For over two years I have taught reading and math classes for grades ranging from K-5th in East Saint Louis Illinois. All my students are black. Just this month I have been given the bird several times (behind my back, I have teacher vision), been called a cracker, heard “I hate white people!” echoing from the hallway of my classroom twice, and had one student throw a book on the floor, storm out of class and called me a derogatory word. There are good days and bad. All my students are different by nature. Some of them like me, others not so much. They are all very talented, and have unlimited potential.
Literacy Scores
I recently administered approximately 40 literacy assessments for my upcoming
reading class. The assessment covers reading fluency and comprehension. I had a 4th grade boy who could not read a word, a 3rd grade girl who has the literacy level of a kindergartener, a 5th grade boy who read a passage as fluently as William Shakespeare but did not get a single comprehension question correct, and another 3rd grader who read seven words in one minute. While many are parading and protesting the streets that black lives matter, there are many black children on a downward spiral towards a lifetime of illiteracy.
Some Alarming statistics
Below are some statistics from US news data mine and PBS:
- “Only 14% of African American eighth graders score at or above the proficient level. These results reveal that millions of young people cannot understand or evaluate text”
- “On average, African-American twelfth-grade students read at the same level as white
eighth-grade students.” - “91 percent of white children aged 3 to 5 who weren’t enrolled in kindergarten were read to by family members three or more times per week, 78 percent of black children were read to with the same frequency”
- “Nationally, African-American male students in grades K-12 were nearly 2½ times as likely to be suspended from school in 2000 as white students.”
- “Black Americans are suspended and expelled at three times the rate of white students.”
- “Black students are nearly three times more likely to be held back as their white peers. They’re also more likely to drop out before earning a high school diploma.”
Who is responsible?
When the children who yelled racists comments down the hallway from my classroom, they did not just wake up one day and decide to act in this manner. They heard it from their parents first. I am not blaming the educational system, the police, or white people. The responsibility falls directly on the shoulders of the parents. If one teaches their kids to not respect authority, it comes as no surprise when they do not respect their teachers. If they do not respect their teachers, this results in them getting expelled, dropping out, or possibly becoming illiterate (refer to statistics above).
How can a teacher help a child who is defiant to all authority?
I want to add that this is not pertaining to all parents. I have met some great parents during my time in East St. Louis. I have some students who are a joy to have in my class. They are going to do incredible things when they grow up and I can’t wait to see it. There is a direct relation between good parenting and how well children do in school.
No more excuses
It is time to stop blaming others and take ownership of this problem in the African-American community.
A lack of resources is not the problem. The same kids who are struggling readers have the newest basketball shoes and tablets.
Again, this does not pertain to everyone. Only a certain demographic. It is not white people or the police’s fault that there are a large number of African-American children who cannot read or write. Men need to be fathers, love your wives, and protect your families. It is crucial for children to have two parents. Be a contributing member of society. Instill the value of hard work in your kids. Read to your kids at night, help them with their homework, and support their teachers. Teach your children to respect authority and be a positive role model for them. Has God only created you in His image to sit back and be a victim? Stop teaching your kids to be prejudice. Take ownership of your life and be who God created you to be. All lives matter, especially His little ones.
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