Apologies

jackedUPjazz

It is with profound regret, a deep sense of grief and tremendous remorse that I must announce that a public service that each of you has come to rely upon me to deliver each year at this time will not come to pass this year

Yes, I hope you are sitting down when you read this because the unthinkable is now a reality that each of us must deal with in their own way

I know to many of you that this is the equivalent of canceling Christmas but It simply cannot be helped and each of you will have to cope with the fact that
Black by popular demand will not be rendered this year

As difficult as it may be, each of you must go on with your lives as best you can

My deep regrets to you and may the warm memories of Black by Popular Demands of the past carry you forth into the future.

Besides the warm ups were starting to be better than the main event

mommio

Black history month started here, not with a celebration of black history, but with more discussion of the horrific dropout rate of black (or African-American, if you prefer) males in our public school system. Fifty percent. That is horrible! A local radio program has been addressing this issue for weeks now, but no one seems to come up with solutions. Some blame busing (originally for integration, ruled unconstitutional in 2007, now for economic diversity), some blame teachers, some blame the Feds and their regulations, some blame the lack of parental involvement (because many parents don't have the transportation to those distant schools), some blame what welfare has done to the black family structure.

I don't have answers, either, but I sure wish we would start looking at how to encourage achievement instead of always blaming. There are certainly plenty of black people who can be role models for having successful families, for getting that high school diploma and beyond, for being productive citizens in their communities, for having high moral values and ideals AND living up to them.

Okay, nuff said.

jackedUPjazz

Glad to see that you get it mommio

Black male/female under achievement is yet another myth perpetuated by DA MAN

But rather than focusing on the ones that create problems maybe we can begin to focus on kids that show up ready to learn and keep theirs mouths shut and their butts in the seats until requested to do otherwise.

If you really want to improve graduation rates promise free BMWs and iPods for everybody that makes it to the ceremony.

America is a nation of incentives and disincentives and right now there is a perceived premium paid for ignorance.

Yeah, nuff said

Dr. Mutex

If you want to know why public education is failing, watch New Jersey governor Chris Christie's address at The Foundation for Excellence in Education. It's well worth your while to watch this man firmly grasp the third rail and tell it like it is.

Katrina

JUJ, I am glad I was sitting down. Thank you for the links to the ghosts of BPDs past.

Mutex, that was an interesting speech and confirmed what I already thought - the school admin around here is ridiculously overpaid. Here in the KC area superindentents make around 1/4 million per year and don't even have to buy their own car. I don't think they get free health insurance for life - yet.