The first way is here.
The second way?
In an effort to ensure racial diversity, the school system here in northern Westchester County is set up in an unusual way, its six school buildings divided not by neighborhood but by grade level. So all of the second and third graders in the Ossining Union Free School District attend the Brookside School.
But some minority students, the black boys at Brookside, are set apart, in a way, by a special mentoring program that pairs them with black teachers for one-on-one guidance outside class, extra homework help, and cultural activities during the school day. “All the black boys used to end up in the office, so we had to do something,†said Lorraine Richardson, a second-grade teacher and mentor. “We wanted to teach them to help each other†instead of fight each other.
More here.
There used to be a big debate about this and I think in at least one instance the ACLU sued. But it is apparent to me that the gender gap in black communities goes the opposite way, and that policies should be designed to deal with this.
I am so torn on this one. We are pondering a simmilar programme here in the UK to raise the achievement of black boys when they leave school. One the one hand we don’t want to marginalise our boys anymore but on the other how do we address the shortcomings academically and socially that our boys suffer?
It’s straightforward to me. If this were any other population we’d come up with solutions without batting an eye. I suppose that some are making “self-esteem” arguments, but even if this was in fact an important issue to me (it’s not), there are ways around this. My fraternity for example is almost 95% black probably, but you think I’m having self-esteem problems that I joined a black fraternity? There are all types of ways to get around this.
Lester I agree with you, but I think that folks even amongst the Black male population interpret things very differently. The CUNY system has the BLack Male Intiative and some Black men are suing them for being “singled out.” We live in truly interesting times!
i posted this yesterday, seems to have disappeared!
i grew up less than 5 miles from Ossining, NY. growing up in Tarrytown, NY, i was always the ONLY Black kid in class until i reached Junior High School (WI). i would’ve welcomed the opportunity to learn and grow in the type of environment that my white counterparts took for granted. i think it should be common knowledge that Blacks are socialized and raised in our communities, but very few of these values and norms are transferred to the public schools, which were created for teaching white children.
there is obviously a problem with Black children (especially boys) learning in a white environment, i see no issue with creating an environment for them that is more conducive to their learning.
i really dig this blog and i’ve added it to my BlogRoll. please add plezWorld to yours. thanks!
This couldn’t be resolved by actively working with folk to stop suspending the brown kids and flex time for the brown teachers to go to the schools/communities where the brown kids are?