a question to guide our discussion closing the...

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Closing the Attitude Gapof Black Male Learners

Principal Baruti Kafele

A Question to Guide our Discussion

During the time that your Black male studentsare in your classroom, who is the number onedeterminant of their success or failure?

When you see the faces of your Blackmale learners who and what do you see?

How did it go from this….…and this…

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…to this? This must be their reality…

…to prevent this from becoming their destiny!

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The gap between those students of one or moreracial / ethnic groups who are achieving at gradelevel and those of other racial / ethnic groupswho are not.

The Achievement Gap

Poverty

Popular Explanationfor the Achievement Gap

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Climate and Culture

Two Important Variables the Teacher Can Control

Climate - the MOOD (of my classroom).

Culture - the LIFESTYLE (of my classroom).

Two Important Variables the Teacher Can Control

The gap between those students who have thewill to strive for academic excellence and thosewho do not.

The Attitude GapThe Climate and Culture in MY Classroom

When my students are inmy classroom:

what do they see? what do they hear? what do they feel? what do they experience?

The Climate and Culture in MY Classroom

Do I provide a learningenvironment that fostersthe proper:

attitude decision-making

for my students’ success?

Attitude is the vehicle.

Climate and culture are the conduit.

Toward Closing the Achievement Gap

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A Climate / Culture Frameworkfor Closing the Attitude Gap

Attitude toward Black MalesDo I believe in him?

Relationship with Black MalesDo I know him?

Compassion for Black MalesDo I care about him?

Environment for LearningDo I provide him with a learningenvironment of excellence?

Relevance in InstructionDo I realize who he is?

Attitude toward Black Males

1. Do I believe in him?2. Do I have a passion for teaching him?3. Do I have a purpose for teaching him?4. Do I treat teaching him as a mission?5. Do I have a vision for what I expect of him?6. Do I set incremental and long-range goals for him to

achieve?7. Do I plan each day thoroughly toward his success?8. Do I see myself as a role model for him and therefore

always conduct myself as a professional?9. Do I see myself as the number one determinant of his

success or failure?10. Do I conduct daily self-reflections and self-assessments

of my practice of motivating, educating and empoweringhim?

Relationship with Black Males

Relationship with Black Males

1. Do I know him?2. Do I know how he learns?3. Do I know how to keep him inspired about learning?4. Do I know how to keep him motivated to excel?5. Do I know his goals and aspirations?6. Do I know his needs and interests?7. Do I know his experiences and realities?8. Do I know his challenges and obstacles?9. Do I know his parents?10. Do I know his neighborhood?

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Compassion for Black Males

Compassion for Black Males

1. Does he perceive that I care about him?2. Does he perceive that I like him?3. Does he perceive that I appreciate him?4. Does he perceive that I respect him?5. Does he perceive that I understand him?6. Does he perceive that I have empathy toward him?7. Does he perceive that I am patient with him?8. Does he perceive that I treat him equally and fairly?9. Does he perceive that I am committed to him?10. Does he perceive that I fear him?

Environment for Learning

Environment for Learning

1. Do I provide him with a learning environment of excellence?2. Do I have our classroom mission & vision statements posted?3. Do I have our building-level assessment objectives posted?4. Do I have our academic excellence criteria posted?5. Do I have our student goals and strategies posted?6. Do I have a “Wall of Fame” posted?7. Do I have motivational quotes and affirmations posted?8. Do I have historical images that reflect my students posted?9. Do I have the names and pictures of colleges and universities

posted?10. Do I have careers and their descriptions posted?

Relevance in Instruction

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1. Do I realize who he is?2. Does he realize who he is?3. Do I see any significance in him learning “his story?”4. Does he see any significance in learning “his story?”5. Do I have a responsibility to teach him “his story?”6. Does he have a responsibility to learn “his story?”7. Do my lessons take “his story” into consideration?8. Does he identify with and relate to what I teach him?9. Will knowing “his story” impact the way he sees

himself?10. Will knowing “his story” impact the way I see him?


Educators of Black males must exposethemselves to literature andprofessional development thatspecifically addresses the learning,cultural and social-emotional needs oftheir Black male learners towardculturally responsive teaching.

It Takes a Village to Raise a Child

Village Crisis

Family Crisis

“Self Crisis”

Manifestations of a “Self Crisis”for Black Males

Self-Image - How do I see myself?

Self-Esteem - How do I feel about myself?

Self-Discipline - Am I in control of myself?

Self-Respect - Do I bring honor to myself?

Self-Actualization - How am I maximizing my potential?

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Missing from the research and policydebates on the racial gap in studentachievement is an understanding of theways in which children come to perceivethe relationship between their racialidentities and what they believe they cando academically.

