Educating Black Children: Students Need Strong Parent-School Partnerships
John Butts@JBMedia - Reports:
On July 5, Ivory Kaleb Toldson was born. He is my first son and second child. During his birth I relived the joy, wonderment and jitters that I experienced in 2007 when my daughter, Makena, was born.
Like millions of parents, I want the best education for my children. As a black parent, I am cognizant of the persistent racial inequities and biases in the school system. Black children need to be exposed to a curriculum that builds on their strengths, affirms their culture and treats them with dignity and compassion.
Notwithstanding many problems that schools are having educating black children, I am optimistic that black children can succeed in any type of school (public, private or charter) in any environment (urban, suburban or rural). Through my years of research on academic success, I am convinced that the key to educating black children is to have schools build successful partnerships with black parents.
Today the relationship between black parents and schools is precarious, primarily because of antagonists and instigators. Most antagonists speak through a certain movement or organization. Teachers unions, reform movements and public-education advocates can be noble when they focus on children but destructive when they become antagonistic and defensive. For example, when public schools and teachers unions defend themselves against criticism, they often use apathetic black parents and poverty as scapegoats.http://www.theroot.com/views/fixing-miseducation-black-children
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Obama News: A Living Diary of the Obama Presidency - POLITICO44 - POLITICO.com
Obama News: A Living Diary of the Obama Presidency - POLITICO44 - POLITICO.com
John Butts@JBMedia - Reports:
Two veteran Democratic senators, Dianne Feinstein of California and Dick Durbin of Illinois, are urging President Barack Obama to rein in force feeding of hunger-striking inmates at the U.S. military's Guantanamo Bay prison for terror suspects.
"We write to urge you to use your Presidential authority to end the unnecessary force-feedings of detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility," the senators wrote Wednesday in a letter to Obama.
As Feinstein did in a letter sent to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel last month, the senators stopped short of saying Guantanamo prisoners should never be force fed, but argued the current policy is simply too aggressive.
"We...encourage you to direct the Department of Defense to stop conducting such large-scale force-feedings and, where force-feeding is medically necessary to save a detainee’s life, to observe the protections required at U.S. Bureau of Prisons facilities. It is our understanding that the U.S. federal prison guidelines for force-feedings include several safeguards and oversight mechanisms that are not in place at Guantanamo Bay," Feinstein and Durbin wrote.
The new letter (posted here) also refers to an order a federal judge issued Monday, rejecting a bid to halt the force feedings during Ramadan but urging Obama to "address" the issue.
At last count, the Pentagon said 106 of the 166 prisoners were on hunger strike (as the military defines it) and 45 prisoners were being force fed.
"The growing problem of hunger strikes is due to the fact that many detainees have remained in legal limbo for more than a decade and have given up hope," Feinstein and Durbin wrote. "This should be alarming to all of us, and it is imperative that the Administration outline a formal process to permanently close the Guantanamo facility as soon as possible. We look forward to continue working with you to achieve that end."
John Butts@JBMedia - Reports:
Two veteran Democratic senators, Dianne Feinstein of California and Dick Durbin of Illinois, are urging President Barack Obama to rein in force feeding of hunger-striking inmates at the U.S. military's Guantanamo Bay prison for terror suspects.
"We write to urge you to use your Presidential authority to end the unnecessary force-feedings of detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility," the senators wrote Wednesday in a letter to Obama.
As Feinstein did in a letter sent to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel last month, the senators stopped short of saying Guantanamo prisoners should never be force fed, but argued the current policy is simply too aggressive.
"We...encourage you to direct the Department of Defense to stop conducting such large-scale force-feedings and, where force-feeding is medically necessary to save a detainee’s life, to observe the protections required at U.S. Bureau of Prisons facilities. It is our understanding that the U.S. federal prison guidelines for force-feedings include several safeguards and oversight mechanisms that are not in place at Guantanamo Bay," Feinstein and Durbin wrote.
The new letter (posted here) also refers to an order a federal judge issued Monday, rejecting a bid to halt the force feedings during Ramadan but urging Obama to "address" the issue.
At last count, the Pentagon said 106 of the 166 prisoners were on hunger strike (as the military defines it) and 45 prisoners were being force fed.
"The growing problem of hunger strikes is due to the fact that many detainees have remained in legal limbo for more than a decade and have given up hope," Feinstein and Durbin wrote. "This should be alarming to all of us, and it is imperative that the Administration outline a formal process to permanently close the Guantanamo facility as soon as possible. We look forward to continue working with you to achieve that end."
Railroad CEO heckled in ravaged Quebec town - CNN.com
Railroad CEO heckled in ravaged Quebec town - CNN.com
John Butts@JBMedia - Reports:
The head of the railway whose runaway train devastated a small Quebec town cast doubt on his engineer's story Wednesday as he arrived to face insults from survivors and harsh questions from reporters.
John Butts@JBMedia - Reports:
The head of the railway whose runaway train devastated a small Quebec town cast doubt on his engineer's story Wednesday as he arrived to face insults from survivors and harsh questions from reporters.
Edward Burkhardt said the engineer has been suspended without pay and faces a criminal investigation by Canadian authorities.
He said the engineer reported to railroad managers that he set 11 hand brakes on the train cars before they broke away from their engines, but "I think it's questionable whether he did."
"Our general feeling is now that is not true," said Burkhardt,chairman of the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway. The engineer had worked for the MM&A for "many years" and "had a completely clear safety record up until Saturday," Burkhardt said.http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/10/world/americas/canada-runaway-train/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
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