Bridging the educational gap
We are frequently reminded of the three-year gap between Black and white students in the school system. There are many who love to believe that such is attributable to income, fatherlessness, academic background of the parent, and lack of parental involvement. But it is my personal belief that a major cause of this gap is that we continue to close schools for the summer thereby treating education like an agrarian economy.
If you multiply three months by 12 years we will arrive at the reason for the three-year gap. We need to keep our youths academically engaged during the summer.
Parents who value education enroll their children in some type of academic experience during the summer. They visit libraries, museums, zoos and open houses for colleges and universities. Other parents allow their children to sleep longer, play more video games, watch more television and play basketball until they cannot see the hoop. These students will have to review the same work they had mastered in May in September.
Black parents cannot allow their children to lose three months every year. They cannot say they are not available and cannot afford the library. It’s free and open with extended hours. Most museums have discounted days.
Recently, a friend shared his experience with me when he took his family to the
Museum. He wondered why so many people were staring at him; his wife and children had to tell him that he was in the minority being the only Black person in the building.
I am appealing to every father to take his child/children this summer to the library, museum, and the zoo. I am also appealing to every mother, that if he does not then you will.
Parents should ensure that their children read at least one book every week or two, and then verbally relate (quasi book report) what they have read to the parent(s). Here, my memory is aroused and I am reminded of the formula Sonya Cars used to develop her son Ben Carson to become the best pediatric neurosurgeon. This low-income single parent, possessing only a third grade education, yet had enough sense to tell her son to turn off the television, read a book and write a report that her sister would grade.
Permit me to proffer a theory that I can enter any home and within five minutes tell you the type of student who lives there, and in addition (not an extra) predict their future. I know for a fact that engineers, doctors, lawyers, accountants and other professionals need different items in their house than ballplayers, rappers, and criminals.
I become very concerned when I visit a house that has more CDs and downloads than books. Research shows one of the major reasons boys dislike reading is because of the content. There are books with suitable content for boys, but then again it requires looking…
Enjoy your summer. Let’s close the gap. I look forward to your child’s teacher asking your child: “What did you do for the summer?”
And your child responding with fervor: “We went to the library, museum, zoo, colleges and other great educational places.”
