But Where Are All The "Afrocentric" Jobs?
Geniuses north of the American border have approved an "Afrocentric" public school for Toronto. From Canada's CTV:
Trustees with the Toronto District School Board have voted to approve an "operational model" for an Afrocentric school, a controversial plan to help struggling black students in the city's education system."The strategies developed by our staff following consultation with our communities, will hopefully more effectively address the needs of youth who have historically struggled in TDSB schools," John Campbell, chair of the board, said in a press release late Tuesday night.
In total, the board has approved four strategies:
•Creating a "Program Area Review Team" to recommend the program and operational model for an Africentric Alternative School, to open in September 2009;
•Establishing a pilot program in three existing schools that would integrate the "histories, cultures, experiences and contributions of people of African descent and other racialized groups" into curriculum;
•Establishing a "Staff Development, Research and Innovation Centre" to assess the best way for improving the success of marginalized and vulnerable students; and,
•Drawing up a plan to address underachievement for all marginalized and vulnerable students.
Yoohoo...I don't think black students are struggling because the curriculum isn't "Afrocentric" enough. In fact, I think going along with that idea can be damaging to the very kids it's supposed to help, promoting a culture of victims. And note that the Irish, the Italians, and the Jews, to name a few, managed to get by quite nicely in this country without special Iro-, Italo- or Jew-centric schools.
My French teacher, who is European, was commenting last night on how ridiculous and divisive it is to refer to blacks as African-Americans. I mean, if I know you, and you want to be called "African-American" or "German-Polish American," well, I guess I'll do my best to coddle you (and probably start seeing you a little less). Hélène, my French teacher's comment, was something along the lines of "Why aren't people here all just 'Americans'?"
Although I got sick in January, taking me out for a week and putting me behind in my writing, I'm going to continue my program in inner city schools, and start bringing in other speakers -- those who are “self-made” successes -- to talk to the kids, step by step, about how they did it, in turn, demystifying the path to a rewarding career and life.
Any suggestions of speakers in the Los Angeles area should be sent to adviceamy at a o l dot com. Please only send suggestions if you have contact information for the person, and include it. Speakers should be people who are not from ritzy backgrounds, and are kind of middle class but successful in some kind of cool career, and who got there, despite the odds, on their own. And who can detail, step by step, how they did it.
For example, I show kids a copy of my column (800 words) and then bring out the huge pile of papers with a bunch of crap written on them that was the path to getting to what's good and funny and makes sense...showing them that writing isn't just this smooth path from "Once upon a time..." to "The end"...but sending a message that, if you're willing to work hard, it's actually possible to do something satisfying and cool with your life.
When I did my talk at Uni High, they didn't get the permission slips signed so they could tape the session, and I didn't want to talk too much about it here because I thought the kids might read my blog afterward, and I didn't want to chance having comments on the entry pitying them, or calling them pitying names like "kids at risk." But, the session went really well, and I'm eager to do it again and bring in other speakers, at least once a month.
Oh yeah...if you teach at a school with inner city kids, and want me or others to come talk, please e-mail me and I'll arrange it.
Afrocentric schools link via fark
Can someone name for me the African nation with a vibrant economy, social stability, good health and clean streets? No?
Because you can't. If Afro-centrism means teaching the validity of the lifestyles prevalent on the continent of Africa, then the children who go through this "education" will be unfit to function in a western democracy.
the history of Africa is one of tribalism co-opted by socialism, run by dictators. It is not an environment conducive to intellectual growth.
Which would explain why all the intelligent people born in Africa get the fuck out as soon as they can. Which sucks for those without the means or minds to leave, since the only people who could realistically foment some kind of change aren't there any more.
brian at January 30, 2008 7:49 AM
This post brought to mind that expression about "the subtle racism of low expectations." Does anyone know who first coined the phrase? (My usual research assistant, Google, can only confirm that the phrase has caught on nicely but grants no insight as to who first said it and in what context.)
