VIRGINIA BEACH
On Saturday morning, 347 young black men have been invited to celebrate their academic prowess over sausage and eggs. All are graduating with at least a 3.0 grade-point average from a high school in Hampton Roads or the Eastern Shore.
The organizers of the breakfast wish there were hundreds more.
In each of the five cities of South Hampton Roads, black males graduate at lower rates, get lower SAT scores and fail state math and reading tests more often than their classmates.
Performance gaps between black and white students, with boys usually lagging behind, are pervasive.
"We're very concerned," said Bruce Hacker, education chairman for the Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Men, the African American group organizing Saturday's breakfast. "It's an issue the entire region needs to be concerned about. It's a nationwide crisis."
In Virginia Beach, black males fall below city averages for graduation and college entrance test scores by the widest margins in South Hampton Roads. Beach educators have developed a plan to improve the academic results of those boys. It sets 12 objectives, including getting boys up to reading level by the end of third grade and cutting dropout rates by 25 percent.
At their retreat last summer, Virginia Beach's School Board wrestled over choosing top academic priorities for the year. Ultimately, they picked improving academic results for African American males over greater parity among high schools.
"This piece gets them wherever they are," be it elementary, middle or high school, board member Ed Fissinger said at the time. "We can come back and address the high school piece."
Fellow board member Michael Stewart said the board chose the goal because "what is not a goal doesn't get worked on."
Experts say gaps by race and income are measurable when children enter school, and they can persist. Those differences were shrinking until the late 1970s, when schools stopped becoming more racially diverse, said Dan Losen, a senior associate with the Civil Rights Project at the University of California at Los Angeles.
According to a 2006 study by the Schott Foundation for Public Education, only 45 percent of black males graduate from high school, compared with 70 percent of the total student population.
Locally, the largest gaps between black males and their division graduation rate were 14 percentage points in Virginia Beach and 12 in Norfolk.
"We have a lot of people around here who are smart, but they don't see us," said Robert Isaac, a black 16-year-old who attends Tallwood High School and hangs out at a community center on Baker Road. "They don't know what we can accomplish."
When schools don't reach black youngsters, results include high unemployment and imprisonment rates, a lack of access to college and unstable families, according to the Schott study.
The AVID program - Advancement Via Individual Determination - in Virginia Beach is helping students such as 18-year-old Joshua Bowens get invited to the scholars breakfast. Bowens said that before he enrolled in AVID, he thought going to college didn't take any special preparation.
"I just thought you applied, you were in," the Cox High School senior said.
AVID is aimed at middle and high school students who could succeed in college but aren't on the right track. It is offered at middle and high schools in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake.
Bowens spent the past four years pushing himself to get better grades, taking challenging courses and preparing for the SAT, a test on which most black males score below average.
"Coming out of middle school, I was just reckless," Bowens said. "Now I've got a 3.0."
He plans to attend Christopher Newport University.
Nearly 80 points separate black males in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach from school division average scores on the math SATs. The gap is similar statewide. When compared to white males, Virginia's black males were 92 points behind on the 800-point math test.
Black males fall behind for many reasons, said Madeline Hafner, executive director of the Minority Student Achievement Network, a national coalition working to close the achievement gap. They're more likely to have less-experienced teachers, attend schools with fewer resources and take fewer upper-level classes, she said. They also are more likely to get in trouble or end up identified as learning-disabled or mentally retarded, according to the Schott Foundation study.
Comparable outcomes for black and white children are possible when they have quality teachers and take advanced courses, Hafner said.
"There's a cultural mismatch," she sai d. "Schools in the United States were developed for a certain type of kid - upper-class, white males who were going to go into law, medicine or religious training."
That led to a certain type of instruction, she said: "Teacher talks, you listen."
In Suffolk, principals and teachers are changing the philosophy of the classroom, said Deputy Superintendent Deran Whitney. For the past two years, teachers have been trained on how to reach different types of learners. Instead of writing a book report, for example, students might write a story, build a model, present a poster or craft a commercial about the book, Whitney said.
The schools with the best results teach each student in the ways they learn best, he said.
For the past three years in Norfolk, high school students have been organized into smaller groups and have shared a core curriculum that includes honors courses.
"We have high expectations for our students," said Gene Jones, executive director for Norfolk's public high schools. "Studies show students will rise to the occasion."
Within five years, Norfolk officials hope fewer students will be held back and more will feel connected to the school, which can help reduce dropout rates. But Jones emphasized that their efforts are not aimed at black males alone. Blacks make up 63.9 percent of the student body in Norfolk.
