Getting African American kids to read

[MahoganyBooks Admin]

I just finished watching Gifted Hands and I had a thought about how he was able to overcome a bad attitude, low self-esteem, and an addiction to television. Is it possible that Ben Carson only measured up to the standards that his mother enforced within the home?

What does that mean for our children? Are we as parents coming home checking homework, turning the TV off, and stimulating the imagination of our children? And if we aren't who is to blame for their failures and below average motivation to learn and succeed.

Should the kids be held responsible or should the parents?

[Audra D. Lundy]

I do believe that the parent(s) are the first teacher(s) to their child(ren). I also feel that it can start as early as a month old by you singing the alphabet song & some type of number song to 10( can't recall one right now) and also reading to them. Believe me when they start to making sounds they will hum that song and when they start to talking then they will start reciting it in their own language until it is clear. I do not believe kids are only capable of doing certain things because they are a certain age - take the kid out of the box. Just because their numerical age is one thing it does not mean their educational(mental) age(ability) has to stay there. Yes, it is hard (i know) juggling work(maybe more than one), a mate(if there is one) and raising of a child but it has to be done. Unfortunately it comes with the territory of becoming a PARENT. I feel the responsibility is the parent's because not all teachers care if your child is learning or not let alone going to pass to move to the next grade. If you are involved in your child's educational growth than you know what your child is capable and not capable of therefore the school system can not pull anything over on you and you will not be surprised because YOU were the first teacher. This way it gives you the upper hand when something goes wrong and you know how to attack the educational hindrance with the assistance of the teacher not the other way around. I encourage my fellow parents that we make time for our kids not only to rear up them up to be well mannered, respectful people but to also be educated as high as their educational ability allows them to go. Because no one will look out for our kids if we do not.