Wow, this just confirms what the RCSO scanner keeps saying over and over 24/7/365.
Richmond County has the sixth lowest graduation rate for black males among the country's school systems with large black enrollment, according to a national report.
Using national data for the 2005-06 school year, the Schott Foundation for Public Education, a national organization dedicated to equity in education, put Richmond County's graduation rate for black males at 31 percent, tied with the Baltimore city school system. White males graduate at a rate of 43 percent in Richmond County.
Superintendent Dana Bedden said skin color shouldn't be such a significant factor in graduation rates. He shared the report with principals and administrators during a recent meeting, using it to underscore the need for change in the school system.
"We can't keep saying 'That's what we've always done,' " he said. "There's a reason for doing things differently."
The report attributes the much lower graduation rates for black males to a disproportionately high suspension rate and a disproportionately high rate of being identified as mentally disabled compared with white males. In Richmond County, black males were nearly three times as likely to be suspended and almost twice as likely to be identified as mentally disabled.
"We've got to stop putting students out of high school so freely," Dr. Bedden said.
Teachers must be able to discipline students, he said, but that shouldn't put the students at a disadvantage academically. He said he has begun contacting churches to ask that they take in suspended students and work with them on class work.
In Richmond County, most believe that all students can achieve, but there are some who do not, Dr. Bedden said.
"My job is to make sure we put the right leaders in place," the superintendent said, reiterating the need to change the culture of Richmond County's schools. "The good news is I'm seeing more and more people who want a good school system."
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
TEN WORST SCHOOL SYSTEMS FOR BLACK MALES
| Black Male | 2005-06 | Graduation Rates | Rounded | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| System | Enrollment | Black Males | White Males | Gap |
| Indianapolis | 11,593 | 19 percent | 19 percent | 0 percent |
| Detroit | 59,807 | 20 percent | 17 percent | -3 percent |
| Norfolk, Va. | 12,672 | 27 percent | 44 percent | 17 percent |
| Rochester, N.Y. | 11,270 | 29 percent | 36 percent | 7 percent |
| Pinellas County, Fla | 11,319 | 30 percent | 50 percent | 20 percent |
| Richmond County, Ga | 12,091 | 31 percent | 43 percent | 12 percent |
| Baltimore City | 38,996 | 31 percent | 37 percent | 6 percent |
| Buffalo, N.Y. | 10,666 | 31 percent | 50 percent | -19 percent |
| Milwaukee | 26,818 | 32 percent | 46 percent | 14 percent |
| New York City | 159,555 | 32 percent | 57 percent | 24 percent |
Source: Schott Foundation for Public Education report Given Half a Chance: The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education for Black Males
Comments
Wow, this just confirms what the RCSO scanner keeps saying over and over 24/7/365.
Of course! And it's not about skin color, it's about culture. Most black males grow up without a father, they're taught they don't need a father or need to be a father, so they learn to "be a man" from their buddies (who grow up in the same situation). Then they make babies and don't stay to be a father, just like they learned. This is important to the graduation rate because "finishing what you start" is a learned concept. "Sticktoitiveness" is a learned concept. These traits are usually taught by the man of the family... I guess in A-RC, 31% of the time it's taught by mom.
So what's going to be done about this abysmal HS graduation rate? And who's going to do it? And when?
As conservative as I am, I realize this is all about the demographics of the neighborhoods the schools serve. We need to provide jobs training, jobs and daycare to help out our friends in these areas. The Kroc Salvation Army gift will work wonders in the community if we can provide the matching funds. We mustn't become cynical and give up trying to help these folks catch up.
I guess this would explain the level of discourse in the editorials in this paper. The responses, the sheer vileness and ignorance. Sounds like you all could use an Obama presidency to me.
Riverman, I do agree, but "these folks" must first see the need to catch up and then put forth the effort. Where does that intrinsic motivation come from?
No cyou, an Obama presidency would raise taxes on those able to create jobs and make charitable donations thus limiting their ability to do so. The poor will remain poor the rest of us will become poorer.
Pat please explain the 43 percent problem for whites. Some of what you say may apply to the problem with blacks' I'm just curious of what you think about the 67 percent of the whites problem.
"I'm just curious of what you think about the 67 percent of the whites problem."...LOL blackwannabes..........................
67 plus 43 equals 110. I think we may have found something here.
So Dr. Bedden wants to keep problem children inside the classrooms to disrupt, harrass, and be a negative influence on the children that are there to learn? BS, we are doing just fine kicking their sorry butts to the curb. It's no wonder that each year my son begins a new school year in Richmond Co they say, "Oh, that teacher doesn't work here this year." I'd leave also if I had to put up with some of these kids. And guess which parents never show up for parent teacher conference? On my street alone, I can point out about 4 homes where boys under 10 are left alone all day long and most weekends. Just like I say about the kids getting kicked out of the Army. We cannot replace 18years of lack of parenting within 9 weeks.
Yes, the problem is not that the students are suspended too much, it's that they are not suspended enough.
The problem is PARENTS. Mothers (that work) probably don't have the time to sit home and help their children study. Each night in my son's second grade class there is a math worksheet, writing practice, and reading. All of this requires supervision. With my experience being single in Augusta, these are the same mom's that are staying at the clubs until the sun comes up on weeknights. Someone here defended them before, because it's their right. I fear for the future of Augusta in the next 20 years, but I'll be long gone. Ain't a damn thing Obama is gonna do to help the situation.
This can't be!! Didn't the RCSB just get an award???
