As
parents, families and communities are preparing for "Back to School"
sales and special programs, it is critically urgent once again to raise the
question about the quality of the education of Black children in America, as
well as the quality of education for all children. No disrespect is intended to anyone, but the sheer realty
that Black children have the highest school drop rates and the lowest scores on
various national and regional standardized academic achievement tests demands
that Black parents and others speak out, mobilize and take a stronger stance
concerning establishing more effective educational options that will provide
the highest quality education for Black children.
Dr.
Carter G. Woodson's classic book, The Mis-Education of the Negro, first
published in 1933 has particular relevance for more than 45 million Black
Americans across the United States today in 2011. Dr. Woodson was very critical of the educational system in
the United States because it systematically denied Black children a quality
education inclusive of a truthful and accurate history of Black people in
America and throughout the world. If Dr. Woodson were alive today, he would be even more angry and
disgusted with the severe punitive magnitude and gross disservice that the
current traditional school system has done to Black students and families. Black parents especially today have to
move to the forefront to demand more options and alternatives to the many
failed school systems across the nation.
Black
people have not failed the school systems of today. But it is an irrefutable fact that the majority of the
current traditional school systems have failed Black Americans. Black parental responsibility first and
foremost is to establish and secure the highest quality education for Black
children. Without apology Black
parents cannot afford to permit the education interests of our children to be
triage by those who have become complacent and implicated in this massive
education crisis. This is the
civil rights issue that should be at the top of the agenda of all our national,
regional and local organizations. Simply put, there is nothing more important than the education of our
children.
The
following are two organizations that are providing a clear delineation of
viable options for Black parents and others concerning how to establish, fund
and maintain a more effective educational experience for school children. The mission the Black Alliance for
Educational Options (BAEO) is to increase access to high-quality educational
options for Black children by actively supporting parental choice policies and
programs that empower low-income and working-class Black families. The mission of the National Alliance
for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) to lead public education to unprecedented
levels of academic achievement for all students by fostering a strong charter
sector. Both BAEO and the NAPCS
are committed to advance the public and legislative awareness and support for
providing real opportunities for parents who want the best educational
experience for their children.
The good
news is that African American awareness that charter schools are in fact
"public" schools is on an increase nationwide thanks to the efforts
of BAEO and NAPCS. A recent poll
by Gallup revealed that seven out of 10 Americans now support public charter
schools. Not all charter schools
are equal. The important here is
that there are some high achieving public charter schools in the nation that
are doing and excellent job in educating Black children. Those are the types of
public charter schools that need to be replicated and established across the
nation. The Black community needs
success models that provide accountable solutions to the educational crisis
concerning Black and other under-served communities.
Black
legislators in numerous states are now proposing public charter school laws in
response to this civil rights education issue. We need remedies and solutions that have a proven track
record of academic success and progress. It is encouraging to witness a growing
movement that is gaining momentum for parental choice. The effectiveness of the Civil Rights
Movement going forward will continue to be contingent on a strong grass roots
base. Black parents are
increasingly taking the lead in renewing this movement for educational change.
The call
to action is to ignite a massive grass roots effort and movement to demand the
highest quality education for all children, but in particular for Black
children who have suffered the most from the failures of the traditional school
systems. Let's decide that we all
will become involved. Let's put the interests of our children's education
first. Now is the time to rise up
and make a difference. Let's act
together and work harder because our children deserve the best education.
Dr.
Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. Is Senior Advisor to the Black Alliance for Educational
Options (BAEO) and President of Educational Online Services Corporation.
