What’s happening to the child after he or she’s inside the school building, the classroom? Quality education for black kids is a must.

A poor education breeds these vicious cycles that impact generation after generation. They exist blatantly within our view. We find the impact of an educational system that is neglecting our kids regularly when we drive around the area and see lost faces. Yes, parents, neighbors, churches and other community organizations play a part in keeping children in school. But fundamentally, what is occurring to the child once she or he is inside the school building, the classroom.

We all know of kids who come from dysfunctional families, so called “bad neighborhood” and simply oppressive environments, who find refuge and faith in the school system and go on to apply themselves, become productive citizens, frequently achieve greatness and go on to break the cycle of inferior schooling in their own family. This scenario may be the exception and not the rule. But it can be the rule. It can happen more often than not if teachers and administrators are equipped and motivated to do the job they’re hired to do.

At what point will America get seriously interested in addressing in a broad and meaningful manner the institutional racism that pervades public instruction and stop the charade? Photo Credit: newskamataka.com

A quality education for black kids improves all of society. Photo Credit: newskamataka.com

Beyond the individual devastation a poor quality education causes, it also reeks havoc on a community in many other ways. It is a phenomenon that is common to a school system with a reputation of poor educational accomplishment and that causes urban flight. People abandon the city and head for the suburbs. New people coming into a brand new city will buy or not purchase a home based on the standing of the public schools. Some companies choose to move or expand their operations in a neighboring suburb to accommodate their likely workers – all because of a poor quality school system’s picture and impact.

The economics don’t cease there. A city whose public educational system has a negative or poor reputation of placing our graduates with poor basic skills makes many companies cautious of being able to hire workers fit for available occupations. The location or relocation of many companies is directly linked to the understanding of being able to get skilled labor at a reasonable wage.

Why isn’t a quality schooling for blacks and other minorities higher on the list of our national priorities – Sixty years later?

Edited and Reprinted with Permission of USAonRace.com