African Americans and Standardized Tests

Overview

No black child is left behind with the support of his or her family

With a surprisingly honest and hard-hitting approach, this scathing indictment of the modern black family postulates that a lack of appreciation for literacy in the African American household is the true cause of low scores on today's standardized tests. Arguing that television, video games, rap music, and sports are all distractions from much-needed study time, the discussion stresses the significance of literacy in a child's future and the importance of parental involvement toward shaping that future. In an educational climate where most of the blame for a child's poor performance is placed upon the teachers, the curricula, and the social structure of the schools, this discussion ultimately places the responsibility back in the hands of the family and offers them suggestions for improvement.

Author Biography

Veda Jairrels, JD, PhD, is a lawyer and a professor of education at Clark Atlanta University. She lives near Atlanta.