What does African-Centered education mean in this moment in history? In the past, independent African-centered schools designed and implemented their own curricula reflective of the understanding that African cultures and civilization needed to be at the core of educational experiences. The core academic subjects--math, science, social studies and language arts--were scaffolded around this core...on this foundation.Increasingly and presently, state-wide curricula and testing establish standards in each discipline (not only the core, but also in other areas). The standards are not necessarily the problem for African-centered education, however; establishing standards and learning benchmarks is important to ensuring that children have met particular learning goals.
Two problems for African-centered educators and institutions are: (1) Black academics, educators and practitioners have not produced curricular materials--curricula, textbooks, workbooks and other materials--for classroom use and professional development. Therefore they have to rely on a combination of textbooks produced by national publishing companies and materials that they either create themselves (individually) or pull from other sources (articles, handouts, books, etc.). (2) The Michigan State Curriculum, and the standardized test reflective of it (MEAP), presents and assesses historically wrong information (e.g., in regard to ancient civilizations) and misinformation as it relates to African and indigenous populations.
Because funding for schools is tied directly to performance on standardized tests, schools and teachers must adopt curricula and use textbooks that prepare students to take this test. Thus educators in African-centered institutions are presented with the quadruple task of preparing lessons with the textbooks that teach to the test (which is reflective of the state curriculum and expectations), correcting historical inaccuracies and misrepresentations where necessary, inserting Black civilization (experiences, lessons, discoveries, etc.) into the existing curriculum, while teaching children how to discern when to recite inaccuract information (during the test) and when to rely upon evidence. Whew!
In addition, parents and families used to send their children to African-centered schools because that is what they wanted for their children. This is no longer the case; people send children to schools that are close, convenient, small and better than other options. So, after all of that, is African-centered education a reality in public/charter education at this moment in history? Or is it a historical remnant of an earlier period? Or is something else going on that deserves focus?
African centered education is needed. Designed and administered properly, ACE prepares Black children to value their humanity, to have dignity and pride, to strive for the very best, to work hard, to build relationships based on integrity and equality and to never give up. The representations of Black people in the media, schools, prisons, etc., present distorted images and conflicting messages. African centered educators strive to not only correct these representations through critical analysis, scientific inquiry and in depth discussions, but also strive to assist children to define their purpose in life and chart the path toward its fulfillment. The foundations of what people will ultimately become are laid during childhood. The very souls of children must be nurtured by people who care about them. And with firm direction delivered with love, African centered educators deliver high quality academic preparation.
3 comments:
What are the production needs of the ruling class today? In what way is education supporting the ruling class,or not being available besides lack of people learning about their own history?Is any level of education available for those who want it,even if they have to learn on their own?
I've heard black people perform below other groups, on even the standard tests.Some suburban schools seem to have better technology.Black people have to be more interested in their own history and culture.People are satisfied with the history they learn. Black people also have to not be so shallow as to not see beyond things on the surface. Why shouldn't other people buy into black sterotypes,when black people embrace them, themselves?
Excellent questions. A place that summarizes the impending economic crisis is http://www.ukmtpress.com/id367.html. Scroll down about half the page to the section called "Why this Period Fundamentally Leads to Economic Depression."
In the United States, people have the ability to get an education. The quality of that education varies according to the economic distribution of a population: Schools in wealthy districts receive more resources than schools in poor districts. Detroit schools, for example, receive half of what schools in wealthier Birmingham receive per student.
While the costs of higher education are rising, it is certainly available for anyone who wants to attend.
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