bazillion $$ NBA contract or anything else. At the end of the day, we stand out in the crowd and in the Mainstream of America it makes a difference 95% of the time.

Seventh Sister,Thanks for the info about the websi...

2007-09-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

Seventh Sister,

Thanks for the info about the website. It's definitely a resource lots of parents and teachers could use...and what a bonus that it's free!

Very thoughtful. As far as teasing goes, you migh...

2007-09-15T19:49:00.000-07:00

Very thoughtful. As far as teasing goes, you might check out Operation Respect at dontlaugh.org
I believe it was founded by Peter Yarrow and Steve Seskin. They have a free curriculium available for educators to help deal with teasing and bullying.

Thailandchani,My thought is that although issues o...

2007-09-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

Thailandchani,
My thought is that although issues of class are completely relevant, racism is the most challenging issue facing our nation. Here's why I think this: If you put a black stockbroker on the streets of Manhattan, he can't catch a cab. You put a black custodian on the streets, he can't catch a cab. Why can't either one catch the cab? Because they're black.

Janie,
I can't even begin to say how many times I've seen #4 on your list. It's such a shame that teachers have to leave the district and go to charters to be able to create meaningful change on a larger scale. There are a whole lot of people getting paid a whole lot of money at LAUSD, and the results are not coming in.

I'm considering putting my sons on the waiting list for TAS even though we don't live in the neighborhood. One of my friends runs the Kipp Academy of Opportunity and I keep telling her that I wish they did lower elementary because I don't see too many other schools where black children are thriving. I'm going to start volunteering in my eldest son's classroom a couple of times a week. It's interesting though, when I asked her how soon they were going to be doing reading and math diagnostics, she told me about the OCR week 6 reading assessment. Um, not sufficient! He already knows how to read...so is he supposed to be bored -- and then misbehave to entertain himself? Yeah, I'm one of those parents, but you have to be or else your child will end up getting retained or put in SPED. Sigh.

Heart,
Thank goodness Mychal Bell's conviction has been overturned. I've heard a couple of folks say that that only happened because it's Louisiana (the South). But I think legal injustice like that happens all over.

The thing is that most districts do a very corny "diversity" training. It's usually focused on avoiding lawsuits. It's a "You can't say these things to a parent" type of training. It has nothing to do with the heart and soul of a person, which is where true change occurs.

Yeah, what a welcome poster, right?!? I have a picture somewhere of another one I took of a school down in Watts. They had about four posters like that up in front of a school down there. I wonder if they had one of those up at Columbine.

Noel,
I'm so glad you had Ms. West. Hope you've had the chance to tell her how special she was to you. My dad was one of those young white teachers too. He did a whole lot for all of his students and worked hard for all of them. He really loved them and didn't ever act like he was doing them a favor to teach them about jazz. On the flipside, my mom had black teachers who told her she should be a cook.

In my own experience, I had a white teacher say to my entire AP English class that the only reason I got into a great college was affirmative action. I had a white math teacher say that I was stupid in front of the whole class...and countless other incidents that chip away at your morale over the years. Some would say that's not racism, that those teachers were just jerks.

You should definitely plan to ask how the teacher will explain your child having two men as parents. My husband has a friend who's now divorced. The ex-wife is now with a woman who she considers her wife, and she has primary custody of their children. The friend has been sharing with my husband how mercilessly his eldest son (3rd grade) is getting teased about having two moms. The teachers do absolutely nothing about this teasing, and one went so far as to ask how it feels to be a Latino male who had his wife "stolen" by another woman. Just craziness and the kids suffer so much.

Phillipe,
I think you're right when you say that so much of what happens is unconscious. I really do think people mean well, but yes, that does not excuse the damage that is done to children. Your call for more black mental health professionals, particularly males is so on-point. I heard so many people talking about this when I was in New Orleans. There aren't the people there to deal with what folks have been through. Speaking of ADHD, it drives me crazy when teachers try to say any child that likes to talk and move has ADHD. No, maybe your class is boring and the kids are trying to entertain themselves!

1969,
Seriously! Our hair does come in all kinds of different textures and colors! But, unless a teacher's spent anytime with black folks, they wouldn't know that! The best would have been if you'd asked the teacher back, "What are you mixed with?" in return. But that would have gotten you in trouble, I'm sure.

