Black Parents Should Boycott Schools

[Kafi Payne]

I have two sons and I am deeply concerned about their well-being. I try to buy organic food for them to eat. I make sure my older son wears his helmet and pads when he rides his scooter. I hold his hand when he crosses the street. Why in the world should I send him to a school (public, private, parochial, whatever!) that has never served black boys? I am an educator and am committed to improving the education system for all children but in the meantime, I think that as black parents, we should boycott schools until they start serving our children! I'm not radical (for the most part) but very few schools are serving our children and why should they? We're the foolish ones for keeping our children in a system that at best they get through and make it to college and at worst kills them slowly. I don't know how I'll do it but I plan on homeschooling my children (while still working full time). Am I the only one frustrated?

[Maisha Kirk Humphrey]

I agree with all of you. I as well am an educator. I did homeschool my son for his first year of school (K) but unfortunately had to return to work. What frustrates me as an educator is that as hard as I try the education "system" is broken. It definately is not geared towards our black youth and specially our young black men. I am transfering "with gods grace" my son to a private african centered school. I have meet the children that attend that school and they are fantastic, their since of who they are, where they come from, and where they are headed is on point. I am definately frustrated with the education system.

[C.D. Johnson]

I agree with this post. They're always power in numbers. Weather we stand for this or that, most of us as a whole will not stand together unless it's in a large order. Look at the 1,000,000 man march. Look at Jena 6. And so on. We as moms locally can stand up for what we believe and make a difference. Even though I have no more little ones, I see how society frowns on our sons and young men. In corporate America, they promote our women and place them in a position that their surroundings are dominated by the white man. What happened to our men? At least 60% are locked up. A great majority of them are innocent. Excluded from drive bys and drugs, what have we left? I think it should start from the crib. If you look at the Asian society, they start their children from the crib, by grooming them for the best pre-k and kindergartens. If they don't get into them, they say the child is not a worth to society. Why can we follow rule?

[Ayana]

Hi

I homeschool my 3 kids and there is a growing movement of African Americans who homeschool as other homeschooling moms have already said. For our family it has been ideal. We have a small group of other African American families that we have a co-op with. I love that the information that my kids receive about their place in society comes from me primarily. Of course you don't have to homeschool for that to be true. I think that every African American family should have a homeschooling mindset even if they do not homeschool. You can not trust an institution to do what a family was meant to do.

My co-op also does seminars about homeschooling and how to do it. We focus on specific issues that effect African Americans. We are located in Nashville, TN. If any one would like more information about us let me know. We would be willing to come to just about any town and do a seminar.

I have so many issues with the school system that I'm not even going to start. But if you have no other option its good to team up with others to give your child what they are missing or repair the damage that schools have done.I would encourage everyone to find with a few like minded families to join forces and start a Saturday school or homeschool co-op and create a community their children can be nurtured, trained, and equip in.

I have really enjoyed reading the posts and it has really encouraged me to hear so many other families wanting to take back their position as the primary educator in their family.



Ayana

[Nicholle]

I see a lot of us are frustrated with the school system and have a desire to home school, but because of structural constraints (jobs, school, etc) we are not able to walk immediately into home schooling.

I suggest that we do what many of our ethnic counterparts do. Saturday school. When Chinese immigrants come to the US, they have children and then they start Saturday schools to teach their children about Chinese culture, language, foods, social customs, literature etc.

While many of us are not able to walk away from our committments to jobs or school, we can all agree to take some time on Saturday mornings or afternoons to collectively educate our children.

I see several regional associations on here- including mine- the North Texas Moms Group. Since we have connected regionally, why not come together in each region and organize a Saturday School program. Maybe not every Saturday, but two Saturday's a month, or on another select date, and start communally schooling our children ourselves.

I see that we have many educators on here, perhaps we can start an archive of lesson plans on different topics appropriate for each age group, and split up the lessons and teach them.

This will require more organization and planning, but I think it is very doable if you all are interested. I'll be posting this on my BMC blog as well, so we can keep a running and organized record. What do you all think?

[Kafi Payne]

Nicholle. Thank you. I think you may be onto something. I think in some ways it's what many of us do already but it's time we get organized.

[Nicholle]

Kafi,

Organization...thats it. We are all probably trying to supplement our childrens' education by taking them on outings and reading with them etc.

Imagine how powerful our efforts would be if it were not just us investing and teaching our children, but they saw it as a community activity, as a community norm, that was shared with other children like them and that other children's parents were just as concerned about their education as their parents are. I think it would send a lifelong message to our kids that "In our community education is important and my community cares about me" Again, back to the good old village metaphor.

So now , how do we get people organized, on board and active?

[Chandra]

One of the homeschooling sites I mentioned in an earlier post had an article on its site for parents who are unable to homeschool. You can check it out for suggestions: http://www.naaha.com/cannothomeschool.htm

Another way you can begin is looking on meetup.com to see if there are any home schoolers in your area; either that or google home school alliances in your particular cities.

[Nicholle]

Thanks Chandra, I started on the site the other day, and did not make it all the way through everything, but I'll definitely read this article and start working on the suggestions in my area.

Ive posted on my BMC blog about getting started on this, so hopefully people will be willing to participate and we can make this a real world (not just on line) community effort.

[Nicholle]

Hey Ladies,
I've posted the blog entry about this, entitled A Progressive Solution. At the bottom, I've listed some things each of us can do to get started.

Let's Make This Happen !

[Kafi Payne]

I'm excited. This is something that could really transform communities all across this country.

[Gail Hayes]

I felt the same way. I was going to home school but chose, instead to send them to the public schools. I volunteered and ended up developing a Character Education Program where I deal with mostly minority children. This year, the schools are paying me as a consultant. I totally understand your frustration and wish you well. I have an eleven year old son and a nine year old daughter. I have had to fight and had to teach them to fight as well. It is not easy but you sound like a powerful mother and I know that things will work out in your sons' favor because they have you.

[Kafi Payne]

Gail, that sounds incredible. I really see how black mothers all over the country step up in many different ways for their children's education. It is truly beautiful.