The San Francisco Chronicle joins the bandwagon of liberal newspapers that have addressed the "achievement gap" -- the difference between majority [white] student academic achievement and that of minority [black/Latino] pupils. Right from the headline of "Children of Color Being Left Behind," readers are clearly left with the impression that there has been some purposeful scheme to "shortchange" minority students.
A frustrating and persistent achievement gap between black and Latino students and their white and Asian American peers shows no sign of abating in the latest state test results for nearly 5 million students across California.
Overall, students of all backgrounds made minimal progress in English during the past year and no progress in math.
State schools chief Jack O'Connell said he was not surprised by the leveling off of improvement across the state, noting similar trends across the country that have followed growth spurts, as California had.
But it was the difference in achievement among ethnic groups that O'Connell said was most evident - and most disturbing - about the new test results.
One may wonder (rightly) just why Asians are not considered "children of color." This is a bewildering trend among the media. Is it because Asians cannot somehow readily be labeled as "victims"?
The disparity raises serious questions about who might be failing these students of color and what can be done about it.
"For decades, our education system has provided kids of color less of everything that research says makes a difference in public education - even to middle-income kids of color," said Russlynn Ali, executive director of Education Trust West, an Oakland think tank. "Whose fault is that? Everyone who makes up the system."
I wonder why the article's author, Nanette Asimov, did not ask Ms. Ali just what it is that the research says minority students (excuding Asians, of course) get less of. And, when it comes to who precisely is failing students of color, it is "everyone who makes up the system." Nary a mention of parents and family.
In the past, another northwestern paper, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, has left unchallenged controversial assertions regarding race and schooling. Writer Rebekah Denn once wrote that [racial] disparities in Seattle schools' discipline rates were "puzzling" and "unpleasant." Asserting that teachers', administrators' and parents' views on the matter are "inadequate," Denn goes on to note how black students get singled out for "acting black." If you're pondering just what "acting black" means, take a look:
"We, as a people, are loud," said Jacob Ellis, an African American counselor at Nathan Hale High School, who mentors a group of African American students.
African American students often speak to adults more as equals than as authority figures, because that's the way many speak with their families.
African American students are frequently more out-front with their emotions.
Many African American students bring particular styles of learning, speaking and behaving with them from home -- and schools are quick to punish those styles.
Some staff and students also say "play-fighting" leads to many disciplinary actions. And a number of school officials said these mock battles are more prevalent among African American boys and too often are misread as being real.
It is difficult to imagine how these generalizations are somehow any less noxious than the historical negative stereotypes of blacks. But this is the Seattle public schools -- the same district that once posted a rather unique definition of racism on its website. This included a head-scratching summary of "Cultural Racism":
Those aspects of society that overtly and covertly attribute value and normality to white people and Whiteness, and devalue, stereotype, and label people of color as “other”, different, less than, or render them invisible. Examples of these norms include defining white skin tones as nude or flesh colored, having a future time orientation, emphasizing individualism as opposed to a more collective ideology, defining one form of English as standard, and identifying only Whites as great writers or composers.
This whole imbroglio got so ridiculous that it prompted one PI columnist to speak out. Largely as a result, the Seattle District "modified" its definitions.
—D. S. Hube is an educator and a member of the National Association of Scholars. He blogs regularly at The Colossus of Rhodey.
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iveseenitall
August 20, 2007 - 10:35 ET by iveseenitallAs all "educators" know, the "reasons" for minority lack of achievement in school include poverty, culture, race, family,predudice, etc. Lack of achievement has "absolutely nothing" to do with making excuses, being lazy, showing disrespect, not studying, taking dope,loving gangsta rap, or hating "white" values and "Western" culture--RIIIGHT!
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
less is more
August 20, 2007 - 10:43 ET by tejanodiablohere in the socialist republic of austin, there is a hue and cry because minority kids have a higher record of punishments and failures .. and this is the fault of the teachers, schools, and 'the system' .. certainly, it isn't the fault of the poor, poor chillum who are still suffering under the heritage of slavery .. it is therefor incumbent upon us to reform our system so that all children are punished together and the scholastic norms are lowered to allow all to pass ..
never look a gift skunk in the tail ..
