Really??? Sixty Billion Dollars are going to special education?
According to Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu and his researchers, there are six million children enrolled in special education. There are four million males and two million females. Guess how many are black males. If that doesn't frighten you, then...Houston, we have a problem. This billion dollar industry is growing rapidly and is heavily populated with black males. Yes, it is true that some children need the service, but there are also others who are placed in special education classrooms inappropriately. Not every black boy has ADD or ADHD. Most often those overly active boys are on the path to become engineers, chemists, researchers, and other professionals with creative minds. You know him...the little boy who can put together a 500 piece puzzle in no time. These little ones probably started out like sponges, soaking up every ounce of something new. Then when they get to school some teacher does everything in her power to make him sit like a soldier with only two breaks. How many of us can sit still without picking up our cellphones, doodling, or just merely touching something? When this occurs the child becomes a behavior problem. If every day he is being fussed at because he can't be still, then eventually this child will become disengaged from the learning environment and will shut down. Les Brown is an example of this foolishness. He was labeled as mentally retarded and was told that he would never be anything. Someone planted that seed within him and unfortunately, he believed it. At that moment, his light bulb for learning blew out. He made F's and failed twice. Then a teacher in high school took extra time with him, reigniting the flame. He became an honor roll student and now Les Brown is one of the world's best motivational speakers.
Don't get it wrong, school is not always to blame. At home we don't always take the time to talk to our children. They seem to ask a million questions when we are tired. It's okay to answer them politely and not yell at them for asking. Children enter this world with a desire to know more. Home first and then school is responsible.
As mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, or whatever the role, we should never allow school to break a child's spirit. Kunjufu suggests that we should do whatever we can do to fight for our sons.
The Les Brown Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN01-B3oshg&feature=related
For more insight pick up a copy of "Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education" by Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu
Special education has historically been misused in the educational system. it has just been. Most recently, with the help of legislation that special education is starting to serve its true purpose. Many schools and educational system do not have answer on how to educate the tough learners (which have or could be...young black boys). It is much easier to say that they have a learning disability or a "problem". The question that has to be answered is how do these kids function at home and in society, but at school they are a problem? ADD and ADHD are two of the most frequently wrongly diagnosed disorders of all mankind. Plus, they both are very hard to prove and thus why we have a problem of over stacking special education. Misplacement of black boys in special education for (the behavior) of black boys also a catylyst for true behavior problems and societal esteem issues. It is up to parents and educators to take more care and time to properly work with, place, and educate black boys. With a little, care, concern, and effort on both ends...this situation can easily be regressed.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure how easy it is to regress this issue. Although it is up to parents and educators, many lack the skills needed to accomadate the children. How do we reach, educate and support the parents if these communities? Most of the children placed in these special education programs have parents who need to be supported in regards to providing an educational conducive environment in the home and outside if the public school setting.
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