In recent debates of charter schooling, educators have argued that any charter school where one race is the majority disrupts the goal of integrated schools. As I learn more about the politics of education and reform, I find that although the battle between public schooling and charter schools is heated, there is a conversation to be had about charter schools geared towards students of color.
The article of focus reminded me of Brown vs. Board of education and how the ruling to integrate schools was sought to give all students an equal opportunity for a good education. However, this article was about the importance of centering in on young males of color and allowing them to foster bonds and strengthen their future paths through an environment where they are the majority.
As the number of charter schools steadily grows, I empathize with principal El-Mekki’s reasonings for creating these spaces. Aside from the appeal of having representation in the classroom, the article stressed the necessity for students who aren’t African American to see that the role of an educator can be filled by a person of color and that they too can be sought out for knowledge and guidance. Students within the school expressed content in being a part of an educational environment with so much common ground. An objection to this practice is the possibility of eliminating public schools and reverting to segregated school systems. It would take quite some time to get to that point, but I believe the argument the Mastery Charter School-Shoemaker is trying to make is to normalize different faces in power as well as attack the school-to-prison pipeline.
Among other things, the article speaks about the creation of fellowship catered to black males becoming stakeholders in the community and education. A member of this fellowship states “we need a diversity of voice, a diversity of thought, particularly around who makes decisions about our children”. I can see those in opposition saying there are ways to have a diversity of voice in diverse institutions but I believe the presence of majority-black staff provides more leadership roles to be filled by black people who will then become stakeholders whose ideals will align more with the population they seek to represent.
https://www.inquirer.com/philly/education/20170103_He_seeks_more_black_men_to_teach_in_Philly_and_beyond.html
1 comment:
I agree that representation can go a long way in showing children different avenues open to them as well as giving them different role models. In the library field, which is predominantly white females there has been a huge push to recruit people of color into the profession so communities can see themselves represented in the staff. That being said, I still think it's important to have ethnically and racially diverse teachers, especially for children in homogeneous communities.
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