African Americans and the School System

African Americans and the School System

Introduction

The education of African American children, especially the male, offers unique consideration. The African American male is disproportionately labeled mentally retarded and placed in special classes and the recipient of corporal punishment than their European American counterparts. Demographics indicate that African American males have greater disparities in education than do the majority of the population. The effective and equitable education of this special population warrants both pre-and inservice training. old beliefs and value systems must be replaced with new productive ideas and strategies. When educators are aware of the unique factors that are involved in the education of the African American males not only will this unique group benefit, but society as a whole will realize the benefits.

Historically, the American educational setting has rarely been effective in educating African American especially males. The emphasis of traditional education has been on molding and shaping these children so they fit into an educational process designed for children of another race or class. The system is not working because educators have low expectations of some students. The system is not working because the curriculum does not reflect cultures of African Americans. The system is not working because of the incompatible number of minority children who are labeled mentally retarded and placed in special classes. The system is not working because of the disproportionate number of these children who are being suspended, expelled, and pushed out of schools(Hale-Benson, 1982). For there to be change in this ineffective system both prospective and practicing educators must become aware of the specific concern required for the education of these children.

African American males are losing in their efforts to grow and survive in the United States. Statistics indicate that African American males are suffering the most acute reactions from the inadequacies resultant from living in America. African American males show greater disparities m education when compared to European American groups. For many African American males, it is a nightmare to live m America. This crisis must be addressed and resolved to ensure a better society (Gill, 1991).

There is shameful inadequacy of many urban public schools in predominantly minority neighborhoods, and the incontrovertible fact that African Americans are too often not given educational preparation for adult life as well as that received by European Americans (Ascher, 1991). According to Ascher (1985) many educators believe that current organizations and practices may themselves contribute to the critical and unique problems suffered by African American males as adults. Public schools with insufficient resources, racially biased management practices, and unconsciously prejudiced teachers, all reinforce and even intensify the disadvantages of African American males (Ascher, 1991). Oakes (1985) indicated that schools in poor minority neighborhoods tend to have more inferior prepared and less experienced teachers, fewer higher level mathematics, science, and language courses; and a lack of computers, laboratory and other equipment, compared to schools serving predominantly non-minority students.

Gill (1991) states that African Americans in public schools remain largely isolated and ...