"It's for all children," he said. "There is no target group."
In Portsmouth, where 73.1 percent of the students are black and perform near division averages, officials also don't target black males specifically.
In Virginia Beach, efforts are under way to start students on an advanced track earlier.
On state middle school math and reading tests, black males pass at rates 5 to 15 percentage points lower than their peers across South Hampton Roads.
During class visits in 2005, Mike Kelly noticed a pattern in the advanced sixth-grade classes at his school, Lynnhaven Middle. Few black children were in the seats.
Each year since then, Kelly, the principal, has visited or sent guidance counselors to elementary schools that feed into his school to ask them to recommend more capable black children for the higher-level math, science and English classes. Children who take them are more likely to take Advanced Placement and other upper-level courses in high school.
The effort has nearly tripled the percentage of African American students in advanced classes at Lynnhaven Middle, from 11.2 percent to 30.2 percent.
Larry Ames, principal at Seatack Elementary, takes the effort out of the school and into the homes.
"A lot of kids are getting lost," he said.
Ames knocks on doors and talks to parents. He encourages them to emphasize the importance of education to their children.
Pastor Joe Flores, who runs the Newtown Cultural Life Center on Baker Road, said it is important to get the families involved.
"The community environment of the teenage boys I deal with on a day-to-day basis is not conducive to academic achievement," he said. "It's not enough to get it from school. You have to get it from home."
But Flores feels the schools could work more with the community and direct more resources toward helping children in the critical preteen years.
Some steps are being taken. Among others, the Committee of 200+ Men is dispatching black men to mentor students in schools, churches and community centers in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and elsewhere.
Jim Merrill, the superintendent of Virginia Beach schools, said change is beginning.
"I think we'll keep getting better," he said. "If someone says we're OK, they need to go."
Lauren Roth, (757) 222-5133, lauren.roth@pilotonline.com
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Race Aside
What about good old fashion sexism? The guys seem to not be doing as well as the gals. If the guys can improve upon that, give them steak & eggs. And for the gals....Let them eat cake!
When did 3.0 become commendable?
With gradeinflation, curving, extra credit for advanced classes, and rounding up, it is relatively easy to get a 3.0. I am pretty sure it would be hard to get a job at my company with a 3.0 GPA. How would it look if a private group held a banquet for white med or law students who graduated with a 3.0? This idea is ridiculous, racist, and poorly thought-out. Do we now have to give added incentives to one race that we don't give to another for doing the same job?
And another thing!
After high school in the mid 1980's I went into the field of law enforcement and had to take a civil service exam before being hired by a local PD. Although I only scored in the low 80's I didn't consider the exam to be too difficult. There were black and Hispanic and Asian males and females then (and since then) that also took the same test and passed and were accepted for employment. I don't understand how that same exam is used today but is under scrutiny of being biased against races other than white. Can someone explain this to me? It's obvious that over the years, as a result of "dumbing down" educational requirements, the individuals taking that test in today's era just aren't as smart as they need to be. It's scary to think that today's law enforcement community is being staffed by those that got hired because of special preference based on the color of their skin and NOT because they actually had enough smarts to pass an exam!
This article greatly offends me!
I am a white male and grew up in a broken home, with only one parent, for most of my early life. I went to a high school where I was the minority (Norcom.) Not being the smartest I had to study hard to make the grades to graduate. There were black males smarter than I that graduated higher in the class than I did. Those that did not were the ones that didn't make the effort. I am sick and tired of reading or hearing about topics that use race as a reason for dumbing down the educational or employment system in this country. If a student of ANY race wants to make the grades and excel in life then he (or she) needs to hit the books and hit them hard. To use one's race as an excuse for special treatment is disgraceful. It really aggravates me that it is my hard earned dollars that are being spent on those too ignorant or too lazy to make the effort to better themselves.
Race and Education
Why this study does not compare the graduation rates of the hispanic students and Asian students. I for one hate to see a child fall behind in school because it does and will set a path of possible destruction of life that ends with incarceration. Once a person gets into a crimial cycle it is very hard to break. I consider myself lucky because while my parents did not attend college they did their very best to help me achieve my goals of an education. Green Run, then college and finally grad school several years later. Parents take notice, your children are like sponages and want to learn. Start leading them down the path of learning by reading to them when they are young. Teach, no show them, the value of an education when they are young. Do not expect the schools to do everything. Finally, now matter what, ask for help if you need it.