Dr. Pedro NogueraThe Significance of Race in the

Racial Gap in Academic Achievement2000 (article)

It is already reasonable, in fact, tobelieve that the African ancestors ofAmerican Blacks were among the majorbenefactors of the human race. Suchevidence as survives clearly shows thatAfricans were on the scene and actingwhen the human drama opened.

Lerone Bennett, Jr.Before the Mayflower

1961

Education has but one honorablepurpose. The purpose of propereducation is to prepare the student tobe a responsible handler of power. Anyother type of education is a waste oftime.

Dr. John Henrik ClarkeAfricans at the Crossroads

1991

When your Black male learners lookinto the mirror, who and what dothey see looking back at them?

Who am I?

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Culturally Responsive Teaching

What is it?

Dr. Alfred TatumTeaching Reading to Black Adolescent Males - 2005

For Black adolescent males, in order tooffset resistance that occurs because ofcultural differences and to help developtheir identities, it is essential to establishculturally responsive instructional practicesand infuse the curriculum with culturallyrelevant materials.

Dr. Amos N. WilsonAwakening the Natural Genius of Black Children - 1991

For the Black man to be in the positionhe is today, he has to be out of hismind….and one of the major instrumentsfor putting people out of their minds iseducation.

Dr. Asa G. Hilliard, IIIThe Reawakening of the African Mind - 1997

We do not know who we are, cannotexplain how we got here, and have nosense of our destiny beyond meresurvival.

Dr. Na’im AkbarKnow Thy Self - 1998

The major premise of effectiveeducation must be ‘self-knowledge.’ Inorder to achieve the goals of identity andempowerment, the educational processmust be one that educes the awareness ofwho we are.

Dr. Jawanza KunjufuCountering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys Vol. II - 1986

You cannot teach a child you do not love.You cannot teach a child you do not respect.

You cannot teach a child you do not understand.

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Historical Black MaleInventors And Inventions

(An example of history not commonly taught)

Lewis LatimerCarbon Filament (contained in light bulbs)Electric LampWrote first book on electric lightingWrote blueprints for the first telephone



Granville T. Woods Electric Railway System (Third Rail) Induction Telegraph System (Railroad) Automatic Air Brake



Jan MatzeligerAutomatic Shoe Lasting Machine



Norbert Rillieux Sugar Refiner (Evaporating Pan)



Frederick M. JonesRefrigeration Unit for trucks and trainsTicket Dispensing Machine Portable X-Ray Machine



Elijah McCoyAutomatic Lubrication for Machines

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Garrett A. MorganAutomatic Traffic SignalGas Mask



Dr. Mark Dean (contemporary)3 of the original nine patents of the PC


Classroom instruction and learningmust be culturally responsive.

Questions To Consider During Lesson Planning

1. Are my lessons culturally responsive?

2. Do my lessons take into consideration allof the learners in my classroom?

3. Have I read enough in this area towardmaking my lessons culturally responsivefor all of the learners in my classroom?

Developing a School-wideYoung Men’s Empowerment Program

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1. All male empowerment assemblies / meetings with Black maleguest speakers (POWER MONDAYS)

2. All male empowerment classroom meetings with Black maleguest speakers

3. Small group sessions led by Black men4. One-to-one mentoring with Black male mentors5. Opportunities to meet and spend time with Black male college

students6. Opportunities to meet and spend time with successful Black men

in their work environment7. Opportunities to meet and spend time with Black men in political

leadership8. Dress for Success Days9. Male retreats10. Father - son programs11. Male study groups12. Rites of Passage Programs


A Closer Look at “Power Monday”

1. What does a young men’s empowerment meeting look like?2. There are not many male teachers in our school. What can we do?3. How will we go about bringing men into our school to speak at our

empowerment meetings?4. What kind of follow up will we have for the speakers to engage in?5. Will the meetings be comprised of single grade levels or will grade

levels be combined?6. If combined, what would be the most appropriate combinations?7. How frequently will the meetings occur?8. What would be the duration of the meetings?9. Would the meetings be held in the morning, afternoon or both?10. What do the girls do during the male empowerment meetings?11. Which staff members should be involved?12. What topics will be discussed?13. What are some of the activities that we’d engage our students in?14. What are the goals of the male empowerment meetings?15. How would we measure the success of the program?16. What are the possibilities of partnering with corporations,

businesses and other agencies?

1. All male empowerment assemblies / meetings with Black maleguest speakers (POWER MONDAYS)

2. All male empowerment classroom meetings with Black maleguest speakers

3. Small group sessions led by Black men4. One-to-one mentoring with Black male mentors5. Opportunities to meet and spend time with Black male college

students6. Opportunities to meet and spend time with successful Black men

in their work environment7. Opportunities to meet and spend time with Black men in political

leadership8. Dress for Success Days9. Male retreats10. Father - son programs11. Male study groups12. Rites of Passage Programs


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