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Learning While Black

Creating Educational Excellence for African American Children

Janice E. Hale
with a foreword by V.P. Franklin

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In Learning While Black Janice Hale argues that educators must look beyond the cliches of urban poverty and teacher training to explain the failures of public education with regard to black students. Why, Hale asks simply, are black students not being educated as well as white students?

Hale goes beyond finger pointing to search for solutions. Closing the achievement gap of African American children, she writes, does not involve better teacher training or more parental involvement. The solution lies in the classroom, in the nature of the interaction between the teacher and the child. And the...

In Learning While Black Janice Hale argues that educators must look beyond the cliches of urban poverty and teacher training to explain the failures of public education with regard to black students. Why, Hale asks simply, are black students not being educated as well as white students?

Hale goes beyond finger pointing to search for solutions. Closing the achievement gap of African American children, she writes, does not involve better teacher training or more parental involvement. The solution lies in the classroom, in the nature of the interaction between the teacher and the child. And the key, she argues, is the instructional vision and leadership provided by principals. To meet the needs of diverse learners, the school must become the heart and soul of a broad effort, the coordinator of tutoring and support services provided by churches, service clubs, fraternal organizations, parents, and concerned citizens. Calling for the creation of the "beloved community" envisioned by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Hale outlines strategies for redefining the school as the Family, and the broader community as the Village, in which each child is too precious to be left behind.

"In this book, I am calling for the school to improve traditional instructional practices and create culturally salient instruction that connects African American children to academic achievement. The instruction should be so delightful that the children love coming to school and find learning to be fun and exciting."—Janice Hale

Reviews

Reviews

In this challenging book, Hale cites persistent teacher shortages, inadequate materials and facilities, and the lack of accountability among administrators as factors contributing to continual academic failure among low-income children in predominantly black public schools. To counter this situation, she proposes the concepts of 'being in the family, creating the village, and striving for the beloved community.'.

I have never read a book that has had as much impact on me as a parent and educator as did Learning While Black.

Hale's well thought out suggestions put Learning While Blackat the forefront of discussions around educational reform.

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About

Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
6
x
9
Pages
256
ISBN
9780801867767
Illustration Description
8 line drawings
Table of Contents

Foreword by V. P. Franklin
Preface
Acknowledgments
PART I: Breaking the Silence
Chapter 1: Mastery and Excellence versus the Bell Curve
Chapter 2: Playing by the Rules
Chapter 3: African American Goals and

Foreword by V. P. Franklin
Preface
Acknowledgments
PART I: Breaking the Silence
Chapter 1: Mastery and Excellence versus the Bell Curve
Chapter 2: Playing by the Rules
Chapter 3: African American Goals and Closed Doors
Chapter 4: Down the Up Escalator
PART II: Creating the Village
Chapter 5: Twenty-First-Century Education Project: Report and Recommendations
Chapter 6: A Model for Culturally Appropriate Pedagogy
Chapter 7: The Role of the African American Church in Creating the Village
Chapter 8: Where Do We Go from here?: A Call to Action
Appendix - The Church's Educational and Advocacy Mission with African American Children: Cognitive, Affective, and Religious Context
References
Index

Author Bios
Featured Contributor

Janice E. Hale

Janice E. Hale is professor of early childhood education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. She is the founder of Visions for Children, a demonstration school designed to facilitate the intellectual development of African American preschool children. Her books include Black Children: Their Roots, Culture, and Learning Styles, Unbank the Fire: Visions for the Education of African...