Honors classes
I am a teacher, and while I DO have to recommend students for advanced studies, I don't care if they are minority. If they have the work ethic and show potential, even if they haven't achieved on the highest level for me, I will still recommend them. Most of us, as teachers, know that it's better to give the benefit of the doubt rather than sticking a child into general ed classes. The kids who are recommended for the core level classes are the ones who basically come to school not caring about their work, or just aren't high enough to meet the demands of a rigorous program. Now, did I mention skin color? No. The reality is that there are many parents who simply do not put school as a major focus. Sports seem to dominate many families, and the emphasis on school is lessened. Obviously not everyone is that way, but for those kids who lack commitment to school, their courses reflect that level of commitment. The caveat is that even if I do not recommend a child for an advanced class, the parents can override my decision. So even though I can "recommend," the ultimate power lies with the parent. It all goes back to the home, and that has nothing to do with race.
How is this an academic issue?
So black kids are doing worse than white kids, yet they're going to the exact same schools, taking the exact same courses with the exact same teachers as those white kids. How is this an education issue? Obviously the problem lies elsewhere, namely with the parents.
Someone mentioned previously the difference between native African immigrants and US born African Americans, and that says everything. If the average black child does worse than the average white child, then the problem must be that the average (American) black family doesn't know how to raise their children. I know full well how harsh and racist that sounds, but unfortunately in this case it seems to be the truth.
my,my,my,
Is this just another excuse or what. Let's see, I grew up in a single parent home with 5 brothers and sisters. My mom worked from 3:30 until midnight. We were latch key kids BEFORE the word was "coined." We took care of ourselves ...1st grade to 8th grade....WE STAYED HOME AND STUDIED!!! We were responsible and took responsibility for what we wanted! We were not shown special treatment for doing what was expected. Many more kids could excel IF THEY WANTED TO!!! Most go to school to cause trouble and be cool. I am so sick and tired of hearing about the "poor home lives" of these kids! These kids have more tec. stuff than I have as an adult!!! They know how to get what they want...education isn't one of them!!
I'm sorry Jackie
But the majority of black males are headed down the wrong path, but congrats to your son. I'll bet you are a parent who cares and that's the difference, because so many parents simply do not. We cannot lower the standard of education for any race. Do all children regardless of race have the same opportunity? Yes and no! Yes if they have supportive parent(s) and NO if they don't. Life begins at home, and so many parents, and I hate to say it, mostly black, aren't there for their kids. To me that's the same thing as child neglect and abuse. Yes there are white parent(s) guilty of the same neglect. And Jackie, I'll bet you don't want your child's educational standard lowered so he can just get by. You should be very proud, and so should your son. We need more parents like you, but we do not need to lower educational standards I don't care what color your skin is.
How can school be biased?
I don't know how much more fair the academic playing field can be when everyone is being taught by the same teachers,reading from the same books, and being given the same assignments and tests.If the student chooses to learn and the parents support them it doesn't matter what color their skin is.It is ignorant to think that lowering the standard will do anything but set up these future drains on society for failure.
read amy
Just scroll down 3 or 4 comments and read the one by AMY, that says it all!!!!!!! It is not about race it is about people that do not set standards for themselves. Get off your butt and achieve a higher standard. Nuff said!!!!
Dumbing down of America
This is just a continuance of the dumbing down of America since the 1970's. Everytime a segment of the population can't grasp the education system - we make it easier for them. Now all we concentrate on is the SOL's - we reward people for being stupid - ie sports jocks, drug addicted actors etc. Our culture glorifies all that is wrong instead of praising those who study and make a difference. Everyone is out for the fast buck. Every race has the same opportunities to an education but they have to personally want it- there has to be motivation. That comes from parents and teachers as well as peers. The honors students of today are tragic -I've hired some of them. They cannot speak proper English, write a decent paragraph and lack creativity and problem solving skills. I am totally ashamed of our educational system - just look at how we compare to the rest of the world.
