Elections, Education, & Enigmas
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiQJ9Xp0xxU
As I reminisce on voting day, I narrow my reflections down to focus on two things: the first being how I continue to lose faith in most politicians and the second being how we have an education system in America that continues to fail youth around the country. Both of these issues I look at in the context of Ohio (where I vote) and Illinois (where I go to school and work with students in the Chicago Public School System). I never understood how so many people could vote for so many individuals that continue to spit on the lives of students who go to school in systems that continue to fail them. Furthermore, I am absolutely tired of people finding external scapegoats to create reasoning for not funding schools properly.
In Ohio we were close once. It was 2007, students from around the state created a youth agenda and Governor Ted Strickland (well former governor as of yesterday) was reforming education around the state. His reforms mirrored many of the suggestions students across the state put on our youth agenda. Then the economy hit and everything changed. Education got put on the backburner and the state/country turned their eyes to the financial crisis that began under the Bush regime. Now in 2010 the Ohio and the country seems to be shifting further and further away from any type of concrete reform in education. “Race to the top” funding still hasn’t reached some of the poorest systems in the country, Waiting for Superman seemed to only alarm people for about a week, and some of the Champions for Education (at the risk of being hyperbolic) Ted Strickland and Alexi Geanoulius don’t seem to be able to stay/get into office.
It is my fervent belief that an equal and fair education is one of the most important social issues that is challenges humanity. In high school, I was not properly educated, and when I came to college I felt that my human rights had been violated. I am from the inner city of Cleveland, Ohio, a place where only half the students graduate from high school and where only three out of every one hundred black men will graduate from college. In high school I was in the top ten percent of my class, but it was only when I came to college and had to play “catch-up” with my classmates, that I realized how bad the problems were with the public education system. This reality not only saddens me, but it has and will continue to encourage me to fight for equal and fair education for all youth, in and outside of the United States. My fight for a better education continues even through this election period and beyond. I spent the summer encouraging students to be active members of democracy and now I have decided to pledge my upcoming summer to the service of youth and education. I know I only have one life and one mind, and that many people share my beliefs, but if I shift my focus to national problems, especially in light of elections, I feel discouraged. The results of last nights elections is why I choose not to rely on policy makers to change things; this is also why I must continue to focus on one child at a time. “Each one, teach one” type of thing. At this point and time, that’s all I can do to keep up hope. Oh, BTW…why the crazy ass tea party-ers now control part of our government is still an enigma to me.
Jonathan,
I feel that you wrote a powerful, well-stated, and impassioned blog. Virtually everything you said I agree with including the part about the tea party-ers, as well as when you ask how and why a black person would vote for a party that does not respect or value them and which continuously demeans and belittles them. When you figure that one out please post about it because I for one would be interested to know.
Whatever hurdles you had to straddle or surmount in college you obviously from your writing have conquered them. And while I understand you frustration and discouragement with the political process, (I was fuming), we (the country…an our your black children) needs bright minds like yours to stay politically active.
Our young bright African American boys are failing in school, and with their failure in school it translates to a failure to be able to compete successfully in a global economy. It means lower earnings, a continued cycle of poverty, often crime, incarceration, and voter disenfranchisement. They are tragically being left behind by poor and inadequate school systems that seem unwilling and/or unable to address these young men needs, a government that cut funds for school districts that needs it the most. Those that tend to need it the most are more often than not the ones our young minority students attend. A government dare I say a republican party that is insensitive to the plight of African American youth or the need for educational reform. But we as a community bear responsibility hear as well our children need to expected to SUCCEED.
The findings of the CGCS shows In 2005, only 12 percent of black eighth graders and 15 percent of Hispanic eighth graders across the nation scored at or above proficient on the reading portion of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), compared with 39 percent of their white eighth grade counterparts. Similarly, while 39 percent of white eighth graders scored proficient or above on the math portion of the NAEP, the same could be said for only 9 and 13 percent of their black and Hispanic counterparts, respectively. Clearly, the education system has failed to educate minority and white students to the same standard.” And most are aware of the findings by the Schott foundation.
At this conference there will be over 500 participants, which includes numerous experts, and media personalities all there in an attempt to seek viable solutions to these dire issues. This is a conference for everyone and while the foicus is on minority children the fact remains that we are an interconnected community and the SUCCESS or FAILURE of one ultimately affects us all.
Some of our Conferences Guest will be:
• U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY);
• Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League;
• Ed Lewis, co-founder of Essence Communications;
• Dr. Adelaide Sanford, former vice chancellor of NYSED’s Board of Regents;
• Dr. Calvin Butts, pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church;
• Dr. Winston Price, former president of the National Medical Association;
• NYC Deputy Mayor Dennis M. Walcott;
• Mike Woods, news reporter for New York’s Fox 5 TV;
• Egypt Sherrod, radio star for New York’s top-rated WBLS FM 107.5
• Justine Simmons, co-star of MTV’s top-rated Run’s House.
I encourage anyone who is a concerned individual to attend. For additional information you can go to http://todays-child.com and to register
Jonathan,
I feel that you wrote a powerful, well-stated, and impassioned blog. Virtually everything you said I agree with including the part about the tea party-ers, as well as when you ask how and why a black person would vote for a party that does not respect or value them and which continuously demeans and belittles them. When you figure that one out please post about it because I for one would be interested to know.
Whatever hurdles you had to straddle or surmount in college you obviously from your writing have conquered them. And while I understand you frustration and discouragement with the political process, (I was fuming), we (the country…an our your black children) needs bright minds like yours to stay politically active.
Our young bright African American boys are failing in school, and with their failure in school it translates to a failure to be able to compete successfully in a global economy. It means lower earnings, a continued cycle of poverty, often crime, incarceration, and voter disenfranchisement. They are tragically being left behind by poor and inadequate school systems that seem unwilling and/or unable to address these young men needs, a government that cut funds for school districts that needs it the most. Those that tend to need it the most are more often than not the ones our young minority students attend. A government dare I say a republican party that is insensitive to the plight of African American youth or the need for educational reform. But we as a community bear responsibility hear as well our children need to expected to SUCCEED.
The findings of the CGCS shows In 2005, only 12 percent of black eighth graders and 15 percent of Hispanic eighth graders across the nation scored at or above proficient on the reading portion of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), compared with 39 percent of their white eighth grade counterparts. Similarly, while 39 percent of white eighth graders scored proficient or above on the math portion of the NAEP, the same could be said for only 9 and 13 percent of their black and Hispanic counterparts, respectively. Clearly, the education system has failed to educate minority and white students to the same standard.” And most are aware of the findings by the Schott foundation.
At this conference there will be over 500 participants, which includes numerous experts, and media personalities all there in an attempt to seek viable solutions to these dire issues. This is a conference for everyone and while the foicus is on minority children the fact remains that we are an interconnected community and the SUCCESS or FAILURE of one ultimately affects us all.
Some of our Conferences Guest will be:
• U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY);
• Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League;
• Ed Lewis, co-founder of Essence Communications;
• Dr. Adelaide Sanford, former vice chancellor of NYSED’s Board of Regents;
• Dr. Calvin Butts, pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church;
• Dr. Winston Price, former president of the National Medical Association;
• NYC Deputy Mayor Dennis M. Walcott;
• Mike Woods, news reporter for New York’s Fox 5 TV;
• Egypt Sherrod, radio star for New York’s top-rated WBLS FM 107.5
• Justine Simmons, co-star of MTV’s top-rated Run’s House.
I encourage anyone who is a concerned individual to attend. For additional information you can go to http://todays-child.com and to register