http://africanamericanimages.com/AAI/Black%20Parents%20Must%20Do.htm
There is a 3 year gap between Black and White students. Many people
love to believe it’s due to income, fatherlessness, educational
attainment of the parent and lack of parental involvement. I believe
that a major reason for the gap is that we continue to close school for
the summer - as if we were an agrarian economy. And I doubt that many
Black youth will be farming this summer. If you multiply 3
months by 12 years you will see the 3 year gap. It is my opinion that
Black youth would have fewer academic challenges if their schools remained open during the summer and/or their parents kept them academically engaged.
Middle-income parents who value education enroll
their children in some type of academic experience during the summer.
They also visit libraries, museums , zoos and colleges. Other parents
allow their children to sleep
longer, play more video games, watch more television and play
basketball until they can’t see the hoop. These students will have to
review the same work they had mastered in May, when the school year
begins in September.
Black parents cannot allow their children to lose 3 months every year.
Black parents should not say they cannot afford to take their child to
the library. It’s free! Most museums have discounted days. A male
friend of
mine shared his experience with me when he took his family to the
museum. He wondered why so many people were staring at him. His wife and
children had to tell him he was the only Black man in the building! I
am appealing
to every father to take his children to the library this summer, and to
include a visit to the museum, and the zoo. And I am appealing to every
mother to make other arrangements, if the father cannot or will not
take the children.
We need for every parent to make sure that their child reads at least
one book per week and to write a book report. I am reminded of the
formula Sonya Carson used to develop Ben Carson to become the best
pediatric neurosurgeon.
This low-income single parent, with a third grade education, had enough
sense to tell her sons to turn off the television, read a book and
write a report that her sister would grade!
I have a theory. I believe that I can go into your house and within 5
minutes tell you the type of student who lives there and predict his/her
future. I believe that the items needed in the home of engineers,
doctors, lawyers,
accountants etc., are very different from the ballplayers, rappers, and
criminals. I am very concerned that when I visit a house that has more
CDs and downloads than books. My company African American Images has
designed a special
collection of books for boys. The specific set that I am referencing is
titled, Best Books for Boys. We also have one for parents and teachers.
We have found the sets to be very resourceful since research indicates
that one of the
major reasons why boys dislike reading is because of the content.
Let’s work together to close the gap. I look forward to your
children’s teacher asking them how they spent their summer,……and your
children proudly answering by saying that they went to the library,
museum, zoo, colleges and other
great educational institutions .
Enjoy your summer!
Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu is the author of over 35 books including ,There is
Nothing Wrong with Black Students and Raising Black Boys.
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