Are black children BORN academically slower than other groups?

I do believe that home preparation plays a major part in how a child excels in school. Some parents take the time work with their children from the time they can speak. By the time I was 2yrs old, I was reading fluently, speaking clearly and knew all of the basics plus some. I was the teacher's helper in pre-school. I passed this on to my children and when my son was 3yrs old, I was looking for a pre-school for him. As we stood in the office waiting for the Director, my son was reading the bulletin board out loud and the woman said " Oh I see he can read fluently" I said yes, she proceeds to say " You know they say that you should not teach a child too much too soon because it can cause them to be burn out" I said, you know , if a child is asking for the information then you teach it to them. I kindly grabbed my son by the hand and to her that my son would not be attending her facility because I see that she would be interferring with his academic growth and that I would not be having.

Unfortunately, the bar has been set so low for our children in the school systems, that they are not challenged and unless the parent (s) do their part in the best interest of the child (ren) they fall through the cracks. Anytime a child can recite word for word the lyrics to a song, be it hip hop or R & B, but can't spell his/her own name, it is a guide to what is important in the home and what the child is exposed to.

I don't know if you ever read a book called " Mrs B's Classroom" by Leslie Baldacci. Great book that gives a look into the window of what is happening in the school systems all across the country.

AMEN MARGUERITE! SUCH A PROFOUND AND INSIGHTFUL RESPONSE! U touched on so many key points. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING U SAID!

Can I have permission to QUOTE U?

Thank you and Yes you may quote me. Education is an area of utmost importance to me. I truly am a believer in knowledge is power and that we can not wait for others to teach our children all of what they need to be prepared in this world.

Looking at the stats you listed, it appears that it is a 50-50 toss up. Black children scored more in the first two catagories and the white kids scored better in the last two catagories. I guess it depends on how you interpret the data.

USA Census says 84% of Asian children lived with 2 parents, 78% of white non-hispanic did, 70% of hispanic and 38% OF SlaveAmerican(BLACK)----...................

This is where I will get the punishment----
the reason for SlaveAmerican figures like this is: SlaveAmerican FEMALES.
They have been and continue to be the impediment for the growth of Americans of Slave descent.
Unfortunately(we dont want to admit), Slave womens' culture was to spread her legs to the MasterAmerican, then watch as the MasterAmerican sold his and her child to another Master to continue this cultural legacy.
And of course the statistics prove my point, and by the way Our Leader President Baraka Hussein Obama was never infected by a SlaveAmerican female in his upbringing.

Robert,

According to the NY Times and interview with Professor John U.
Ogbu "...middle-class black parents in general spent no more time on
homework or tracking their children's schooling than poor white
parents." He surveyed 2 PARENT MIDDLE CLASS BLACK PARENTS so this can't just be blamed or explained by the # of single black woman.

SOURCE:http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?
res=9E0DE2D91338F933A05752C1A9649C8B63

DOCUMENTED LIST OF ACHIEVEMENT GAPS:
http://hbcukids.com/Resources.html

We have to be SMARTER than what we are dealing with. Stop blaming and start DOING THE WORK.

The results above were % of children NOT YET IN SCHOOL, so we can't keep blaming the schools, teachers, rap music, weather, and everything else under the sun.

WE MUST STOP WASTING PRECIOUS TIME YAPPING ABOUT Rihanna and Chris and GETTING WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ON HOW TO PREPARE OUR MUNCHKINS FROM BIRTH!

WE CAN DO THIS!

Earl, I had a mom in another forum share her testimony of how she READ AND SPOKE to her child in the womb. I saw the sonogram of my youngest munchkin ATTACK an inserted needle as a FETUS during one of my prenatal exams. My hubby and I quickly REALIZED EVEN AT THAT MOMENT she was GIFTED with a mind to survive. She shocked the attending physician of her awareness of her environment and her INSTINCT on how to defend it. Now at age 5, we take our responsibility of equipping her for LIFE no less seriously. She is BRIGHT, ENERGETIC and CREATIVE. She even has her own website that we display her artwork-LOL.
www.WeALLstartsmall.com

I BASICALLY BELIEVE THAT AS A COMMUNITY WE NEED TO START PREPARING AND EQUIPPING OUR BABIES FROM THE TIME THEY ARE BORN TO SURVIVE.

In the 21st Century FREEDOM is a choice.

WE CAN DO THIS!

Earl which is probably why GOD tells me to start these discussions.