Keith,
I worry that teachers won't take the time to understand either of my sons. With the oldest, it's so easy to think he's the ultimate introvert/perfect child. With the youngest, it's so easy to label him as "bad" even though he's ridiculously smart. It is an uphill battle and I feel for parents who lack the education/know how to be able to advocate for their kids like I know they'd like to. Look into some of the charters out there. There are a whole lot more in NYC than out here in LA. I know that Excellence Charter in Bed Stuy is supposed to be good. I had a friend trying to get a job there, but like so many places, it's by lottery. Gosh, it really shouldn't be this stressful to put your child in school, you know?

Over here on the other side of the U.S. my wife an...

2007-09-15T15:09:00.000-07:00

Over here on the other side of the U.S. my wife and I are experiencing raising a black boy in almost exactly the same way. I'm terrified by what will happen next year once our private Pre-K option is finished and public school starts.

My son also has a strong personality. Sadly it may overshadow his brilliance, especially if he gets a crappy teacher that doesn't know how to manage a perfectionist. The fact that he's black promises an uphill battle. I'm with you Liz.

Best post I've read all year. And so relevant, esp...

2007-09-15T05:15:00.000-07:00

Best post I've read all year. And so relevant, especially with my son stepping off into Kindergarten.

This does have the makings of an informative book.

I was one of those black girls with long Latina style hair and I always remember the teachers asking me what I was "mixed with". Uh, I'm just black. LOL

Nice post. There is a similar dynamic in the socia...

2007-09-15T03:13:00.001-07:00

Nice post. There is a similar dynamic in the social work profession (probably psychology as well) which is full of idealistic, young white women being "unleashed" on communities of color. Mental health practice has not been too kind to black children either, though there are promising efforts toward "culturally competent practice". The mass medication of black children diagnosed with ADD is but one example of this. When I was working in largely black and Latino schools and providing counseling to black and Latino and native American kids in a community mental health center, I learned a lot about how much it meant to them and their families that I was a black male. This was true regardless of the class background of the families. By the way, any black men reading this, you are desperately needed in the mental health professions. Bring it on brothers!! Whenever you link power with the dynamics of the unconscious (which is where most racism lives in 21st century America) the results can be devastating. I often say with humor that the most dangerous people on earth today are well meaning white people, because they literally do not "see" the harm they are doing all over the planet to people of color. This is one of the great ironies of the post-colonial, post-Civil Rights world we are living in. Again, much of this is driven by unconscious psychological dynamics and as such is not willful so we have to approach it with justice. It is no less damaging though. The young black male and to some extent the young Arab male are considered the face of fear in America. Guess what America, from the perspective of people of color the face of fear is a young white woman with a Masters Degree! Put that on the cover of a rap CD why don't yah!!

Nice post. There is a similar dynamic in the socia...

2007-09-15T03:13:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful post. I have to say that young w...

2007-09-14T21:51:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful post. I have to say that young white teachers in the inner city were a major influence in my life. Ms. West was such a teacher. She was one of the good ones. She loved her kids. In her class, I felt loved.

I've taken alot from this post. When I have kids, I'll ask my kid's teacher how he/she plans to explain having two men as parents.

If anyone was basking in the misconception that ra...

2007-09-14T21:44:00.000-07:00

If anyone was basking in the misconception that racism is dead in America, the events in Jena, Louisiana have put that notion to rest.

I doubt that most early education teachers realize the impact they have on children who are entering the school system for the first time. So much of their treatment in that classroom will determine the role they play throughout school, and after.

You are certainly right that racism exists among some of those who teach in poor black communities. The school systems should offer mandatory sensitization classes for these teachers to ensure that they treat ALL their students with respect and affection.

The next-best thing is making them know that they are being watched by the mothers of those kids who will demand that they be treated the way they deserve.

There was a GUN in the welcome poster?!! I'm with Toussaint. I wouldn't want to go either.

"African people all over the world are in a life a...

2007-09-14T18:46:00.000-07:00

"African people all over the world are in a life and death struggle for survival, but many are not conscious of it."

This quote by the late Dr. Asa Hilliard, was the topic of discussion in my 8th grade guidance class today. As you said LIz, we are in a state of unconciousness because people are not walking around with white hoods, hoses and dogs. We can go where we want, buy what we want and we think this equals equality, freedom.

