The lost boys: from Baltimore to Jena
I met this morning with Edwin Johnson and Carl Stokes, two of the founders of the Bluford Drew Jemison Math Science Technology Academy, Baltimore's new charter middle school for boys. Four days a week, the school has a 12-hour academic day, an attempt to keep its students off the city's dangerous streets and out of trouble.
Johnson and Stokes are also heavily involved at Dunbar High School, one of the Baltimore's magnet high schools with stringent admissions requirements. At Dunbar, a historically African-American school, there are more than twice as many girls as boys because there aren't enough qualified male applicants. The charter middle school is an attempt to change that.
Back in the office, over lunch at my desk, I read this blog post on Jena 6 by Byron Williams, a syndicated columnist and pastor in Oakland, Calif. In it he suggests that the six boys from Jena, La., instead be called the American 6, since their case serves as a microcosm of our society. He cites a disturbing report from the Urban League about incarceration. Among the findings: African-American men in the United States are three times more likely than white men to face jail once they have been arrested. African-American men receive jail sentences on average 15 percent longer than white men convicted of the same crime.
How do you think our education and criminal justice systems can be reformed to produce better outcomes for African-American males? Share your thoughts by posting a comment below.
Categories: Baltimore City, School Diversity/Segregation
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Comments
It is not a question so much about reforming the educational system, as reforming cultural attitudes about education. As long as young people (both black AND white) view education as immaterial to success we will not produce educated people. I worked in a local school system, and believe me, too many young people truly believed that they would become NBA or NFL stars, or would become rich from the music field.
Too many parents have abdicated their responsibilities as parents, and therefore don't enforce/encourage educational opportunities.
After all, when someone as influential as Oprah Winfrey chooses to set up a school in Africa instead of America, because American students don't value education, we have a serious problem.
Posted by: Susan O'Connell | September 20, 2007 4:09 PM
Of course one would say that Baltimore City youths are not serious about education. However, we must examine why it is so. There must be positive incentives available for the youth to view and pursue. Thus far, all that has been presented to them are antiquated materials and enough technology to say that it available. The youth are not unintelligent. Give the youth more credit than that. They understand what is not provided and the scacity and lack of interest to their cause that has been in existence for years. That is why education, to them, is not a long term answer. Even though this what is parroted by they youth, we who know the truth must continue to guide and provide them with influence to channel a positive outlook other than the NBA or music industry.
Posted by: Carrolyn Robertson | September 24, 2007 9:40 AM