London: Summit on black pupils' results 'crisis'

BBC News On-Line ^ | May 10, 2003 | staff writer

[yankeedame]

10 May, 2003

Summit on black pupils' results 'crisis'

Black Caribbean pupils did worse than other black students

A conference is taking place in London to examine the reasons why black pupils, on average, do not perform as well as children from other ethnic groups.

Black children of Caribbean origin achieved the worst results in GCSE exams in England last summer.

Speakers at Saturday's conference include the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, Trevor Phillips, and the Education Minister, Stephen Twigg.

Mr Phillips said children from Afro-Caribbean families were failing to reach their potential.

We're facing a serious and chronic crisis

Trevor Phillips Commission for Racial Equality

Action urged for black pupils He said: "They are the only group where the actual level of performance relative to the average declines during their school career.

"Most children get better relative to the average, but Afro-Caribbean children actually get worse.

"That's why we're facing a serious and chronic crisis."

A breakdown of last summer's GCSE results in England was published last month - the first time statistics showed pass-rates across ethnic groups.

They demonstrated that only 30% of black students of Caribbean origin achieved five good GCSE passes.

The best performing ethnic group was the Chinese, with 73%. White pupils were at 51%.

[Democrap]

A conference is taking place in London to examine the reasons why black pupils, on average, do not perform as well as children from other ethnic groups.

That's easy! White American Males are responsible.

[Mister Baredog]

A conference is taking place in London to examine the reasons why black pupils, on average, do not perform as well as children from other ethnic groups.

Maybe it's because Clintoon fathered half of them?

[Travis McGee]

It's just the lasting legacy of slavery, colonialism and imperialism.

It's all whitey's fault.

[Bronzewound]

Just curious...what's the deal with that kid's fingers? My knuckles won't bend that far in the right direction!

[TheWillardHotel]

Here are some radical ideas

1) Turn off the television.
2) Don't dress yourself and your kids like medieval clowns.
3) Faithful marriages.
4) Respect for God and Country.
5) Loving mother, and hardworking father.
6) A dedication and commitment to excellence.
5) DISCIPLINE!

[facedown]

Way too uncomplicated and doesn't require government largesse.

[blam]

It's those darn Chinese that make everyone look bad. <>

[WOSG]

"Mr Phillips said children from Afro-Caribbean families were failing to reach their potential. "

Is that true? Are they on average as high in aptitude as kids of other backgrounds? I find it hard to believe that it is solely due to miseducation. Or that the level of 'miseducation' is that drastic between races. We've been there in the US. People try to 'fix' the lowest scoring groups. but the gaps are hard to overcome.


And how much of this is artifact of statistics ...

" Crisis in education: Half of children score below average on scores"

[Pukka Puck]

"A conference is taking place in London to examine the reasons why black pupils, on average, do not perform as well as children from other ethnic groups."

They will look at every reason, except the obvious one. They will finally decide that it is the fault of the white man.

[Pukka Puck]

"Mr Phillips said children from Afro-Caribbean families were failing to reach their potential."

Or perhaps they have a lower average potential.

[Pukka Puck]

2) Don't dress yourself and your kids like medieval "clowns. "

LOL!

[Drew68]

Or perhaps they have a lower average potential.

To even suggest that in Britain --even in jest, would be criminal.

To suggest that here would elicit cries of "Go back to your Klan meetings!"

Some theories are considered so off-limits and heretical that they are never spoken about in polite company. This is one example.

[neither-nor]

"Most children get better relative to the average, but Afro-Caribbean children actually get worse"7

Can someone please enlighten me on this statment. How do most children get better relative to the average, or for that matter how do most people in a group get better than the average?? I mean, isn't the average in this case the sum of exam marks/grades divided by the number of students? So if many students do better, the average goes up doesnt it?

Or is this an average established not for a particular class, but over several classes and years?

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

You are right!

[Praxeas]

I just looked in the mirror, and - oh my God! My pupils are black!

[rogue yam]

"They are the only group where the actual level of performance relative to the average declines during their school career.

"Most children get better relative to the average, but Afro-Caribbean children actually get worse.

"That's why we're facing a serious and chronic crisis."

Help me out here folks. Is it possible for each sub-group's performance to simultaneously improve relative to the average of all groups? It seems that if some are rising with respect to the average then some must fall. Or else eventually everyone will be above average. That only happens in Minnesota.

[yankeedame]

They will look at every reason, except the obvious one. They will finally decide that it is the fault of the white man.

...and that more money is needed.