Posted on 04/24/2005 8:54:42 AM PDT by sirthomasthemore
City schools have a discipline problem, but it's not necessarily about cursing out the teachers, smoking in the bathrooms or brawling in the halls. It's about race. (Edit)
* Though black students made up about a quarter of school enrollment, they received nearly two-thirds of suspensions each year. (Edit)
* More black females were suspended each year than white males, even though education researchers say that boys are much more likely to engage in disruptive behavior.
* Black males accounted for nearly half of suspensions each year, more than white and Hispanic students combined. They also received multiple suspensions more than their classmates.
"I think they look at us like a threat," Courtney Carmichael... said... "I don't think they think they can handle us."
(Excerpt) Read more at stamfordadvocate.com ...
As a kid, I attended Cornell. Frankly, I am not Ivy League “smart”; I think I was accepted because I was well-rounded and probably fulfilled an Italo-American quota. I came from a poor neighborhood, predominantly black, and received a full scholarship.
As a freshman, the smartest guy on the freshman dorm was “Dwight”- a diminutive, jovial genius, who was Black. Amongst white students who had perfect GPA’s and near 1600 SAT scores, Dwight was “the man” -incessantly imposed upon by white students, who sought his tutelage because Dwight was “acing” every test in every subject.
My entre and acceptance into the Cornell Black community was the fact that I was a reasonably talented athlete- jokingly referred to as the “token cracker” on an all Black intramural basketball team-where I was starting point guard and captain- on this team that could probably have defeated the inept Cornell varsity. The great thing about athletics is there is no “affirmative action” or racism- you play by a set of rigid rules, and if you have “game” you succeed, and if not, you are caste to the wind.
Dwight and I became best friends. So I have first hand knowledge of the tragedy that befell him. By his sophomore year, Dwight flunked out- How did that happen?
Simple. The majority of Black students, unionized in the Black Studies Program, probably did not belong at Cornell and did not academically achieve. And so, ipso facto, the school and professors were racist. However, the Black Studies Program had one problem- how to explain the success of black students such as Dwight.
The solution. Dwight became ostracized by the Black community. Ostracism and non-acceptance by ones’ peers is a heavy burden on a teenager. Given the choice between the two, ostracism and acceptance, Dwight ultimately, and perhaps understandably, succumbed to the later. His study habits fell off, and soon it was partying and drugs- and the expulsion.
I loved Dwight, and can still see him at his freshman desk- all organized with perfection, every pencil in a mug, each sharpened to a fine point. I most of all remember his jovial nature, and his incredible disposition, his sterling character, and his laugh that filled a room, and of course, his infinite patience in tutoring those less gifted.
White racism did not undo Dwight- black racism did. I’ve lost touch with him, and can only pray, that away from the Jesse Jackson crowd- his innate genius ultimately willed out- and that he is sucessful and happy today.
Wow. Quite an anecdote.
I noted a curious manipulation of data in the article.
It found racism because black girls were suspended more than white boys "even though education researchers say that boys are much more likely to engage in disruptive behavior."
But then it went out to note that black boys account for 50% of suspensions, et al.
In short, it used a mixed category of "boys" for one point and then "black girls" and "white boys" for another.
Gee, could it be the "black boys" weight the general "boys" category?
Rather pathetic manipulation.
I have no idea if there is racism at work or not, but they need to not play games with the data.
One of my roommates was valedictorian of a graduating class of 2,000 at New Trier HS in Chicago. Like Dwight, Ron was very bright. But he had never experienced women, booze or poker. He flunked out after two years. (Later, he got his doctorate in biomedical engineering. I hope Dwight had a similar experience.)
On the article published above, the higher disciplinary rates for black students proves NOTHING about racism. Blacks are more likely to commit crimes as adults and wind up in prison. It is no surprise that they are also more likely to get into disciplinary trouble as school students.
Congressman Billybob
Wasn't it Mark Twain who said something about "Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics."?
Entirely in line with the FBI's stats that show black youths -- 6% of the population -- commit 65% of all violent crime in the US ("Screech! Racism!!").
Not only did this take a seat from a white or asian applicant, it eventually harmed the black student who failed or got a substandard (for UC) education.
If they'd become homosexuals, they'd just sail through school. Special counselors and programs would be at their disposal; they'd even get their very own celebratory day, flag, and parade.
It's a LA TIMES NEWSPAPER. Need I say more. :)
Not valid since the study didn't distinquish black males vs white males. It just stated the generalization of "boys."
Several whites interviewed refused to speak on the record, fearing their comments would be misconstrued and they would be labeled racist.
Gee, can you blame them?
Blacks make up less than a tenth of Connecticut's population, but are nearly half of the prison population, according to a 2002 study by Human Rights Watch....Should the differences in suspensions between blacks and their classmates endure, black students will continue to miss opportunities, many of those interviewed said. Too often, they said, prison becomes the out-of-school suspension of adulthood.
Ok, and who's fault is that? The white students? I think not. How about putting the blame where it belongs - on the black community. What's the ratio of suspensions to two parent families? How about comparing the parental involvment? It doesn't take a huge paycheck to be an involved parent so the argument about poverty doesn't fly. How about comparing black vs white teen gang membership? The black community as a whole advocates gangs or at least they're not setting proper parental expamples for their children not to join gangs, cause trouble, and end up in prison.
Ah, you posted the same as I was typing. This is a biased study.
I suspect that the high numbers of black females being expelled is the a result of them exhibiting some sort of identity crisis on their peers. I look at Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, etc. and can't help but think of what Dr. Martin L. King would have thought of these characters. They are nothing more than racial charlatans loosely veiled as spiritual leaders.
Black America is becoming more affluent by the year, I suspect that eventually the black community will reach an epiphany, and become even more conservative than whites. I hope I live to see it.
Billy,
Tell that to the Blue State Supreme Court, that is holding up death sentences, because Death Row inmates are "disportionately" Black.
Now, possibly racism is at the core. But, given that CT is probably the most liberal state in the union, and is now the first State to legislatively inact civil marriages, from where does that racism stem? Dem Liberals like Dodd, Lieberman, and Shays?
Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply with justice and force: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
- Autobiography of Mark Twain
Link?
Food for thought. Thanks.
In my sons' school (all boys, selective) there are 40 boys in 7th grade. None of the black boys earns highest honors for academics, and they are overwhelmingly represented for demerits and detentions.
Yes, a couple of them are inner-city single parent kids. But the others are suburban, married parent families (though no stay at home moms). Why is their behavior worse? I have thought about this, because I think it is a terrible lesson for my boys.
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