Education Equality For All: There is more to this world than your own backyard...

Education Equality For All: There is more to this world than your own backyard...: "One of the many issues that The Vision Lab will tackle is the lack of students' local and global explorations. I have often wondered why as ..."

Time to Unschool Your Minds

So often I have conversations with people regarding their disappointments with the public school system. I am not sure when we came to the conclusion that the public school system was the only option we had to educate our children. This form of educating our children is not our saving grace. It is simply the most convenient and least expensive option that parents choose. Yep, it is a choice. We will talk about educational choices at a later time. If you are choosing this route you must know that because it is the least expensive, government ran form of education for parents we have to become involved as parents, community members, and advocates to fill in the gaps. There are several ways to become involved that do not include being physically at the school all day everyday. We will also talk about that at a later time.

I feel that the first step to an unschooled mind is knowing your history so that you can channel your expectations in the right the direction. That's what I will introduce to you today. This is just a little summary. Did you know that the African American journey to a quality education started with the pre-colonial West African ages, to the arrival in the New World through the Middle Passage on slave ships, to the modern Civil Rights movement? In the past, education for African youth in the western African societies was built upon a foundation of direct participation in political and cultural life for the community. Education, especially literacy, was and is something to be put in the art of living productively and generatively. During this time in history, education for African youth was perceived as a normal occurrence of which a high value was placed upon the need and desire to learn among the community. African youth experienced an indigenous education rich in inter-generational communication and teachings, oral literary traditions, dialogical relationships between the youth and elders, and cultural heritage. This perspective of education changed during the transformation of the New World through the Middle Passage when Africans were transported as slaves to what is now called America. At this point the original values and perspectives of African education moved from education as a cultural norm, to education as a struggle and fight for freedom and liberation.

That was just a little snippet of how the perspectives of education have changed throughout time. Ponder upon what I just wrote. My hope is that the light bulb will come on in your head that will lead you to a deeper understanding of why our children are failing in the public school system. The educational system that we currently have was not built upon the founding principles and cultural norms that we were once privileged to in the past. For those of you who feel that understanding the history of the African American culture is irrelevant to why our students are failing today, I beg to differ. Although African Americans and mainstream Americans may share common, uniquely American cultural values, we should not assume that cultural literacy and patterns are the same for everyone, and that cultural differences do not matter.

To Be Continued.....

Education Equality For All: There is more to this world than your own backyard...

Education Equality For All: There is more to this world than your own backyard...: "One of the many issues that The Vision Lab will tackle is the lack of students' local and global explorations. I have often wondered why as ..."

There is more to this world than your own backyard

One of the many issues that The Vision Lab will tackle is the lack of students' local and global explorations. I have often wondered why as African Americans we do not travel as much as those in other cultural groups. I have heard that it is lack of finances, the fear of the unknown, lack of understanding of the importance of traveling outside of your comfort zone, and the list goes on...

I believe the biggest obstacle is fear. I also believe that we are allowing this fear to prevent our youth from developing a global perspective. Individuals from other cultural groups have studied us more than we have studied ourselves which keeps us at a disadvantage. I wonder if this resistance to study thyself is also a fear of unveiling the truths about ourselves that we don't want to acknowledge. That's another topic....Just let it marinate.

We must first understand who we are in order for us to understand how we relate to others. One of the best ways to relate to others is to travel and see the world. Dare to go outside of your own backyard. Get over the silly myths about other countries and cultural groups, and go visit for yourself. Stop preventing your children from exploring, because you are afraid.

Getting a passport is costly, but it is well worth it. Even when funds are limited people always seem to find the money to purchase what they want. Make the passport a priority, if not for yourself, for your children. Travel around the United States until you get that passport. You will find that there is so much more to learn. If you really want to experience economic empowerment get out and explore this world. Get over your fear of flying because you can't drive everywhere. Whatever your fear may be, stop allowing it to control your so that you can receive what the world has to offer you beyond your backyard.

Day 4 - Walking by faith, and not by sight is not always easy

The most interesting and nerve wrecking part of this journey is walking by faith, and not by sight. The day I made my decision it was very clear, but there are days during this journey when my mind becomes cloudy and confusing. Sometimes I question whether or not I made the right decision. Just as I begin to question, the phone will ring, or I will meet someone that reconfirms that I am following God's will, and not my own. The human part of us is so conditioned to depending on others to dictate our worth, and pay us accordingly. There is always a constant battle between our human and spiritual beings. I am happy that on most days I follow spirit, and I have learned to establish my own self-worth.

During this journey I have encountered those who have been against me, and those who have been for me. Interestingly enough, it is those who are against me that give me the most motivation. This journey has also created a loss of those that I thought were really good friends, but I have gained better friends along the way.
I often hear people say have faith, and I remember questioning the depth of that statement. Now I know what it means. It is so cool to see the goals and visions that I wrote down several years ago finally materializing. I am happy that I wrote them down, because I have something concrete to constantly remind myself of the wonderful works of God when I begin to waver. Walking by faith and not by sight is not always easy, but it is very worth it. It brings me a sense of security that neither job nor person could ever provide for me. This is one of the few times in my life that I have ever been so clear about what God has directed me to do.

