Why Are Black Students Lagging?

New York Times | 11/29/02 | FELICIA R. LEE

[glc1173@aol.com]

"She noted that while Professor Ogbu called most of the black families in the district middle class, 10 to 12 percent live in poverty." (New York Times)

That only means that 88-90% of black kids in the Shaker Heights school system are from middle-class or even rich families!

It's time - especially in rather-affluent suburbs like Shaker Heights - to put liberal ideology aside and admit that poverty doesn't explain why so many black kids do so poorly in even schools in affluent liberal suburbs like Shaker Heights.

Shaker Heights does have a "changing neighborhood" problem on its west end and on its south side - but of economic status, not of race; these areas are sliding from middle-class mixed-race to poor mixed-race. But there just aren't enough black kids in poverty in that suburb to explain the reality by poverty.

[Tripleplay]

In Detroit, Michigan:

The mayor is black.

The city council is all black.

The school superintendent is black.

The school administers are black.

The majority of the teachers are black.

Change the process if you don't like the current result.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

"I believe, based on my own research, that the center of gravity lies with the school system," she said.

Of course. Blame someone or something else. That's the time tested approach we've all come to know and love.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

The truth is not important if it makes one uncomfortable.

[Johnny Shear]

That's not a personal attack, it is not racism, it is the facts.

If it is a "Fact", prove it. Cite an example.

[Fzob]

She noted that while Professor Ogbu called most of the black families in the district middle class, 10 to 12 percent live in poverty.

The old poverty causes poor academic performance ruse. I wonder how many white people are live in poverty in this area. I'll bet it's a similar percentage of the population.

My personal opinion in this matter is that all to often black students expect to be given decent grades because they exist and show up. This is a attitude society has been reinforcing for thirty years and it is the nature of man to take the easy academic path, so when it's available many do just that. There is no need, hence no desire to acheive for far too many students in general.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Forget college atheletes...look where it really matters. The NBA and NFL.

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[mhking]

I would not hesitate to admit my "intellectually inferiority" to Thomas Sowell, an economist, columnist and author whom I greatly admire. To acknowledge the existence (and social significance) of group differences does not make one a racist.

Absolutely, I'd acknowledge a difference; but I'd insist that that a large part of that difference comes from the lack of emphasis placed and reenforced in many black households, upon the sheer value of education.

Plenty talk a good game, but how many follow through? We demand excellence from our children because they have shown that they are capable of it. We insist on our kids learning what is on the standardized examinations as opposed to constant "feel good" educational pablum.

As a result, I'm sure that our children are better prepared from day one for the standardized examinations, higher education; and I'd dare say would show higher on an IQ exam than their peers.

In the eyes of some, my wife and I are just as "guilty" as Murray and others who acknowledge that there is a difference. My view is that if you know there is a potential problem, then it is incumbent to work on eliminating that difference. That helped my wife and I as youngsters, and I insist that it helps our children the same way.

[DCPatriot]

"...That segment of society will always stay where they are because they refuse to overcome their problems, choosing to stay where they are and blame others for their problems. That's not a personal attack, it is not racism, it is the facts."

Like the Democratic Party leadership? ;^)

[xJones]

Absolutely, I'd acknowledge a difference; but I'd insist that that a large part of that difference comes from the lack of emphasis placed and reenforced in many black households, upon the sheer value of education.

That is the biggest part of it, the family influence. I did a study once on Korean children, why they do so well academically in the U.S. It's the family. Education is highly valued in Korean tradition, it was the way to get ahead for the entire family. The children are expected to do well in school, no excuses. And they out-perform whites and blacks in this country because of their traditional family values.

[RocketJsqurl]

Reason: The left wants to keep them dumb,dependant and Democratic

[ladylib]

There is a black minority school in Jersey City, NJ, that is the highest rated high school in my state. We have excellent suburban high schools, but this one beats them all. They have a 100% graduation rate, high SATs (in fact I think last year's were higher than those in by Blue Ribbon affluent suburban school district), 96% of them go to good four year colleges, 3 percent go to two-year colleges. Every student last year passed the school exit exam. You have to take an entrance test to get in.

[Jim Noble]

>>My personal opinion in this matter is that all to often black students expect to be given decent grades because they exist and show up. This is a attitude society has been reinforcing for thirty years and it is the nature of man to take the easy academic path, so when it's available many do just that<<

In affluent public schools all over America, this is a problem, for white kids as well as blacks.

[Fzob]

Mr. Ferguson speculated that what Professor Ogbu saw was a clumsy attempt by black students to search for a comfortable racial identity. "What does it mean to be black?" he said. "What does it mean to be white? The community needs to help kids make sense of their own identity."

Perhaps some kind Freeper can help me understand this thinking. As I kid I never thought what does it mean to be white. Why would I? I was a poor white kid living on welfare that never thought for an instant my skin color had anything to do with who or what I am or what is my potential. Nor have I ever thought I needed to act white. What ever that means

Why would a black kid wonder what it means to be black? Who thinks up this nonsense? What value is there is framing your world in this way? Why is there a need to deconstruct your identity in terms of skin color?

[Nataku X]

I never wondered what it meant to be white, either, until I went to my first grad computer science class and found out that I stuck out like a sore eye in a sea of Indians.

[cynicom]

Why is there a need???? The only need is a political one. The socialists use them and far too many of them are willing to go along with the program. I grew up in poverty, no welfare.