Remember When?

As a child and a teenager my favorite saying was "when I have kids I will never do that to them". My parents were not evil but some things could have been done differently and said in a different manner. Those times when my parents words pierced my heart and was a blow to my self esteem made me say those famous words "when I have kids I will never do that to them". Many parents and guardians forget the promises of yesterday. What if we as a community stopped saying negative words to our children? What if we as a community became the parent we wanted our parents to be? Guess what we do not have to wish for that. We can start today by remembering the parent we wanted to be during childhood and our teenage years. Our children are hurting from the actions of their parents; we can eliminate their pain by controlling what we say and how we react. Change can occur one moment at a time. Please let’s speak kinder words to our future and give a hug a day to show them, that our words match up with our actions. We can make a difference. Do you remember when?

ACADEMIC DIVIDE/ACHIEVEMENT GAP

How can we increase the high graduation rate for African Americans, Hispanics and urban youth?
What can be done to close the academic divide?
What is the academic divide?

RING THE ALARM
In February 2007 I attended a conference In Lancaster, PA entitled Closing Educational Achievement Gaps at Millersville University. The conference was an eye opener and a heart wrenching experience. Learning about the disparity of urban and minority youths made my hunches become facts. I had a hunch we were behind academically. But, hearing the statistics caused my hunch to become a harsh reality of pain.

THE STATISTICS
According to The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research Civic Report No. 48 April 2006, urban schools across the country lag behind rural and suburban schools in academic achievement and high school graduation rates.

According to The New York State Department of Education in 2006, 64% of students who started ninth grade in 2001 across the state graduated in four years. In New York City the rate was 44% drastically lower than the state average. These numbers are similar and at times even worse across our nation.

The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research Civic Report No. 48 April 2006 STATED: the graduation rates for the United States is
78% for White students
72% for Asian students
55% for African-American students
53% for Hispanic students

The SOLUTION
We must take a math approach to find the solution(s). One of my favorite subjects is math. The reason being a math problem can be solved in more than one way. In order to close the academic divide we must all look at the problem and create more than one solution. Let’s take the math approach.

MY SOLUTION
1- Speak About It (THAT’S WHY I CREATED THIS BLOG)
2- Increase adult participation in our youth (I PROMOTE MENTORING AND PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT)
3- Listen to our Youth (We all need to take the time and hear what they are saying)

Every Friday I will add a new BLOG. January 2, 2009 my posting will be entitled The Right Way. The month of January will be dedicated to parents and guardians.