Why do
Teachers have to recommend students for "honors" classes these days? When I went to high school in the '80's(not THAT long ago), we had the opportunity to choose our classes. For example, I took honors courses(we called them academic courses back then), and if I tried to take an "easier" class...I wasn't allowed..my grades on the books told the admin ppl that I didn't belong in those classes and the same went for folks how put in for "honors" classes but their grades didn't support that. So how did skin color show up in the "grade books" of teachers? If a student makes grades in line w/honors courses...why aren't they automatically put into honors courses? If a student is making below that standard(for lack of a better word),doesn't it seem reasonable that they would struggle even further if put into an honors class? Shouldn't the students grades dictate what academic path they take? For goodness sakes...let's get back to the basics here. Stop allowing teachers to recommend students for honors classes and let the kids' grades speak for themselves. If a student, black or white or any other color for that matter, achieves the grades that are suited for honors classes..let em
Congrats Jackie
You should be sincerely proud of your son. I'm confident that the teachers and administration provided support as they saw your child push for excellence. I have heard the same bigoted comments from one side and sorry excuses from the other. While not every child will be a neurosurgeon, many simply miss the boat because of a major lack of support and encouragement from the parent(s). My 12 y.o child is an honors student. It isn't because she's white or the system is slanted in her favor. She has two parents who are vigilant about her academia. She is constantly reminded by word and example that an education is the foundation of her future. She sees the help provided for those trying to help themselves. What she accomplishes in the first 21 years is critical for what she'll accomplish the remaining years of her life. It isn't ablack, white, yellow, or polka dotted issue. It is the parental involvement, student focus, and teacher support that make the critical difference. One cannot succeed without all three except in the rarest of cases.
Race shouldn't be the issue.
This should not be about RACE. Your skin color does NOT determine your educational abilities. Clearly if that were the case, Asians would be in the same boat, as well as many other MINORITY races. Quit stereotyping, quit complaining. Its time to admit that the fault lies somewhere with the parents or lack of parenting. Sure there are children out there who simply are not capable of bringing home 3.0 or better GPA for many given reasons, but that doesn't mean that it is a race thing. There should be no "dumbing down" of standards. If anything these standards should be raised, to show that we have a higher expectation from EVERYONE, not for just the White community. By dumbing down standards, all anyone is learning is that one doesn't have to live up to standards because eventually if we don't, those standards will drop. Clearly there are still many people out there with a "blame the white man" mentality for every little thing that is wrong in their lives. You don't want to help your kids rise to their potential, that's on YOU, but don't blame me or my race.
Please don't stereotype....
My son is a senior at a Va. Beach high school. He is African-American, has 3.5 GPA, scored a 1250 on his SAT's (the first time he took it), taking honors and advanced classes. He has been accepted to a major university this fall. So, don't ASSUME that the majority of young Black males are heading down the same path!!
Continuation of Black Achievement Comment by Pastor Joe Flores
Whatever you or I think about black youth, race, public education, poverty, and or parental responsibility, serious minded people of good intentions must soon learn to agree on this one point; "it is what it is, so we had better quit squabbling and get together to work on it and work on us in the process, so that we can all have hope for a "very good Virginia Beach" becoming a great Virginia Beach. In peace, lets start making some progress.
Black Student Achievement Needs Collective Cooperative Effort
As a person who has been addressing city, school, community and youth issues for most of my life, I am grateful and happy to see the Pilot tackle such a complicated and delicate subject. Black youth educational disparities are like many things here in Virginia Beach that are remotely connected to low income population segments, under served communities, perceived institutional biases and anything remotely race related, taboo at worst and emotionally charged at best. So special thanks to Lauren Roth for her diligence, hard work and interest to try to make sense of a complex problem with facts, common sense and compassion. After reading some of the other responses it is obvious that there is not only a achievement gap but also a human relations gap, communication gap and an experience gap. Unfortunately these gaps are cemented in a contagious intolerance for anything not like their own world, cultural and experience. The successful future of Hampton Roads in general and our beautiful Virginia Beach community in particular is rooted in our maturity to attempt to understand and work with the issues that challenge the peace, safety and pursuit of happiness for all of us.
Whatever
How many times???
How many times are we going to base stupidity on race? Yes, that's right stupidity! The education is there to be had - paid for through 12th grade. Students can make the choice to get it or not. If you'd rather be a thug, skip school, and just be a general loser, that's your choice too.
This CRAP reminds me of the VB Police entrance exams from a few years back. Seems the US Justice Department found that, though the tests were identical, since the minorities couldn't do as well as non-minority applicants, the test and the city must be discriminatory. What a crock! What did they do? You guessed it; they dumbed down the test, so that even the most educationally challenged applicant could pass - you should have seen some of the troubling questions too (things like "If you add $5 to $3 and you take away $2, how much are you left with?"). It was pathetic...
Here we go again. There will ALWAYS be those that do better, and there will always be those that don't - it's a fact of life and, by extension, the natural order of things. We can't change it as a society, as a school system, as a state, or as a nation - get over it!
I guess the "village" isn't
I guess the "village" isn't doing such a great job with the males. Maybe the parents could get involved