Seattle Schools Community Forum: Times' Story on African-American Boys and SPS

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Times' Story on African-American Boys and SPS:

Times' Story on African-American Boys and SPS

The Times has an article about the district's move to shore up learning specifically for African-American boys.  One thing I didn't realize that's right in the headline is the district is considering a whole office/department for this effort.  (I also didn't know the district was piloting a program towards this effort at Aki Kurose.)  

Part of the push is to try to get more teachers of color in SPS.  From what I have heard and read, this will be a heavy lift.  One, the teacher corps in the U.S. is getting older AND not as many college students are looking to teaching.  (And who could blame them? Buffeted and criticized from all sides, it may not look very much like an appealing career.  Build in the costs of living in some areas and it probably shouldn't be a surprise that despite the need, there may not be enough good teachers of color.

I recall when there was finally something written by SPS about this effort because Wright, Blanford and Martin-Morris made repeated references to the work but nothing was ever published.   One issue was the concern that if this was not made a priority, along with continuing resources, that it would be a splashy headline and not a sustained effort.  I think many parents - in other programs - can relate to that. 

But I cannot see a whole department for one subset of children.  If a whole department needs to be created, they should make a department for ALL 



 Thank you, Dr. King

Once again, the words of Dr. King ring true, today more than ever.  It's amazing how he seemed to forecast what looks to be happening today in public education.  

The Purpose Of Education

by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,

Morehouse College Student Paper, The Maroon Tiger, in 1947

As I engage in the so-called "bull sessions" around and about the school, I too often find that most college men have a misconception of the purpose of education. Most of the "brethren" think that education should equip them with the proper instruments of exploitation so that they can forever trample over the masses. Still others think that education should furnish them with noble ends rather than means to an end. 

It seems to me that education has a two-fold function to perform in the life of man and in society: the one is utility and the other is culture. Education must enable a man to become more efficient, to achieve with increasing facility the ligitimate goals of his life.

Education must also train one for quick, resolute and effective thinking. To think incisively and to think for one's self is very difficult. We are prone to let our mental life become invaded by  Thank you, Dr. King