Closing the achievement gap: promoting school excellence through Kwanzaa

There is much talk and debate about how to close the achievement gap between black and white students. Since the landmark Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, (1954), the United States Supreme Court ruling that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students that denied black children the same educational opportunities, black students have continued lagging behind the white and yellow students.

That it is a national crisis is an understatement. A new published study on high school dropout and incarceration rates among blacks begs the question. Nearly 23 percent of all black American men ages 16 to 24 who drop out of high school are in jail, prison, or a juvenile justice institution, according to a new report from the Northeastern University Center for Labor Markets, “Consequences of Dropping Out of High School “.

High school dropouts cost the nation a lot. Not only do American taxpayers get no return on the $ 8,701 we spend on average per student, each dropout costs us $ 292,000 over a lifetime in lost earnings, lower taxes paid, and higher expenditures for social programs like incarceration, healthcare and wellness. . Given the many social pathologies that affect black men in low-income, fatherless households, some have argued that the best place for at-risk black men is not the dominant paradigm of failed public schools. Since public schools are prohibited from teaching virtues and often reduce children to receptacles of information, expanding private and faith-based options for black parents is the only compelling solution.

However, it may come as a surprise to many that public schools are allowed to teach virtues and values. Kwanzaa, a values-based cultural holiday, now recognized as an official school holiday to be celebrated, offers a powerful message and method to promote and encourage the achievements of blacks. Although Kwanzaa has something to offer young people of all colors and nationalities, this African-American cultural holiday, which is celebrated from December 26 to January 1.

To begin with, Kwanzaa gifts require that whatever it is, a book and a symbol of heritage. The idea of ​​giving a book is to emphasize education and underline the value of learning. This not only supports reading and learning, but encourages the building of personal libraries for students. When celebrating Kwanzaa, students could exchange books instead of the usual exchange of material items. Therefore, teachers would do well to explore incorporating Kwanzaa into their classroom curriculum.

Second, the Kwanzaa activity of Commitment to the Practice of the 7 Principles offers teachers a strategy to motivate students to improve their school performance. The principle of creativity (Kuumba) demands continuous improvement from students. This principle pushes young people to be dissatisfied with “just getting by”, to be dissatisfied with being average or even above average. Acclaimed scientist George Washington Carver, echoing this sentiment, states: “No one has the right to enter the world without leaving a clear and legitimate reason for having passed through it.”

The following Kwanzaa candle lighting activity and protocol is a powerful reinforcement of Kwanzaa moral values ​​and instructions. The candle lighting activity is instructive and underscores the primacy of effort as a path to learning and achieving good school results. The protocol is as follows:

The black candle is lit first to symbolize the value that is placed on people. The next day, the red candle is lit, symbolizing effort and work. The green candle is lit on the third day. This candle is a symbol of future and prosperity. The lesson is that if students apply themselves and work hard, they will succeed in school and thus ensure a more prosperous future. In other words, grades are a function and result of study and effort.

Given the educational status of Black students and, in particular, Black men, Kwanzaa is an attractive resource for teachers to use to motivate and support academic studies among Black students. Kwanzaa holidays are rich in educational materials and offer values ​​and principles that support excellence and school achievement.