That's what happens when you
August 20, 2007 - 10:58 ET by ZoneDaiatlasThat's what happens when you keep voting Democrat every election....
It's the Parents
August 20, 2007 - 10:59 ET by mef814I get so tired of reading these writers who blame the system first! Or blame America first. Why don't people understand that it all starts at home. If the parents don't give a s--t about school, then the kids won't give a s --t about school. Instead, we have a liberal writer hellbent on blaming the system first. Hey, lets throw even more money at the problem and that will fix it! Hey, let's show "whitey" how much he's screwing the "people of color".
It's the same tired argument.
media is clueless
August 20, 2007 - 11:00 ET by jondelwicheI can only speak for the MN situation.
Here, the urban schools have a per pupil funding that is often nearly double that of the suburban schools.
Yet, the urban student performs dismally, while the suburban schools do far better.
Yes, the urban schools are largely minority, and the suburban ones are typically not.
It simply confirms that money matters far less than a stable family unit, of which the media continually
refuses to acknowledge. The few brave souls who speak out (i.e. a Cosby) are usually castigated.
This is why the media is so worthless in the here and now.
Never better illustrated here: Now, report after report is surfacing on how bad the 35W bridge was, but that never made it into print when it mattered; Yet, that local USAttorney Rachel Paulose shook up her office staff was continual front page news this summer because it had a favorable political smear to it.
The media's refusal to address true current causes of racial disparities has been going on for decades.
That's why it isn't being solved.
From the
August 20, 2007 - 11:00 ET by TheConservativeChemistFrom the article:
"African American students often speak to adults more as equals than as authority figures, because that's the way many speak with their families.
Many African American students bring particular styles of learning, speaking and behaving with them from home -- and schools are quick to punish those styles. "
I don't care what they bring from their homes as far as how they speak to adults and their "styles" (read: incorrect) ways of speaking and behaving...these are not norms that are "white", they are norms that are crucial for succeeding in our society. Once minorities FINALLY UNDERSTAND THIS, they will be as successful as everyone else (black, white, or other) who is successful.
And I don't care how they speak to adults as equals at home...you do that in school, college, a job, ANYWHERE, and you'll be in trouble or fired...that's the REAL WORLD in our society, not discrimination!
I have loads of friends from ALL races/walks of life who are successful because they speak, act, and behave properly, just like the rest of us "oppressive whiteys"
*sheesh!*
"Yesterday's Communists are Today's Democrats....
Yesterday's Democrats are Today's Republicans..." - An analogy made by *ME*
iveseenitall
August 20, 2007 - 11:25 ET by iveseenitallWhat terrible injuctices the liberals have wrought on "minorities" by lying to them about why they are not succeeding. Sometimes I think the libs just sit around making up new excuses because telling the truth brings people out of the dependency mode brought about through ignorance and fear. The libs live on ignorance and fear (victimization), and then paint themselves as elite "saviors". It's dishonest and disgusting.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
The bitterest irony is how
August 20, 2007 - 19:33 ET by KhyrisThe bitterest irony is how all of these characteristics... respect for elders, hard work, courtesy, ingenuity, individuality, are all dismissed as being an "Uncle Tom" ... somehow giving up your blackness and pandering to whiteness.
And yet if they were widely adopted, they wouldn't be "white" characteristics would they? Because they would be common to all successful people, they would be successful characteristics.
And what exactly is the point of clinging to "blackness," or any other -ness for that matter?
The most disturbing thing that has come from the Al Sharptons and Jesse Jacksons is that somewhere down the line, they managed to convince blacks in america that "Seperate but Equal" was something to strive for... ignoring 100 years of the lesson that seperate is NEVER equal.
Asians are not considered
August 20, 2007 - 11:16 ET by KevroyAsians are not considered 'of color' because they are not 'authentic' enough for the liberals. They can't be labeled 'victims' so they are not seen as true minorities by the Left.