You can not make the education system work untill you change the minds of thr African American youths. I have read & watched numerous shows where they interview the youths & they say they are afraid to get good grades because their peers will ridicule them & say they are(TRYING TO ACT WHITE) You have to change their attituded's about education or nothing you ever do will make the system work. Well while sitting here writing this letter I thought this is the perfect time in our history to change that attitude. The kids can say..I NOT TRYING TO ACT WHITE / I TRYING TO ACT LIKE PRESIDENT OBAMA. Everyone has to get busy because Obama will be the next president & once he is elected African American's can not blame White people for all their troubles. We are finally off the hook.
When the color factor, which it has been all about the color factor for decades, was factored in the system kept dropping the levels of education...The idea that the children, just because they were black, could not learn has led to a major "dumbing" down of our educational system.Children learn if they are taught by parents and teachers...It doesn't matter if they are red, brown, black or white they all stand the same when it comes to learning if they have a fair beginning from the start.By fair beginning I mean a family life complete with parents and God at the helm.It doesn't take a boat load of money to raise a child.I however takes love, discipline, self-respect and a reverent fear of God Almighty.The powers that be figured they were doing a race of people a favor by lowering learning skills so the black children could stand a chance in what was considered a white luxury.Were they wrong? I can for sure state they were wrong...If the teachers teach the children will learn.If the parents actually parent the children will learn.If God and an adherence to decency, honor, loyalty and other healthy codes of moral behavior are in control then the children will all have equal footing.
When 8 of 10 male students in the public school system are black, doesn't it make sense that more are going be disciplined with suspensions? It's simply the odds. This is why the private schools are thriving.
In this county we reward and praise misconduct. First, our priority in H.S. is our sports team. Not math not english, football and basketball dominate our thinking. I believe that we should show kids, we are serious about their behaviour and that social programs in school will only be allowed, where kids are productive in learning! Second, we should require all kids to be in school! If we were concerned, tge Sheriffs' Marshalls' and RCBOE police would apprehend eEVchild found on the streets during school time and make their parents pick them up.
It's about destroying the Black culture; Teacher white and some black do not have the patience to deal with small thing anymore. The lease thing happen they send Black male students home, Teachers need to get to know the students before they judge and dismiss them from school. Problems start when they do not have anything to do, challenge them in schoolwork. Just this week the city is closing recreation centers putting kids on the street however they are increasing jail cells for these kids, I ask you do this make sense. The solution is not putting them on the street Beden, Bates and Russell.
SORRY got carried away. I will comtinue from...parents pick them up. If parents are notified the third time, then make the parents spend a night in the local barred inn. Third, many of these punks worship the idiots making fools of our police and neighborhoods, so we need to stop the babababoom, babababoom babababoom, going on allover the area with no end in sight. If the punks see their friends paying fines or having their flashy chromed junk piles being impounded, maybe they wouldn't worship them so much. Fourth, stop the social training programs for kids that quit school. If a kid wants a certificate of completion rather than a diploma, let them work two or three jobs in Mcdonalds and pay for it. Believe me, the kids I am talking about aren't going to a church for education, they may go there to rob it but training, no way.
these are some of the best comments I have read on this board in a long time. Everyone is dead on. There was a great program called Little Rock High: 50 years later,on HBO that examined these issues after segration. If your really interested, its available for rental at blockbuster.
What do you all think about raced based admission to universities? When I was at UGA, 3 white women sued because they didnt get admission but African-americans with lower scores did. However, the 3 white women's scores were far below their white counterparts (SAT scores less than 1000). I have to agree on UGA's part. And if any of you have spent time on UGA's campus, there are very few African-americans.
This doesn't matter. Society is breaking down. Obama can't fix it either. He will just suspend the Consitution and rule over one large re-education colony.
Along with some of the comments, this is why school voucher and busing to better schools is a bad idea too. Why take bad students to schools where others are actually trying? If these kids go to better schools yet go home to the same environment and not trying just as hard, then nothing will change
Obama can adn will fix anything. You might just get a visit from his " civilian defense force that is as powerful as the military" if you question what the Dear Leader can accomplish. You have been warned.
Challenge them in schoolwork? They are failing as it is and don't turn in their schoolwork? So don't start with the crap that these young men are not challenged. They are missing too much that they should be receiving from home. Example: home cooked meals, family sitting together at breakfast, a father, sometimes a mother, someone controlling how they dress, how they speak, what they watch on tv, what they look at on the net, what music they listen to, morals, family values, manners, etc. IT ISN'T THE SCHOOL'S JOB TO DO THAT! I want my son to go to class and learn what is in those books. Not to have a teacher spending 90% of her time trying to discipline these A holes' children. They don't just kick them out for the least thing either. My son comes home and tells stories about what some of these boys are doing in his second grade class. Some of it is chit I wouldn't have thought to do in J High and H.S. nor did I see others do or speak the ways these youngsters do.
Appropriate questions, Dr. Spinks. Perhaps the Obama administration will save them (us) .
Sorry, Dr. Bedden. There is no good news.
I am mother working 40+hours and I have time for my son and I always help him with homework and all of the responsibilities that come with parenting.. the parents are not always the problem..
Coach, so we should allow the black boys to get away with more before we kick them out. Everyone wants to say they are quick to kick out the black kids, well if they are the ones acting out then they will be the ones getting kicked out. I hate that crap. We get it in the military: black Soldier acts out or disrespects his leader. When disciplined he wants to cry racism. Nevermind the fact the no one would've bothered him had HE NOT BROKEN THE RULES IN THE FIRST PLACE! Do you notice it is the trouble makers always crying racism, but never the ones that are doing right?
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