** Please visit our website: http://www.africanassociation.org **
I think this article raises a number of very crucial issues.The first
and most important being the perception of minority students by some
narrow-minded teachers and administrators.When teachers contribute to
creating racial divides through their own thinly-veiled racist
attitudes like the ones mentioned in the citation below,how do we
expect learners not to follow suit? I still remember my horrendous
years as a K-12 teacher in APPLETON, where my name and photo were
deliberately obliterated from the SCHOOL year-book by some racist
caucasian who did not want my face and photo to "soil" their beautiful
all-white year-book.
The fact of the matter is that anyone who is unable to rise above his
race or ethnic group is an idiot. For teachers, it is even worse
because such bigots contribute to nurture the bigots that orchestrate
dismal catastrophes like "COLUMBINE"
Can these fellows be weeded out of our school system?
Sure they can!
BUT IT TAKES BALLS TO DO THAT!!
"how teachers interact with minority students has a
large impact on how the minority student body feels in
school.
Another striking example of how the teachers' and
administrators' actions at La Follette negatively
affect the minority student body is the unequal
enforcement taking place. Oftentimes African-Americans
and other minorities are stopped in the hallway for
passes or receive detention for being tardy, while
whites do not."
PETER W.VAKUNTA
DEPARTMENT OF FRENCH AND ITALIAN
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON
602 VAN HISE HALL
1220 LINDEN DRIVE
MADISON WI 53706-1525
U.S.A
Office 608 262 4067
Home 608 422 6089
Cell 608 381 0407
"The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of the wise man is
in his heart."
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
----- Original Message -----
From: Aggo Akyea <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, September 15, 2005 8:22 am
Subject: Darlinne Kambwa: RACIAL DIVIDE IN HIGH SCHOOLS
> ** Please visit our website: http://www.africanassociation.org **
>
> Darlinne Kambwa: RACIAL DIVIDE IN HIGH SCHOOLS MUST BE
> BRIDGED BY GROUP EFFORT
>
> By Darlinne Kambwa
> The Capital Times
> September 14, 2005
> http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion//index.php?ntid=54049&ntpid=11
>
>
> Most students attend school five days a week,
> approximately eight hours a day, for at least 11
> years. With all of the time spent at school, it
> literally becomes a second home.
>
> Students should never feel uncomfortable, unsafe or
> unwanted in our public schools. However, many do.
>
> This fall I am a senior at La Follette High School. As
> a minority student, I feel that the environment has
> not been inviting to the entire student population.
> Racial divisions at La Follette are a serious problem
> that need to be addressed before it becomes worse.
>
> The racial divisions make students, particularly
> minority students, feel uncomfortable and unwanted.
>
> Students at La Follette High School, just like any
> other high school, tend to draw toward people they
> feel comfortable around or have something in common
> with. Groups are often formed based on race, age,
> gender or social class.
>
> As you walk through La Follette's halls, the first
> thing that stands out is race. The halls are crowded
> with little clusters of students everywhere - but most
> of these groups are full of students of the same race.
>
> Students are often told they can always approach a
> teacher or faculty member with their problems. But not
> all students know a faculty member they feel
> comfortable talking with. This is just one example of
> how the administration and teaching staff do not
> connect with the entire student body.
>
> How teachers interact with minority students has a
> large impact on how the minority student body feels in
> school.
>
> Another striking example of how the teachers' and
> administrators' actions at La Follette negatively
> affect the minority student body is the unequal
> enforcement taking place. Oftentimes African-Americans
> and other minorities are stopped in the hallway for
> passes or receive detention for being tardy, while
> whites do not.
>
> Teachers and administrators need to decide on one
> system for enforcing the rules.
>
> This is not to imply that students are not responsible
> for their own actions, but rather that their actions
> need to be fairly judged by the entire staff. Being an
> African-American, I know this treatment makes students
> feel unwanted and discourages success.
>
> There is no one reason that racial division exists at
> La Follette, but it is an issue that needs to be
> discussed. Whatever the solution may be, it must be a
> group effort. Teachers, students and administrators
> need to come together to solve it.
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------
>
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>
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