Success for Black Boys

Dr. Steve Perry’s (CNN Black in America II) message to conference participants this past Saturday was clear and concise – it’s time to close schools that are not working for our kids and open schools that do!

An avid supporter of charter schools and vouchers, Perry contends that far too often public schools have become “employment agencies” for adults who have no real interest and/or expertise in teaching black, brown and poor students. 

He notes that the primary problem with schools is they’re designed to make adults feel comfortable, while chipping away at the souls of our most fragile students.

Although Dr. Perry was speaking to about 300 lively public school educators, he did not bite his tongue.  He made it plain that he has no patience for “grown people” that don’t know how to care for kids and that educators should stop complaining about their lack of pay until they can produce the kind of achievement results that will make the community proud.

Dr. Perry suggests:

• Schools of education should stop graduating teachers that are certified but not capable
• Schools should identify the ineffective teachers and have them removed
• Educators have a responsibility to extend themselves – sacrifice more (tutoring, home visits, counseling, curriculum planning, etc)
• Stop focusing on textbooks and teach students a more enriched curriculum

Additional Resources
Follow Dr. Perry on Twitter
Black in America II – Article about Steve Perry
Video of Dr. Perry on Black in America II