4 ms·

This is a failure of culture. We have got to do more to bring people together and stop pitting races and cultures against one another. Black kids are wasting a

This is a failure of culture. We have got to do more to bring people together and stop pitting races and cultures against one another. Black kids are wasting away in these types of schools because black education and responsibility culture lags behind everyone. Why? I don’t know but it probably has a lot to do with how we, Americans, have essentially been at each other’s throats for a very Long time. It’s horrible that it’s been allowed to happen, but I feel the only way to stop schools and our society failing these kids again is when we can speak to one another freely, openly, without fear of cancellation. Stop looking at each other as a potential threat.

civilized 6y ago
In struggling school districts, every family should have the option of attending a no-excuses charter school. https://www.the74million.org/article/new-analysis-no-excuses-charter-schools-produce-huge-gains-for-kids-and-could-close-the-achievement-gap/ https://www.the74million.org/article/new-analysis-no-excuses...
GavinMcG 6y ago
When you say "stop pitting races and cultures against one another" are you willing to acknowledge the history of redlining, white flight, and other economic forces that have helped drive black communities into poverty? Are you willing to consider long-term reapportionment of wealth to invest in those communities and families? I suspect those economic forces have a lot more to do with black kids wasting away than rhetoric. Rhetoric isn't what has this kid's mother working three jobs.
- underseacables 6y ago
  Absolutely. As it stands now, people from different backgrounds don’t trust one another. Why invest in x if they’re just going to do Y; Why accept money from x because they’re just using it for y. Ask yourself: Why do you give money to a homeless person; or not?
exporectomy 6y ago
We have a pretty giant clue. IQ predicts academic performance and no known intervention can improve IQ in a way that persists beyond teenage years. Black kids have significantly lower IQ before starting school than white kids so by that point, they're collectively already doomed. Whatever causes that isn't the school or education responsibility. Some researchers attribute it mostly to the behavior of the mother but there are many candidate reasons. Of course the problems compound with underperforming friends, corrupt schools, etc. So improving those may help but won't completely fix it.

civilized 6y ago

In struggling school districts, every family should have the option of attending a no-excuses charter school. https://www.the74million.org/article/new-analysis-no-excuses-charter-schools-produce-huge-gains-for-kids-and-could-close-the-achievement-gap/ https://www.the74million.org/article/new-analysis-no-excuses...

GavinMcG 6y ago

When you say "stop pitting races and cultures against one another" are you willing to acknowledge the history of redlining, white flight, and other economic forces that have helped drive black communities into poverty? Are you willing to consider long-term reapportionment of wealth to invest in those communities and families? I suspect those economic forces have a lot more to do with black kids wasting away than rhetoric. Rhetoric isn't what has this kid's mother working three jobs.

underseacables 6y ago
Absolutely. As it stands now, people from different backgrounds don’t trust one another. Why invest in x if they’re just going to do Y; Why accept money from x because they’re just using it for y. Ask yourself: Why do you give money to a homeless person; or not?

exporectomy 6y ago

We have a pretty giant clue. IQ predicts academic performance and no known intervention can improve IQ in a way that persists beyond teenage years. Black kids have significantly lower IQ before starting school than white kids so by that point, they're collectively already doomed. Whatever causes that isn't the school or education responsibility. Some researchers attribute it mostly to the behavior of the mother but there are many candidate reasons. Of course the problems compound with underperforming friends, corrupt schools, etc. So improving those may help but won't completely fix it.