Larry Elder, in his book, "10 Things You Can't Say In America", pointed out that if you go to the main libary in Los Angeles, you will see lots and lots of Latino and Black kids skateboarding outside of the library and goofing off. When you go into the library the place is packed with kids:
With Asian kids.... studying
Wow, where do you start
August 20, 2007 - 11:26 ET by USA4freedomWow, where do you start with something like this.
Can you say vouchers?
Maybe, just maybe, if there were not so.. many Latino that
were here illegally, with no ability with English, no one making them speak
English with every thing in Spanish from adds to the driver’s license test. The
scores would go up.
Maybe, just maybe, if doing “well” in school was not seen as
being “too white”. The scores would go up.
Maybe, just maybe, if there were more responsible Dads, and
less single parent families, (some one to look at homework and go to teachers
meetings). The scores would go up.
Maybe, just maybe, if we thinned out some of the B.S.
classes and worked harder on the real basics. The scores would go up.
Maybe, just maybe, if you stopped promoting students even
when they have sub-standard work (so they won’t feel bad). The scores would go
up.
Maybe, just maybe, if you kicked out the kids that did not
want to learn, and were disrupting classes for the kids that did. The scores
would go up.
Maybe, just maybe, if you could fire sub-standard teachers
for inferior work, as well as give large bonuses to teachers that excel.
One really important point that every liberal wants to make
is as conservatives we “want blacks and others to fail”.
Why????
Does it put one penny in our pocket? (in fact it cost each and every one of
us money). The more people that make good money the more the large tax burden
is spread around.
Does it make life any easier for us politically, no. The
liberals want people dependent on the system to keep their nose above the
water. Keep voting for them and they will keep the crumbs coming.
Liberals are the blacks worse enemy. They are always telling
them the system is stacked against them, you need (us/liberals to save you)
Blacks hurt them selves in the market place, incorrect
English, as a owner you think to your self (if he picks up the phone what will
he say, 1st National Bank, whaatsup?)
Dressing badly, I once had a man walk in to my bar looking
for a job. He had on a dirty sleeveless tee-shirt with a plaid shirt
unbuttoned, about 10 gold chains, hat side ways, holding up his pants with one
hand, with his underwear hanging out and shoes untied. His first line to me
was: Yo, you got a job?
Lack of education. If you want to compete you have to get
schooling.
Before any of you trolls start with me, my best friend is
black, just spent the better part of a week fishing with me. (He was my chief
at my restaurant). My wife’s best
friend is back and was her maid of honor in our wedding.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Asian families....
August 20, 2007 - 11:27 ET by RJhave not demanded that educators change the system to accomodate the ethnic background of their children.
Actually, why doesn't the
August 20, 2007 - 14:43 ET by dscottActually, why doesn't the NEA take any heat for this? Afterall, they are the ones insisting on certain teaching styles and methods. It's strange that in every field of endeavor, those who run the system are responsible for the outcome. Yet, for some reason the NEA is not responsible for the educational outcome regarding people of color?? How can an institution be racist in its implimentation when those who run are PC to the hilt??? It's like saying predominatantly liberal run colleges/universities are sexist because there isn't a 50/50 parity of female vs male deans.
This leaves two most disturbing conclusions: The libs who run both the schools and universities are racist and sexist or they are so incompetent that they are pushing off their failures on others. I don't dispute the stereotype of people of color being called Oreo cookies when they assertively educate themselves, but sometimes stereotypes are also useful in not taking responsibility by those who are in charge. Washington DC schools are a classic example of bad priorities by using a government financed education system as a job's program to create a middle class via the tax rolls instead of educating the kids to become middle class income earners. A person isn't middle class because they are paid middle class wages, they are middle class because they have the attitudes, experience, skills and knowledge to earn middle class wages. This also holds true for the poor and the rich as well. Liberalism always seems to fail in it's group politics because they put the group first and not the means to achievement first.
The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. Marcus Aurelius
Hip Hoppity Hop!
August 20, 2007 - 11:33 ET by MightyMouthWell of course black kids, hispanic kids (and white kids btw) are outside the library while the Asian kids are inside studying.
The Hip Hop culture must continue to thrive!
Cop killin-ho-beatin-rap-talkin men must be raised properly.