I was talking with an AOC (acquaintance of color)sometime back who described moving to a new area and scouting schools for his kids. One administrator assured him their school had plenty of remedial programs. He stopped and looked at her for a long moment to see if it would dawn on her that he had given her no indication that such programs were of any interest to him. She only beamed back at him, waiting to be complimented for her oh so enlightened sensibilities.
Uhg.
martin at January 30, 2008 7:57 AM
The problem is that that if it passes it will succeed. Not because there is validity behind the idea but because there will be no budget assigned to the project, and unfortunately a school will succeed when it has unlimited funds.
Now I can tell you why black kids are failing in Toronto schools. It's racism on the part of the kids not the teachers, they're not willing to learn from white teachers.
Nicky at January 30, 2008 8:11 AM
Nicky, this is also a problem in the US. It is almost impossible to discuss the problem of Black racism, even among educated White people. In the US, most Black academics think that Blacks are incapable of being racist.
Of course that's false. 'Afrocentrism' is just another name for 'Black Supremacy.'
Jeff at January 30, 2008 8:21 AM
"Jew-centric schools" If you mean public schools then yes there no publicly proclaimed Jewish schools, or Italian or Irish schools. Now take a peak at the private schools and the story is very different. Go to Brooklyn NY and you will see Jewish schools all over the place. Same place and looks at the names enrolled in Catholic schools, about 15 years ago you'd see almost all Irish and Italian names now also heavy Spanish numbers.
What amuses me to no end about the Afrocentric ideas is that it's segregation. Those involved are to stupid to see it, or too self centered to care.
vlad at January 30, 2008 8:38 AM
I've been half-following this for a while, and I both understand the point, and don't "get it" at the same time.
Now, as a white gal, maybe it's easy for me to say, but I just don't *care* what country "our nation's founders" came from or what color (er, colour) they were. If Canada had been founded (let's ignore the First Nations for this particular hypothesis) by Africans or Asians or whatever, and I was learning about Wang Xiao-Ping instead of Jacques Cartier, I am pretty sure I wouldn't feel all alienated and unmotivated.
But, people are hoping that including prominent black people into the curriculum is more engaging and interesting, since the black kids can relate to it. That doesn't bug me overmuch. The "black-focused math", however, strikes me as stupid. If a kid learns better because the Venn diagrams are using populations of African countries instead of bushels of fruit... well, he's gonna have a hell of a time dealing with the real world.
And that all said, it's going to be an "Alternative" school, with voluntary (and not exclusively black) enrollment. We already have "alternative" schools for gay kids, among others, that provide a similar role for the specific subgroup, and apparently they have a decent success rate.
I hate the idea that we'll have "white" and "black" schools (or "straight" and "gay" schools). But if a handful of black kids think "yeah, that's cool, I'll try it", enroll, and actually learn instead of skipping, then what the hell, I suppose. Is it *really* all that much different than choosing Montessori instead of regular preschool, in hopes that it'll be more stimulating?
Lauren at January 30, 2008 8:54 AM
"all that much different than choosing Montessori instead of regular preschool" I really hope this works better. I have yet to meet a supporter of the Montessori that did not have a serious personal vested interest in promoting it. The concept is uterly ludicrous. There are certain basic fundamentals we need. "I don't like math so I'm going to draw ponies." doesn't fly if you set no standards then why the hell would anyone struggle to learn. I don't' want to so I don't have to is how most of these schools are carried out. This was not the intent of the program but this is the execution.
vlad at January 30, 2008 9:13 AM
"The concept is uterly ludicrous."
The thing is, vlad, you can be a Montessori-trained teacher without being a full on righteous Montessori evangelist. The former can be outstanding.
(It strikes me that the brilliant M-trained ones we had at our kids' general pre-school might have been brilliant anyway. But I still remember them after all these years, even if I remain very skeptical of the undiluted ethos!)