Education Equality For All: Day 3 - Young, Gifted, and Black - Promoting High ...

Education Equality For All: Day 3 - Young, Gifted, and Black - Promoting High ...: "I was told that you become an expert by reading at least one book per month in your field of study. A part of my journey towards educational..."

Day 3 - Young, Gifted, and Black - Promoting High Achievement Among African American Students

I was told that you become an expert by reading at least one book per month in your field of study. A part of my journey towards educational equality for all is a continuous development of my expertise as Dr. K. Bracely.

I am reading Young, Gifted, and Black - Promoting High Achievement Among African American Students by Dr. Theresa Perry, Dr. Claude Steele, and the late Dr. Asa Hillard III. I want to give parents, educators, and those that are concerned about the educational welfare of our youth an excerpt from the book, and something to ponder upon. What will be your response, or call to action to these dilemmas? 

These are some of the dilemmas African-American youth - and yes, even adults - face as they attempt to commit themselves to high academic achievement. Our African-American youth need you to answer  these questions sooner than later:

• How do I commit myself to achieve, to work hard over time in school, if I cannot predict (in school or out of school) when or under what circumstances the hard work will be acknowledged and recognized?
• How do I commit myself to do work that is predicated on a belief in the power of the mind, when African-American intellectual inferiority is so much a part of the taken-for-granted notions of the larger society that individuals in and out of school, even good and well-intentioned people, individuals who purport to be acting on my behalf, routinely register doubts about my intellectual competence?
• How can I aspire to and work toward excellence when it is unclear whether or when evaluations of my work can or should be taken seriously?
• Can I invest in and engage my full personhood, with all of my cultural formations, in my class, my work, my school if my teachers and the adults in the building are both attracted to and repulsed by these cultural formations - the way I walk, the way I use language, my relationship to my body, my physicality, and so on?
• Will I be willing to work hard over time, given the unpredictability of my teachers' responses to my work? 
• Can I commit myself to work hard over time if I know that, no matter what I or other members of my reference group accomplish, these accomplishments are not likely to change how I and other members of my group are viewed by the larger society, or to alter our castelike position in the society? I still will not be able to get a cab, I still will be followed in department stores. I still will be stopped when I drive through certain neighborhoods. I still will be viewed as a criminal, a deviant, and an illiterate. 
• Can I commit myself to work hard, to achieve in a school, if cultural adaptation effectively functions as a prerequisite for skill acquisition, where "the price of the ticket" is separation from the culture of my reference group? 

Education Equality For All: Day 2 - So why did I leave my job in this horrible...

Education Equality For All: Day 2 - So why did I leave my job in this horrible...: "Yesterday, I spoke about my decision to leave my job. The economy is horrible, and I don't know where the money will come from to support my..."

Day 2 - So why did I leave my job in this horrible economy?

Yesterday, I spoke about my decision to leave my job. The economy is horrible, and I don't know where the money will come from to support my family, yet and still I decided to start a non-profit organization. Sounds crazy right?  Personally, I believe that this present economic crisis has created great opportunities for those who have put their dreams on hold. The misfortunes in the workplace have created a gateway for those of us who have always wanted to start some form of a business, but were too afraid, or never had the time.

The name of my non-profit organization is called The Vision Lab Educational Wellness Center. I have partnered with my sister, Nakia Mitchell, and one of the Special Education teachers that I supervised in the past, Corneil Montgomery. Nakia is a massage therapist, and Corneil continues to teach special education in the public school system. We all have our roles, and we do a great job of staying in our lanes which makes this a wonderful marriage amongst the 3 of us. I know that marriages are supposed to be between 2 people, but in this case it is 3.

The purpose of the organization is to use a holistic approach to educate students in a way that is relevant while also helping them to develop and execute their visions. The goal of the organization is to assist in filling in the service, academic, social, emotional, physical, financial, and environmental gaps that our youth are experiencing, specifically those who live in urban communities, have learning disabilities, and who do not have the financial supports to do the things that will make them well-rounded individuals.

So what makes this youth program so much more different than all the other programs? My answer is that most programs are not that different from one another as it relates to the types of programs provided because most of us understand the basic developmental foundations needed for youth to succeed. Therefore, the significant difference is the implementation process, and our ability to embrace and specialize in students with learning disabilities.

Why these demographics? African American students continue to represent the highest percentage of drop-out rates, the highest percentage of students with disabilities, the highest percentage of individuals who lack economic empowerment, and I can go on and on... With all of the wonderful youth programs available, these issues continue plague our communities. I am not suggesting that I have the answer to all of these problems, but I do have the mental capacity, and will to do my part in addressing these issues. The solutions to these issues will not be solved by one man. It will take collaborative efforts amongst communities and organizations who have a desire to rectify these problems.

Education Equality For All: Entrepreneurship - A call to action for our youth ...

Education Equality For All: Entrepreneurship - A call to action for our youth ...: "I left my job as a Special Education Administrator so that I can make a larger contribution to my community, and the students that I serve. ..."