Think how many 25c a day third world sweat shop workers would be out of a job if baggy pants were no longer needed.
You conservs just aint hip to da way things is...
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Asians get off their keisters and TRY
August 20, 2007 - 11:46 ET by Six String SpiffThat's a very good point, Kevroy. I have noticed this also. It's a sad fact, but when it come to slef respect, and self discipline, the asians are way ahead of the 'people of color' (That PC term makes me want to PUKE). That is nobody fault but the 'people of color'. Racism is a horse that has been beaten to many deaths. The MSM makes me furious with stories like these surface. Here we have a wealthy news READER telling us to feel sorry for being achievers. As 'Homey T' Clown would say. "I don't THINK SO. Homey don't play that!"
Asians are structured, and RESPECTFUL. Asians are brought up in a society were education is constant, and encouraged. They are taught to be self sufficient. Something you will never hear from a liberal Democrat. Race pimping is rampant in this country thanks to them.
The American Revolution Continued
Asians aren't considered
August 20, 2007 - 11:48 ET by TheConservativeChemistAsians aren't considered minorities by the Left (and have been shown to be discriminated against, with whites, when it comes to affirmative action) because they typically SUCCEED. I guarantee that if they failed at the rates a lot of blacks and hispanics did in the inner cities, they'd be a "protected class" to the Dems.
Also, the Dems lump the Carribbean blacks, who seem by and large to have absolutely NO PROBLEM working hard and succeeding in America, in with the American-born blacks who live in the inner cities that have loads of problems. I wonder how the Carribbean ones feel about that?
"Yesterday's Communists are Today's Democrats....
Yesterday's Democrats are Today's Republicans..." - An analogy made by *ME*
Articulate: For
August 20, 2007 - 13:06 ET by Senior ChiefArticulate:
For American blacks, its derogatory (I still try to fathom the why? and what?!)...For other non-American right-minded blacks, it means eloquent, fluent, smooth-spoken, clear, distinct intelligible- ARTICULATE.
Read a book Read a
August 20, 2007 - 11:34 ET by nicksmith112Read a book
Read a book
Read a mofo book!
More "empowerment" from
August 20, 2007 - 11:50 ET by TheConservativeChemistMore "empowerment" from BET...
(I hope everyone on here knows what I'm talking about here?)
"Yesterday's Communists are Today's Democrats....
Yesterday's Democrats are Today's Republicans..." - An analogy made by *ME*
I commend to all of you the
August 20, 2007 - 11:59 ET by jdhawkI commend to all of you the book by Thomas Sowell, a black man, named, "Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality." Sowell's whole point is that it is the current "civil rights" establishment that is simplistic-all statistical disparities between groups can have only one cause: discrimination. Sowell demonstrates how utterly untenable-and, yes, simplistic-such a suggestion is.
After the civil rights revolution became public policy, many assumed that there would be "statistical equality" between whites, blacks, Hispanics, and Asians in all categories from family income levels to loan-acceptance rates. Needless to say, this did not happen during the heady days of the civil rights revolution. Even in the year 2000, this equality still has yet to occur. The only explanation, according to activists, is systematic racism.
It would be nearly impossible for Americans to believe that - nearly 50 years after the Brown decision - we still live in a systemically racist society, as in this article about, "Kids of Color,". But that is precisely the rhetoric that is force-fed to the American public.
Mr. Sowell, on the other hand, states that discrimination does not explain the statistical variance. For example, Asian-Americans outperform Anglo-Americans on virtually everything from SAT scores to PhDs. Surely no one would claim that American society discriminates against whites in favor of Asians.
We must take other factors into account if we are to explain this mystery. Family size, age, educational courses chosen, and savings rates are just some of the myriad ways that our races distinguish themselves. When we control these factors, there is absolutely no divergence between the races. An African-American male and an Asian-American male of the same age, with the same education, in the same occupational field earn the same amount of money. The same is true of Hispanic men and white men. Incredibly, these statistics have been consistent since the 1960s when America was still supposedly a "racist" country.