Jody Tresidder at January 30, 2008 11:00 AM
I'm tired of checking the "white" box on all those government forms.
I want to be recognized as the British-Scottish-German-Italian-American that I am, and I want special schools, and funding, and grants --- and be quick about it!
The sooner we divide America into a thousand Balkan-type states, the sooner the arms industry can sell more weapons to support the inevitable micro-wars that will break out! And that's just good for America.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at January 30, 2008 11:33 AM
"Montessori-trained" is very different. A teacher that knows when and how to give the kids more creative freedom and inspires learning by making it interesting is one thing. It's not the concept that I'm most against in the Montessori system. It's the idiot approach to implementation. I actually like the ideas put forward.
vlad at January 30, 2008 11:49 AM
As a Canuck, I'm almost too embarassed to comment. All I can be thankful for is its those crazy, liberal eastern guys. It would never fly here in Alberta. Oh wait -- we still have publicly funded "seperate" schools for the Catholics. (Good thing as I don't want my son mixing with those types.
In grade 5, I was part of a SPEDS program (Society for the Prevention & Elimination of Discrimination and Stereotying). It was a fun way to learn about different cultures. Looking back, I see the multi-culti intent behind it, but I think its a decent idea to spend some time learning about other cultures. We spend far too many years up here learning about native indians and the inuit (yes, yes, they eat blubber -- I get it!) and not enough about the rest of the world.
I think it does have a lot to do with the kids choosing not to relate to or learn from non-black teachers, but I don't seem to recall that many teachers that I thought were cool and on my wave length. Their job is to guide learning, they aren't buddies or even really role models!
moreta at January 30, 2008 1:34 PM
As a Yankee, I'm weak on Canadian history - why do black city kids need a special school? Here in Gilead (see Margaret Atwood) the story is that (poor) blacks are disenfranchised due to oppression by white people most famously manifested as slavery. Has this happened in Canada too?
DaveG at January 30, 2008 3:34 PM
Well DavidG. Canada is growing up. We have our own Ghettos. The black and nonintigrative immmigrants populations are up in the big cities like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver. As with the rise in population is the rise with things that go with it like crime, drop out rates, and so.
The thing that surprises me is that the Afrocentric should not be afro-carib-mideast entric.
John Paulson at January 30, 2008 10:06 PM
Amy, your French teacher's comment seems a little hypocritical to me, as Europeans distinguish to a ludicrous degree amongst themselves, while throwing all Americans into one pot. Take Switzerland, for example. Within only the German-speaking part (and this is not a lot of real estate) they differentiate passionately between people from Basel, Zurich, Lucerne or Bern, not to mention those from the more rural parts out to the east, northeast and central Alpine regions. In the French-speaking part, it's a similar picture.
I can appreciate this until a European says something along the lines that Americans are just supposed to be Americans. I can't tell you how often I've encountered this kind of thinking. Ignorant thinking.
Swiss never tire of saying that Americans don't know the difference between Switzerland and Sweden. Europeans, on the other hand, are historical and geographical geniuses who think that California is a "southern state" and that San Francisco is on the east coast. I could go on and on. And on.
Marie at January 31, 2008 3:57 AM
And we are southern, or midwesterners or native Californians. There are regional prides everywhere.
Europeans, in my experience, are much more interested and knowledgeable about American geography and culture. And this includes a friend who's a 70-year-old retired cabinetmaker, never went to college, and was, last I saw him, reading Hannah Arendt.
Amy Alkon at January 31, 2008 4:59 AM
Christ, enough with encouraging divisiness between people already. This is absolutely racist. Thank fate, it was the mid-60's when I lived in the ghetto and I wasn't segregated out of my neighborhood school. Can you imagine the outrage over a Causcasian-centric school? This is no different.
