The Select Commission on Higher Education and Global Competitiveness for Texas reports that “Texas must make dramatic improvements at every stage of the education pipeline.” According to the report, half of high school graduates who are African American go to college. The number dramatically drops to 6.8% for African Americans completing college. The Commission followed a group of 100 students from seventh grade through college. This is probably one of few reports that actually collected information on children in order to assess and analyze data for possible solutions. It’s in the solutions to the problem that I take issue. Not surprising, the report contains many graphs displaying extrapolated projections regarding the distribution of future populations in Texas as well as the distribution of sub-populations. In some areas of the state, Hispanics will be in the predominate majority. It should be noted that (as far as education is concerned) African American students will continue trailing Hispanics, Whites, and others. Almost automatically, the report leans toward limited economic means as a possible explanation to the problem. The report suggests that additional support services, student resources, and additional financial aid programs are needed to meet the problem head on.
Is money always the answer? In the wake of a huge deficit and budgetary cuts, why would we introduce ideas for additional programs that will only help to spin the wheel, but not move us forward? The lack of achievement of African American children should be of serious concern. There is an entire generation out here that cannot read pass the eighth grade. Time is of the essence. And, finger pointing is not going to solve the problem. The question is: how do we proceed from this point?
I certainly would not continue throwing money toward programs with new names. Besides, African Americans (historically) have been dealing with deprived conditions for generations. So, that can’t be the answer. I would suggest that the attitude about economic conditions and achievement connections be radically changed – immediately. This type of thinking is keeping African Americans from achievement. In a recent article from the Harvard academic group, the connection relating achievement to economic conditions was debunked. The group claims that it will continue studying this phenomenon. Phenomenon? If my grandmother were alive today, she would take a hearty laugh at this because she, and others, knew that her “poverty” had nothing to do with her encouraging her children to succeed. Heck, she didn’t even know she was poor until somebody told her. All of her children attended college and received full scholarships. All three became teachers. All three became coaches, and very successful coaches I might add. In most African American circles, the laugh continues. Why would someone think that there is a connection with my potential achievement with how much money I have? I have had conversation with some leaders in the field who claim that children in limited economic conditions lack exposure. Some even claim that this same group lacks standard vocabulary. In 1959, the notion of economics tied to achievement was propagated. The philosophy of a parent’s income influencing a child’s willingness to attend college was born. My grandmother did not attend college. When I read information like this, I think to myself – that’s why we’re in this mess. Why should a family’s economic status even matter? One trend of thinking is that poor children don’t have the resources at home. The supposition states that poor parents don’t read to their children because they have to work more than one job and books are not available. There are actually groups that do home visits to read to children of poor families. That is admirable. But, how much of a difference is it making in achievement? I guess it’s too early to tell. What is true is African American children are slipping – from the classroom to the legal system. What will be true is that African American children will have no desire to finish high school or go to college if the current attitude is not addressed. The statistics will be worse than what is projected in the report.
If anyone is concerned about doing the right thing for African American children, the right thing to do is not to discuss what is lacking. That is the fastest way to lose these children. Quite frankly, I am tired of hearing about the lack of finances as a reason for a child’s lack of achievement. It almost sounds insulting. What’s that “old saying?” Give a man a fish and you feed him for today; Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.
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