Black Children Not As Bright? Ah, Must Be Because The Teachers Are Racist!

[Solly]

Black children are being treated unfairly in schools, with higher levels of expulsion and poor exam grades, a special conference in London is being told.

The event, aimed at finding ways to improve the performance of black pupils, is being organised and chaired by Labour MP Diane Abbott.

As it got underway on Saturday, she said the "massive turnout" showed how concerned black parents were at the way schools were "failing" their children.

There are concerns that children from certain ethnic groups are falling behind in the transition from primary to secondary education.

Why must every study that shows one racial group (usually a minority) to be faring worse than another be shrouded in accusations of racism?

Perhaps it's accusations like that that keep black children from faring as well - they know if they fail they can always fling **** at their past teachers and blame them racist.

Let's not give them that excuse - they aren't being treated unfairly. Exam grades accurately reflect educational progress, and questionable expulsions can be appealed against.

This article is a disgrace.

[Solly]

Oops...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/education/newsid_1875000/1875494.stm

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

It's an objective piece of journalism on an MP's opinions and a conference. How does that constitute a disgrace?

[Immortal Wombat]

It's been shown that black children enter school as the highest acheivers, and leave as the lowest.

[Gibsie]

Conversely, why is that any time even suggests any aspect of racism, they must be making it up?

[Tingkai]

Why is it that when parents, educators and politicians try to find solutions for the problems faced by black students, there's always a white person *****ing and whining that "they're just crying wolf." And the white person's solution is to tell them to shut up.

Yeah, just ignore the problem and it will go away.

(And no offence to white people who do not agree with Boddington's views).

[General Ludd]

White people not as bright? Ah, Boddington's must be lowering the average!

It must be nice to be able to pretend that prejudice doesn't exist in the world.

[MrFun]

Boddington's -- just because white teachers neglect to teach African-descent students enough of their ethnic history, does mean that all of those teachers should be accused as being racist, as you claim.

But it is wrong when any teacher neglects to teach African-descent students their anestral, ethnic history. That is part of the problem and the reason why there is a higher apathy or lack of interest in all school courses for many African-descent students.

Don't you understand how past discrimination, and cruelty can affect today's society of that race/ethnic group? And even today, discrimination continues in spite of the legislation against it.

[Gary]

It is reasonable to find out exactly what the problem is. From the article it seem clear that isn't known, but I am aware that the attitude of the media is to imply unfair treatment for black pupils. No evidence is presented along with the implications though.

Until such time that the evidence is available I think it would be reasonable not to start accusing. It is perfectly possible that the problem is not primarily with the teaching side of the equation at all. Education is a two way street, and it seems more likely that one peer group does not find the enthusiasm to learn, than another, who deliberately choose to take up teaching as a profession, lost the enthusiasm to teach.

As for the teaching of history. If you live in Britain, then it is British culture, British history, that you are taught. That's part of the deal of being here, of being a British citizen. You wish to learn about other foreign cultures, then good for you, but you take it up in your own time.

[Faeelin]

I can see where he's coming from. I don't see how the school should be changed to take care of it, though. Any suggestions?

Note: It's also a trend in the USA. Black grades are lowering while white grades hover/rise.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I have to agree with Gary (and Boddies). Just because a group is achieving less doesn't mean that they are being prejudiced against. By that logic, Asian students are being favored in the classrooms, because teachers like Asians.

[Shi Huangdi]

"But it is wrong when any teacher neglects to teach African-descent students their anestral, ethnic history"

I have not been taught Irish history- in fact we have learned more about the history of Africa then the history of Ireland, but I still take an interest in history we learn. We don't teach Asians their ethnic history too well, but they take an interest. And besides, your theory can only explain one subject- history- doesn't come close to explaining math or science.

[MrFun]

When history courses neglect or teach distorted images of African history to African-descent students, it could possibily contribute to the development of apathy in other courses that are not even related to those history courses.

Other factors that contribute to lower academic achievement among many (not all) black students:

1) segregation -- legislation has not effectively ended school segregation

2) teachers calling on white students more than black students when asking students questions

3) lack of relevant history for African-descent students (mentioned above)

4) malnutrition -- more black students than white students live in lower class families

[rah]

I'd rather look at a few other factors also.

Black children are more likely to have a single parent.

Black children are more likely to have a parent that is unable to adaquately help the student at home once the child has passed 6th grade.

Black children are more likely to have inadaquate nourishment at home.

Etc.

A lot of white children in the south suffer from the same things.

It's not that they're black that causes the problem, but the related characteristics.

Every angle has to be investigated, not just the automatic racial bias claims.

RAH

[Shadowstrike]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
I have to agree with Gary (and Boddies). Just because a group is achieving less doesn't mean that they are being prejudiced against. By that logic, Asian students are being favored in the classrooms, because teachers like Asians.

*sigh*If only this were true....*sigh* (just joking)