And, yes, there are Hebrew schools and the Catholic schools here in NY (even upstate) anyway tend to have a lot of Irish, Italian and Spanish students and I doubt you're going to see anything but limited diversity in the hoity toity private schools but, note, these are private schools, parochial or academic, they are private, not public. They are not (or shouldn't be) funded by our tax dollars.
I know it falls out that one public school tends to be mostly white while another tends to be mostly black because of the proportions of those groups in the neighborhood but a public school should not be purposely designed for one race or the other. I don't know about Canada but here in the US, improve the education in the inner city schools by improving the funding for beginners and then follow up with really doing something to eliminate the slums instead of giving lip service to it while actually doing the opposite and running programs for advancement in such a way that it actually has the affect of isolating the people you're claiming to reach out to and keeping them exactly where you want them. Anyone else think maybe this is more by design than accident?
Donna at January 31, 2008 6:01 AM
"Take Switzerland, for example. Within only the German-speaking part (and this is not a lot of real estate) they differentiate passionately between people from Basel, Zurich, Lucerne or Bern, not to mention those from the more rural parts out to the east, northeast and central Alpine regions. In the French-speaking part, it's a similar picture."
Very true - but it is almost entirely in fun. Rather like the fun that Texans and Oklahomans poke at each other, and considerably less vicious that the "freeze a yankee" campaign I remember from Texas.
That said, your comment is right - and the French teacher naïve. People like to belong to identifiable "tribes", and to feel rivalry with other tribes. That's a driving force in a lot of aspects of human nature (think of sports teams). America is far too big to be a tribe - so people identify with their school, town, race - or all of those.
It only becomes a problem when it ceases to be "fun" and starts to be taken seriously.
bradley13 at January 31, 2008 7:07 AM
I wonder how many people would not hire a graduate of one of the separatism studies programs? I could be wrong, but it seems likely that the graduates are more likely to be walking grievances than positive contributors.
MarkD at January 31, 2008 8:22 AM
I went to a birthday party for a friend. He had to work the first half of the day so he came home and everybody was already there in the backyard barbequeing and partying. (He works on the docks at the cruise ship lines in San Diego pumping fuel into cruise ships). So he was dirty and nasty and excused himself to go take a shower and change cloths because he said, "I've been hauling around nasty heavy black hoses all day." He walked off and one of my friends who didn't know him well looked confused and asked me what does he do for a living? I said, "Hes a urologist for the NBA."
Bikerken at January 31, 2008 8:43 AM
The "afrocentric" jobs are as plentiful and available as "women's studies" jobs.
Jay R at January 31, 2008 10:02 PM
bikerken, just in case you're the type to come back and check to see if anyone thinks you're funny -
every time i open an article expressing this sentiment and scroll through, i do start to be swayed to the opinion that we really have made "enough" progress, you pop in and share a little gem like the one above, which clearly illustrates that we're not quite as far as we'd like to think . . .
c'mon at February 1, 2008 8:02 AM
Agree with you c'mon.
Jody Tresidder at February 1, 2008 11:27 AM
c'mon, if a little joke like that offends you, I pray to god we never go as far as you'd like to. Get a sense of humor.
Bikerken at February 2, 2008 9:42 PM
The classier response, Bikerken, when a "little" joke "like that" gets a sour reaction is to shrug and accept it didn't work and leave it at that.
No need to dig a bigger hole!
Jody Tresidder at February 2, 2008 10:07 PM
I live in Toronto, and agree with the comment that these schools should be Caribbean-centric, as most of the black immigrants here are from Jamaica. You don't meet many that are directly from Africa.
I think it's a stupid idea anyway. They should be focussing on why kids are skipping school, what are their home lives like, does the family have financial problems, is there violence at home, etc., and fix those problems.
Chrissy at February 7, 2008 8:54 AM
Chrissy wants the schools to focus on home problems of the kids and fix them. groan. I say identify the schools in which minority and all kids perform best, then clone them.
scott lane at February 9, 2008 8:26 AM
Leave a comment