Putting this in context, when it comes to children or anyone, of the homosapien species, I don't think the melanin in one's skin or ones race has anything to do with one's learning capacity or capabilities. Culture, however, definitely plays a part. What we put emphasis on, in our home or cultural or community life is what we manifest to our children undoubtedly. I think that's why the playing field isn't always level or equal when it comes to some of the educational institutions throughout the nation. For example, it's often said urban and inner city schools lack adequate learning facilities, and tools and so forth, compared to the schools you find in the suburbs. Education starts at home. Some parents may put more emphasis on training, rearing or raising their children for the working arena, blue collar jobs, opposed to corporate America, for example, because they know the odds are slim that their children will ever make it to college, and graduate, rather they find it impractical because of racism, or unaffordable, or because their child lacks interest or discipline, etc. I definitely don't think black children are born academically slower than other groups. I think alot of black parents raise their kids for survival and emphasize that in which they find important, based on so many different factors. It seems now, that America has a black President so to speak, black parents will probably be more hopeful for their children's future as well as accepting and supportive of their dreams. Also, I think we should take into account how they measure academics, or decipher academic targets, because I really don't believe what is being taught in the hood, or a predominantly African American community, is the same curriculum they teach in the suburbs or an Anglo-American dominated community. Having attended schools all my life, in which I could count the number of black students on all of 10 fingers, most of my African-American related education came from my parents, and their multitude of African American oriented books, from The Harlem Renaissance to Soul on Ice. Great blog. I have to question what "correct preparation" is however, given my sentiments above, -correct by America's standards (mainstream), or by our own... I remember growing up, even though my favorite subject was English, I hated reading, but read and wrote well, maybe just not up to speed, and had to take remedial reading courses in the 7th grade. I came from a home where my parents read to us every night. I think when we hold he same expectations for everyone academically, without taking into consideration one's cultural affiliations, it doesn't seem fair. My daughter is going through speech therapy, since she was 3, she's 4 now, and it shouldn't be surprising because she's learning two different languages all at once it seems, and English with different accents, so some of her pronunciations are off. Literacy, especially English grammar, would probably be much easier to grasp, in my opinion by Anglo-American cultured individuals, compared to any other race of people, for the obvious reasons, it's their language. And even though some of our ancestors have never seen Africa, and America is all they know, broken English or ebonics rather, is still passed down, it's not an excuse for our lack of Literacy, it's an explanation...
That's what I think...

AMEN! SHARE ! SHARE! SHARE! AND SHARE SOME MORE!

Earl and Maryanne, I think U are both on to something REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY BIG.

My oldest is in the 1st grade so I am ALL UP IN THE CURRICULUM. I too noticed this "new" way of teaching reading. So my hubby and I supplement with phonics books from the retail stores to teach it AT HOME OLD SCHOOL STYLE. My hubby works with at-risk kids most of his career so he has a ton of DECODING books that we use too. Our munchkin began 1st grade at about 3rd grade reading level but NOT yet on comprehension. So we began to try to help her connect the dots better and I can definitely see it paying off in ALL AREAS OF HER EDUCATION. She presented before our church congregation an original poem and got a standing ovation. No one could believe a 6 year old could not only memorize an original poem but deliver with such strong conviction and passion.

I can attest it was not LEARNED from school-LOL.

But we work closely with her teacher and I even had her present it to her teacher too so she "knew what she is working with".

My point is that SOMETHING AINT RIGHT BUT WE NEED TO BE THE ONES FIXING IT!

I am working on a NEW analysis for next month that QUANITIFIES this impact in our ECONOMY which will DOLLARIZE some of the choices mentioned by Maryanne. Should be done soon.

Earl...It makes sense, it sounds good. Learning consists of reading for the most part. You have to read in every subject. I feel some children, and some people in general, may be more mathematically inclined than others... you know right brained vs. left brained, or more inclined to the arts, then the sciences. I have yet to take in the new school system, my daughter's only 4. From what I hear some schools, nowadays, have gotten rid of books, and lockers and have put everything on the net, homework assignments included. It's a new era no doubt. Fortunately, nowadays, in some states, parents can place their children in private or specialty schools, and if they can't afford it, they can get financial help from the government, so parents do have choices as to whether their child attends a public school or not. I absolutely believe the federal curriculum isn't the same across the board in public schools...other than "The no child left behind" act... they may have the same policies and so forth, but I doubt the same subjects are being taught or even emphasized, for example, African-American literature isn't perhaps as prominent in Anglo-American dominated schools, as black dominant schools. How would you define the proper way of reading, when there's so many alternatives I'd assume? Phonics worked for me. Kids and people learn differently, no doubt, what works for one, may not work for another.

Maryanne another thing to consider is this. Who is a child's FIRST TEACHER?
SHE should know what her child is struggling with FIRST.

Here is a list of links that worked/works for us. There is even a 4 year old's ONLINE READING TEST that I HIGHLY recommend as it helped us hone in on the areas that our munchkins had not yet been exposed to at home.

http://hbcukids.com/Home2.html

(IT IS LETTER F under our favorite links A-Z on the bottom right side of the page)

I think we can agree that WE CAN DO THIS!
www.cottonpickinpaycheck.com

I loveee your blog! As a children author who vends throughout the community I find that some parents dismiss my book all together to purchase something less of value for thier children. Just recently, I set up to do face painting and sell my book "Imani Has The Most Exciting Dream!" which is filled with words to challenge a first grader and affirmations to help build a child's self esteem - shameless plug, however. I had already packed up my art supplies when the mother approached me with a ten dollar bill in her hand about to offer it to me as she asked the question "Are you already packed!" All the while her four year old daughter moved her little hand several times across my book cover engaged with the illustration...When I informed the mother that yes, I was packed and had stayed 15 minutes over time but she could have the book for $10. She looked disappointed...Mind you,this is a hard cover full color book with a picture gallery, address listing, definitions page, affirmation activity page that retails at 14.95. This woman looked me in my face and stated, oh I don't have any money. WHAT! In the hamburger patties is wrong with some people. My face painting designs were $8 at the time. Well, I just wish the mother and child a sad good bye. As a face painter my job is easy, but as an author I truly have to work to sell a book. Is that not crazy!? Truth be told this happens more often than I would like to mention.