Letters to the Editor

RE:  A Successful Model:

While, I agree with the viewpoint that teacher quality is a crucial factor in the educational success of African American children, I want to emphasize the importance of teachers that are a racial reflection of their students which can contribute even more so to their educational achievement.  While an excellent educational experience can be provided by a teacher of non African decent, it is the deliverance of an education from a quality African American teacher that liberates the minds of our young African American children.  It’s the cultural experiences that African American teachers bring to the classroom that allows them to connect with our children and aid in their development about the real world. 

As evidenced by the ruling of Brown vs. The Board of Education, it is apparent that integration of the public school system was detrimental to our educational progress.  This is in part due to the infrastructure being designed to teach from a European perspective. As a result Black History was marginalized, and hence our children were not educated about all the great contributions our ancestors have bestowed upon the world.  Consequently, African American children did not develop an understanding of their ancestors’ place nor their place in this world as great leaders.  So, just to qualify the sentiment regarding teacher quality, I assert that outstanding African American teachers are of the utmost importance in furthering the academic achievement African American children. 

While the success many charter schools have made toward closing the achievement gap is worthy of acknowledgment and applause, student achievement on standardized tests is not a great barometer of a student’s development or capabilities. I ask the question, what is great educational success worth, if one does not know how to apply the knowledge gained to help his people?  

 The real victory comes when a young African American student can graduate from an elementary or high school program and enter an institution of higher education with a solid foundation in knowing their education must be used to help uplift their people in the struggle.   Often times this enlightenment is simply achieved by quality African American teachers in the classroom.  More often than not, it’s an African American teacher that develops our children’s consciousness, confidence and character and simply not a charter school with a program that focuses heavily on standardized test performance.

 Great charter schools and other independent educational institutions are those that can balance development of many of our children’s abilities and curiosities while maintaining a focus on standardized test proficiency.   African Centered Schools such as the Betty Shabazz Academy in Chicago is a great example of one such institution.  Also, the quasi-African Centered World History teachings and cultural norms at Smith Leadership Academy is another great example of such a program.  Institutions such as these maintain a balance of academic excellence while teaching knowledge of self that equally assists in catapulting the trajectory of African American student achievement.