Our children don't fail due to racism, says black academic

The Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 23/09/10 | James Slack

[sussex]

Black children fail at school because they do not concentrate, not because they are the victims of ‘institutional racism’, a leading black academic claims today. Tony Sewell, the son of Caribbean migrants, attacks the view that black pupils are held back by teachers who see them as ‘miniature gangster rappers’.

[SkyPilot]

He writes: ‘What we now see in schools is children undermined by poor parenting, peer-group pressure and an inability to be responsible for their own behaviour. They are not subjects of institutional racism. ‘They have failed their GCSEs because they did not do the homethe-work, did not pay attention and were disrespectful to their teachers.'

Tony Sewell will be accused of........wait for it........RACISM!

[SkyPilot]

However, he also writes: ‘I believe black underachievement is due to the low expectations of school leaders, who do not want to be seen as racist and who position black boys as victims.’

[allmost]

I've spent years in public schools. Black principles allowing the basketball team to smoke weed etc. It's %$#^ed up. The rascism is rampant. It's not white on black.

[fivecatsandadog]

Well how about that. Someone who sees the real problem. And I totally agree with him. A lot of kids (of all colors) are too busy thumbing their way through the day (i.e. texting) and night, one-upping each other via clothes, cars, gadgets; and looking at their parents as tickets for more of the above. In addition, a lot of parents are too busy thumbing their way through the day, one-upping each other via clothes, cars, gadgets, etc. and looking at the rest of us as tickets to gain more of the above (”why should I look for a job? I’m better off collecting unemployment and welfare and sitting on my a$$”).

[The Duke]

It’s cultural.

[Paradox]

I've spent years in public schools. Black principles allowing the basketball team to smoke weed etc. It's %$#^ed up. The rascism is rampant. It's not white on black.

I've seen it both ways. White principals who want to be "cool", allowing black student athletes alot of slack. On the other hand, the principal at my childrens current school is a no-nonsense kind of guy who doesn't let ANYONE, including parents, get away with any BS.

[allmost]

Straight shot, equanimity, is a valuable thing. You and your children are fortunate IMO.

[Venturer]

This guy knows the score, but he will face condemnation for stating it.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Claiming that black children don’t fail due to racism is RACIST.

[EnigmaticAnomaly]

"Black children fail at school because they do not concentrate, not because they are the victims of ‘institutional racism’"

AMEN! As an educator in an inner-city public school, it is refreshing to finally see someone have the GONADS to speak the truth! Contrary to popular belief, most students fail due to lack of PARENTAL GUIDANCE, lack of RESPONSIBILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY, & lack of support from ADMINISTRATORS.

[Clara Lou]

I teach English and social studies at a public middle school. In one class, I had 3 black boys who visited, snickered, laughed, whispered, talked, no matter where I put them in the room, no matter what I did in any other way. I called the mom of the one with the most to lose academically and asked her if she would agree to his being moved into a class away from the other two— into a MUCH better behaved class. She agreed over the phone, no problem. Then she called the counselor and withdrew him.

Go figure.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I wonder why he’s identified there as “Churchgoer: Tony Sewell”?

[libertylover]

I've heard a few blacks complain that their children don't achieve because of peer pressure. To the children it's seen as not cool, i.e., "too white" to achieve academically.

[Mr. Jazzy]

Because in England, being a “Church goer” makes him a member of an extremely small and diminishing group, that is looked upon by their media as “ignorant” and comical.

Not like here in the States where he would be considered, ahhh..., wait a second!?!?

[17th Miss Regt]

Tony Sewell? Sounds like Britain’s version of Thomas Sowell.

[Gabrial]

“It’s cultural.”

Over 70% of black children are born out of wedlock. Without a loving father in the home, these kids are highly disadvantaged.

[exhaustguy]

Remember the Obama tape with the African American boys dressed in fatigues (Obama Youth Fraternity Regiment) stating that they can do anything (be an architect, engineer etc).

I wanted to ask them what are they going to do to make that dream a reality. Are they willing to do 2-3 hours of homework a night in Middle School (probably High School but we are not there yet) to make that dream a reality? My daughters are and are doing that right now.

[jch10]

Mr. Sewell should start way before 11 or 12. The nurturing, or lack of, before age 4, determines a child’s interest, love of learning, etc.....IMO.

[struggle]

>Over 70% of black children are born out of wedlock. Without a loving father in the home, these kids are highly disadvantaged.

That plus the fact that television has already given black males 3 career choices: rapper, athlete, or drug-dealing criminal (or a combination of the three). Hollywood is actually to blame for the racism that it frequently blames society for.