Why Are Black Kids Behind?, Education and Race in America

#1
OrangeEmpire

OrangeEmpire

The White Debonair
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#1
What’s Holding Black Kids Back? by Kay S. Hymowitz, City Journal Spring 2005

Let’s start with a difficult truth behind Cosby’s rant: 40 years and trillions of government dollars have not given black and white children equal chances. Put aside the question of the public schools for now; the problem begins way before children first go through their shabby doors. Black kids enter school significantly below their white peers in everything from vocabulary to number awareness to self-control. According to a 1998 National Center for Education Statistics survey of kindergarten teachers, black children are much less likely to show persistence in school tasks, to pay close attention in class, or to seem eager to learn new things than are their white counterparts
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As I said before, it is the difference in socialization which transpires at home before the child ever attends a public school.

This article also illuminates of a theme previously discussed in the thread of why conservatism is deemed backwards. Some of the grandiose liberal agendas of spending money on programs to abate undereducated minorities has proven to be unrealistic and "backwards". Head Start is one such program which, if the data is true, seems to be no longer worth the taxpayers money.

I am not asserting this is "genetic". I am asserting, as I have said all along, this is about socialization. Let's face the truth and the truth is specific socialization is more conducive to learning and performing well in school than other forms of socialization. It is the difference in this socialization which separates the races.
 
#2
#2
I think you are 100% correct. It's not a matter of whether black children can achieve, rather it's sadly a matter of where they come from socio-economically. It's like starting a race where some of the runners are well trained athletes while others just show up blindfolded and without any shoes on.
 
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I do not agree with the starting the race part. I do not believe that economic condition has anything to do with poor education. I believe that less educated families place less emphasis on education. More educated families place greater emphasis on education. If a poor father and mother wanted to improve the lives of their children and children's children, then they would emphasize education. They would actually use public libraries (wow, what a thought) and they would become involved in their childrens' education (actually attend parent-teacher conferences). Instead, African-American leaders have not placed the responsibility on the families. They have instead blamed the government, and therefore provided African-Americans with an excuse as to why they are not performing as well as their caucasian counterparts.
 
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therealUT said:
I do not agree with the starting the race part. I do not believe that economic condition has anything to do with poor education. I believe that less educated families place less emphasis on education. More educated families place greater emphasis on education.
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It was a bad analogy and I can see how you could interpret it to mean it was purely a money issue. Acutally, my point was intended to be very close to what you are saying. Some kids show up ready to learn while others have not been properly prepared due to the enviroments that they are raised in.

The federal government proves everyday that the problem is not purely monetary.
 
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I don't believe that I come from a completely economically sound family and neither of my parents went to college.

I was rewarded with a full ride to UT, however.

I think a lot of it, also, along with family support, has to do with peer pressure. If most of your friends do well in school, as a child, you want to make good grades, too.


~*Crystal*~
 
#6
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I grew up in a family that was so poor the poor kids looked down on us, but my mother ( who raised 4 kids on $400 of welfare and a few food stamps each month) was adamant that we would do well in school. If I brought home a report card that wasn't up to her expectations ( at LEAST a C in every subject ) my butt was grass. ( Ask WendyVol, she'll back me up.) I also saw my mother read-gasp - FOR PLEASURE and I actually checked out library books I thought my mother would enjoy. Through my reading, I learned that poverty could be temporary and that whatever I wanted to be or do in life, education afforded the means. I was kept in church (and I do mean kept - NOTHING got in the way of church) and taught right from wrong. HOWEVER, I have cousins who "had" more than we did that spend more time in jail than at home and wouldn't know what the inside of a church looks like unless they saw one on TV. I guess I'm rambling, but the point I really want to make is that no matter what our circumstances, the only thing that can really limit us is our own selves.
 
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LadyinOrange said:
I guess I'm rambling, but the point I really want to make is that no matter what our circumstances, the only thing that can really limit us is our own selves.
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Agreed . . . I guess the point I am making though is where would you be right now if you hadn't been so lucky to have such a great Mother that instilled those values in you? I think that's where a lot of kids get shortchanged.
 
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GAVol said:
Agreed . . . I guess the point I am making though is where would you be right now if you hadn't been so lucky to have such a great Mother that instilled those values in you? I think that's where a lot of kids get shortchanged.
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That's when guys like my pals Huggins and Calipari come in to save the day. Athletics have done more to create educational opportunity than all the feeble government programs combined.
 
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hatvol96 said:
That's when guys like my pals Huggins and Calipari come in to save the day. Athletics have done more to create educational opportunity than all the feeble government programs combined.
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Agree and disagree. For all the athletes that make it into college purely on athletics, there are a handful that have spent all their spare time throughout high school working becoming a better athlete and neglecting their school work that do not make it into college. So, while the cycle is being destroyed for a small minority, it is actually being exasperated for the greater majority.
 
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therealUT said:
I do not agree with the starting the race part. I do not believe that economic condition has anything to do with poor education. I believe that less educated families place less emphasis on education. More educated families place greater emphasis on education. If a poor father and mother wanted to improve the lives of their children and children's children, then they would emphasize education. They would actually use public libraries (wow, what a thought) and they would become involved in their childrens' education (actually attend parent-teacher conferences). Instead, African-American leaders have not placed the responsibility on the families. They have instead blamed the government, and therefore provided African-Americans with an excuse as to why they are not performing as well as their caucasian counterparts.
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I think Bill Cosby harps on this point.
 
#12
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therealUT said:
I do not agree with the starting the race part. I do not believe that economic condition has anything to do with poor education. I believe that less educated families place less emphasis on education. More educated families place greater emphasis on education. If a poor father and mother wanted to improve the lives of their children and children's children, then they would emphasize education. They would actually use public libraries (wow, what a thought) and they would become involved in their childrens' education (actually attend parent-teacher conferences). Instead, African-American leaders have not placed the responsibility on the families. They have instead blamed the government, and therefore provided African-Americans with an excuse as to why they are not performing as well as their caucasian counterparts.
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I don't think it's just an African American thing. I taught a little girl (my third cousin in fact) who usually didn't have money for snacks, or programs like animal shows, etc. unless someone paid for it for her. She came up to my desk one Friday so excited because her family was going tO TUNICA for the weekend!!! Now tell me where the priorities are in THAT family.
 
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#13
Agree with most of this thread - it is primarily a socialization issue. Is education emphasize - more importantly is it valued.

As to athletics - it helps a few but may do enough damage to have neutral effect. It sends a potentially skewed message as "the way out" when in truth a very small percentage can get out that way. Same with music, acting, etc. So many more can succeed through education.

Finally, someone made the point about peers - it plays a huge role. When education makes you an outcast, there is no hope.
 
#14
#14
A few more thoughts:

Cosby is dead on correct IMHO.

At UAB we get all kinds of students. One thing that is noticeable is the expectations of some students. The idea alluded to by OE is evident in many students (black and white) - that idea is the impact of lowered expectations. For all its good intentions, welfare programs often have the effect of deterring ambition.

The best thing about my job is helping these kids see that they can aim a lot higher then they were ever led to believe.
 
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