Sunday, March 28, 2010

Why Can’t Raheem Read? Public Education and the Minority Community on Freedom thru Speech Radio

At one time, the United States of America boasted of the very best educational system in the world. However, of late that system has declined precipitously; we now rank about 10th worldwide. And consider this statistic: A full seventy-five percent (75%) of African American and Hispanic students attend school in schools or school districts that are considered failing.

This means that within an educational system already rapidly careening toward crisis, African American and Hispanic school children are already perhaps there. But how did we get where we are now? What can we, or should we, reasonably expect from our educational system?

What can we do to fix our educational system, or at the very least, make it work for us? Join us as we consider these and many more questions and issues as we discuss "Public Education and the Minority Community."

This week RiPPa and I will be joined tonight on Freedom thru Speech Radio by Professor Venus Evans-Winter of The Freire Project, Symphony of the blog Essential Presence, and national teacher trainer and teacher union official Cynthia Reddick.

You can join the conversation by going to the show’s platform by clicking here, or you can call into the show through our call-in number at 914-803-4881.

2 comments:

Lyn Marie said...

The whole term failing is quite accurate. My school is about 65-75% Hispanic and considered failing because one student (and I literally mean 1 student in the special ed category) didn't make enough of an improvement. So the entire school is considered failing.

I agree that our school can do better. They can start by listening to the teachers! First we can start by slowing down, allowing students the time to master a few things. As a US History teacher I am expected to start in the Ice Age and get to the Clinton administration in one year! Once a student learns how to multiply and divide students are quickly moved on to pre-algebra, instead of teaching students how to use and apply the basic skills. Some students enter 8th grade unable figure out a 18% tip, not because they don't know how to multiply but because their math teachers have moved on without showing how to apply the skill to the real world.

The amount of information we are cramming into their minds earlier and earlier isn't taking hold because we are moving too fast. Some politician in the state and federal government said that's what we should teach, and of course they do not have a background in education!

So now on top of all of the roles a teacher has part-time parent, counselor, moral guide, cop, supply closet, and on rare occasion a teacher, we know have to worry about our income with merit pay.

I wonder why we can't get more teachers, it sounds so easy!

Max Reddick said...

@ Lyn Marie

I'm with you. If you will recall, I too am involved in the Florida educational system, and it is greatly flawed in my belief. But listen in tonite, and call in and have your say!

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