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Completing The Educational Move
ast week this writer
wrote about a desired power shift in education. I did not finish.
There are three more people that need to seriously be involved in the power shift. The power move has as its aim the turning of the power in school districts over to strong school boards. Be- fore this move can be com- pleted the role of students, parents and teachers must be clear, so that everyone knows what they have to do to en- sure that the move is suc- cessful.
I know that will be a diffi- cult thing to do. It will be dif- ficult because it will take almost a miracle for these groups to work together.
It will be hard because the Republican section of the Florida State Legislature wants to make as many non-
public schools as possible. Still the educational move should be spearheaded by teachers. It is a known fact that any thing good in educa- tion starts with good teach- ers. Teachers need to make sure they developed a solid program to deal with stu- dents who have disciplinary problems or with an educa- tional deficiency. Teachers must establish an open line of communication with all
parties.
Then there are the par-
ents who will need to play a major role in helping the other partners make the move work. Their main jobs are to instill into their chil- dren the need to get ready for school, have all their home- work ready and to get to school on time. They should be trained to understand they have to respect all
school officials, work hard to get an education, participate in extracurricular activities and generally be the best stu- dent that they can be.
Parents must be willing to attend any school activities that are important. Teachers must be believed about what they tell parents about their children. This belief shall continue to be the truth un- less a lie shows its ugly head.
The last loop on this chain is the students them- selves.
Students must chip in to make a shift in education happen. The move we are talking about is to bring the power home from Tallahas- see and Washington. This will never happen with you the students running around acting like fools.
Student Alert, the time is upon us when it will be very difficult to find a job with a high school diploma. Ima- gine not having one. Educa- tion is changing. It has to change. The computer age has about taken up all the jobs. That is why a power shift in education is neces- sary.
POSTMASTER: Send Address Change To: Florida Sentinel Bulletin,
P.O. Box 3363 Tampa, FL 33601 Periodical Postage Paid At Tampa, FL
C. Blythe Andrews 1901-1977 (1945)
C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. 1930-2010 (1977)
Expect More From Our Children
hat many schools across America have failed, and con-
tinue to fail Black, Latino, and American Indian chil- dren comes as no surprise to Black, Latino, and American Indian parents and caregivers. Thus, the Pinellas County School System is not alone when considering the ethnic and racial disparities among Black and white students in schools that are predominantly Black.
The racial achievement gap in the United States research data reflect that Black and Latino children are “more likely to receive lower grades, score lower on standardized tests, drop out of high school, and are less likely to enter and com- plete college than whites . . .”
Other research and data reveal Black children are im- pacted by both stereotypes and expectations by others as well as themselves. Moreover, data showed that Black children “who were evenly matched with whites in their group by SAT scores free of stereotypes threat” performed equally well as whites.
Thus, we are convinced that if parents and educators ex- pect more from Black children, they will perform up to their expectation. A shining example is the son of one of our edi- torial writers who was told by his white high school coun- selors 42 years ago that he was not college material. The son graduated jointly from FAMU and Florida State University and received his Master’s Degree from UCLA, Berkley. Yes, people can be wrong, but not continuously when it pertains to the reality and the future of our children.
Make Them Prove Their Worth
can't speak for anyone
else but, as a kid growing up, I hated taking tests in school. There was just some- thing about the mere mention of a quiz, particularly those of the unexpected variety, that would cause me to freak out.
Over the years though, as I developed a better under- standing of the world in which we live, I've come to appreci- ate the true value of the process. In fact, I've come to the conclusion that testing is a practice impossible for us to live without.
Try to imagine the kind of society this would be if there wasn't a system in place to prove worthiness? How to- tally unpredictable would this life become if there was no way of measuring if things ac- tually worked before putting them to use?
A flight to Atlanta or a even a drive around the corner would probably be a lot more concerning if we weren't sure the plane or car transporting us was bolted together cor- rectly. I mean the only reason we have complete faith in the fact that a vehicle or item we purchase will function prop- erly is because we subscribe to the notion that someone, somewhere and at some point, placed these products
through a rigorous litany of exams. When it comes to our well being, we wouldn't have it any other way.
The irony in this is that, while we take such great con- cern in confirming that the materials we utilize are up to standards, we often overlook taking those same precau- tions with something even more important.... the indi- viduals who we allow to get the closest to us.
For some unknown reason many of us have developed a very bad habit of bringing people into our lives before giving them an opportunity to prove their level of substance. We judge our new friends and lovers by something as unre- liable as "face value" and, when they turn out to be the exact opposite of the images they presented, we actually have the nerve to aim our anger and disappointment into their direction.
But it makes little sense to blame a snake for being a snake. After all, sliding on their bellies and biting at the heels of others is part of their nature.
The bitter truth we hate to accept is that the victimiza- tion we endure at the hands of untrustworthy individuals is also a direct result of our own
missteps. Because, like every- thing else we bring into our presence, our relationships should begin with a thorough quality control inspection as well.
I often hear people make crazy statements like, "a per- son only has one chance to cross me." What I guess they don't realize is that "one chance" is often all someone needs to pull off a vicious act of betrayal that can take them completely out of the game.
The reality is that during the these awkward times, when everyone seems to be masking their true motives and identities, it's more im- portant than ever to know ex- actly who you're dealing with. Background checks are cool. But, unfortunately, they can't reveal a person's true charac- ter.
The only way that can be done is by creating scenarios that test personality traits like loyalty, self-control, honesty, bravery etc.. Of course some may believe that this kind of situation manufacturing to expose a significant other's potential flaws is slightly un- derhanded. And, to a certain extent, that may be true.
But, if someone truly hav- ing your back is of the upmost importance, it may be better to be sneaky and safe now than sorry, broke, dead or in- carcerated, as a result of not being careful, later.
Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bul- letin Publishing Company. Anyone wishing to contact Clarence Barr can email him at: therealcbarr2@ yahoo.com.
Political Campaigning In The Black Community: When It’s
Over Can We Still Be Friends?
here is no doubt in our minds that the landslide of
Black men and women running for political office throughout America is the direct result of President Barack Obama’s walk to the White House. Take Tampa-Hillsborough County for instance. For the past few months, the list of Black political candidates intent on winning public seats has grown impressively. But so has a problem that many Black commu- nities – including our own – have struggled with since Black Americans won the right to run for political office.
Call it “Political Bullying,” or better still, “Candidate Choice Backlash,” but for years, it has been an accepted po- litical reality in the Black community: “People don’t forget nor forgive for whom you cast your vote.” Behind closed doors, names of possible political supporters are shuffled around like baseball cards. And in the interim, friendships are trampled as feelings are hurt, which is why some Black voters simply send campaign donations to everybody in order to keep from insulting anybody..
However, we have a four word suggestion: “BLACK COM- MUNITY, GROW UP!” To Black political candidates, please consider that just because we might not vote for you doesn’t mean you should hate us for the rest of your life. And to reg- istered Black voters, don’t be so quick to say, “I WILL,” when asked for political support. Instead, ask for supportive infor- mation that might help you make up your mind. That way, if a candidate stops speaking to you, you’ll know they didn’t de- serve your vote, anyhow. In the meantime, remember, no amount of friendship is worth the responsibility of your vote.
FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5-A
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