In the same vein, well meaning white folks (or the middle class) feel that sympathy(described as compassion) and a hit and miss knowledge of "black history" is all they need to "teach the little colored children".

These well meaning people have little or no understanding of the fact that

1. the Educational system was not designed for African (African-American) children to be successful.
2. African children are not valued for their cultural capital, because it does not match what is valued by the mainstream.
3. The system has repeatedly failed for African American with little or no change.
4. The teachers you are referring to, through no fault of their own come with the expectations, values and judgements of their own lives, education and upbringing and can't understand why a child that lives in Nickerson Gardens and has had to eat Peanut Butter for 2 weeks because they don't know where their mother is, is not turning in their homework. And instead of going home with them to find out, they give them detention and tell them they should "Care about their education"

I could go on and on, but I won't. It is so deep, so layered. I used to work in LAUSD. Now I teach at a charter school that was created to meet the needs of underserved African American and Latino students. We have a culturally responsive pedagogy that values WHO the children are and STILL teach them what they need to know to be successful in the "real world".

I know that because your sons have a concious, intelligent mom who will make sure that their needs are being met they will not be traumatized by well meaning, under-experienced teachers. Please just stay on top of it. (you're an educator so I know you will) but our black boys in particular are in such danger of being, overlooked, ignored, yelled at, put at the back of the class, kicked out, put in Special Ed, feared, jailed and killed. It ain't not joke!

You're exactly right. No one with any sense can de...

2007-09-14T18:35:00.000-07:00

You're exactly right. No one with any sense can deny that. My position is that until the class issues are dealt with, the race issues will never be resolved.

Your opinion? :)

Peace,

~Chani
http://thailandgal.blogspot.com

BZ,Hey! I'm so glad you came by to visit. I've b...

2007-09-14T17:41:00.000-07:00

BZ,
Hey! I'm so glad you came by to visit. I've been enjoying your blog and love coming to visit yours too. I've been a fan of Kozol's for awhile. He was one of the people that really made me decide to get involved in education so many years ago. Even though I'm making a career change of sorts, I still care really deeply about these things, especially as they are now poised to impact my own children.

OMG! This is my first visit here and I am already ...

2007-09-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

OMG! This is my first visit here and I am already in love! Thank you for stopping by. Your comment prompted me to come check you out and I'm so grateful for that. I love this post! As an educator/coach/youth-worker/what-have-you, these issues are soooooooo real, it's not even funny. You are either a big Jonathan Kozol fan, or you will be. He's one of my top favorite authors (and I have a long list cuz I read like I'm going blind tomorrow).

You are already a sister--to me.

Jameil,Girl, it's been ages since I've been to one...

2007-09-14T03:02:00.000-07:00

Jameil,
Girl, it's been ages since I've been to one of those Ebony Fashion Fair shows for me too. I remember when I went though, I was thinking the fashions were a little too old for me. But yes, if you don't know and don't appreciate where the child is coming from, how can you teach them?
And on this subject, non-fiction definitely.

Maia,
There's so much indeed. More than one book could be written about this.

Non fiction for certain. There's so much to be sa...

2007-09-13T16:56:00.000-07:00

Non fiction for certain. There's so much to be said about these issues.

i think a non-fiction book would be great. i thin...

2007-09-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

i think a non-fiction book would be great. i think there are a lot of parents who are in the same boat you are: concerned about what their black male children will face when they enter the classrooms, but not knowing what to do about it.

PREACH!!! its too true. you really hit the nail ...

2007-09-13T14:37:00.000-07:00

PREACH!!! its too true. you really hit the nail on the head. i've never been to an Ebony Fashion Fair Fashion show (and can't imagine ever going since that isn't fashion to me), either, but i get where you're going. if you don't know any black people personally, how can you relate to 15 or more black children?

Cyndee,I'm thinking alot about this...Toussaint ke...

2007-09-13T14:31:00.000-07:00

Cyndee,
I'm thinking alot about this...Toussaint kept pointing out the gun in the "Welcome to our School" poster. Ugh.

DJBA,
Yeah, I've had an idea for book brewing on this for awhile. I'm so torn, fiction or non-fiction...or both.