It's funny that these
August 20, 2007 - 12:17 ET by Dave659It's funny that these implicit suggestions of racism are made against institutions like urban school districts where leftist ideology reigns and administrators are very often people "of color."
Right on
August 20, 2007 - 12:51 ET by iveseenitallRight on, jdhawk. Dr. Sowell is one of my heroes. I'm white, he's black --Go figure.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
I agree. Same with the
August 20, 2007 - 14:13 ET by TheConservativeChemistI agree. Same with the MSM, always being accused of, for instance, focusing 24/7 on the disppearance of a white teenage girl (like Natalie Holloway or JonBenet Ramsey) yet virtually ignoring any similarly aged/situation minority person. Yet the MSM is run by lefties...oh the irony.
I'm sure we could come up with numerous other examples of leftist hypocrisy (it sure isn't hard to!)
"Yesterday's Communists are Today's Democrats....
Yesterday's Democrats are Today's Republicans..." - An analogy made by *ME*
Skin color and money has
August 20, 2007 - 12:49 ET by Senior ChiefSkin color and money has got nothing to do with educational achievement. My twin girls has been in five different schools in four different geographical locations- including military-run school overseas, an "all-white" school in the North East, and an almost international color school where we at now. We are of colored people, but Staright A's in advanced classes are not giveaways, and its not hard to get either. Its called determination and hard work!
Being L-A-Z-Y, and parents condoning laziness is a sure way for failure...
Fed up with the handwringing....
August 20, 2007 - 12:49 ET by BrillianceCall me crazy (or racist), but I don't really give a crap if black kids "succeed" in our society - in fact, I find myself pulling for them to continue down the path that they are on.
Why should I pull for black youths to succeed?
Is it so that more of them can carry their appauling level of racism into the professional workplace instead of into McDonalds?
As far as minorities voting Republican, forget about it, no amount of moral scruples trumps free goodies from the government.
I see alot of black churches filled with participants singing the praises of Jesus, who can't wait for election day so they can pencil in a vote for a democrat candidate who tries to remove God from every facet of American society - all the while making sure abortion stays legal so that as many babies as possible can be killed, and who by the way promote at every opportunity the spectre of uninhibited gay "marriages".
Way to go there black folks! (sarcasm)
Like I said, nothing trumps free goodies from the government.
Sorry for the disorganization, am in hurry, got to go.
Libs
August 20, 2007 - 15:56 ET by iveseenitallThe liberals are right. If Dr.Condi Rice: linguist,pianist,scholar,diplomat,educator were truly "black", she'd be a brilliant, accomplished woman. Trying to be "white' is what has stopped her.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
Most conservatives I know
August 20, 2007 - 13:10 ET by Jack BauerMost conservatives I know are all for all children being able to succeed in society through hard work and respect for others.
There's nothing wrong with that... so why would I/we not want that for black kids as well.
Washington DC teacher
August 20, 2007 - 13:40 ET by Roger the ShrubberWashington DC teacher salaries= #1 in the country.
Washington DC classroom size = #5 in the country.
Washington DC spending per student = #1 in the country.
You'd think DC would have the best students, right? Riiiiight.
Also, here is a story from an ultra-right-wing newspaper.
I haven't read all of the
August 20, 2007 - 22:07 ET by MikeBI haven't read all of the comments on this thread yet, so if I repeat a point, mia culpa.
Brown vs Board of Education of Topeka was decided in 1954 (that was 53 years ago for those who were educated in Public schools). That decision held that "separate but equal" was unconstitutional. Court ordered bussing was started in the early 60s. So, for over 40 years black kids and hispanic kids and white kids and Asian kids all went to the same schools and were in the same rooms taught by the same teachers. If after all that, blacks and hispanics can't make the grade while white kids and Asian kids can, it's their own damn fault. Perhaps if trying to make good grades wasn't derided as "acting white" then "students of color" might do better in schools, colleges, and business. Consider Walter Williams, Dr. Thomas Sowell, Bill Cosby, Condoleza Rice and other successful black people. How did they become successful? Hint: it wasn't by whining about how Whitey was keeping them down. Successful people, no matter their race, are successful because they worked for it, not because some liberal handed them anything.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan