The Florida Congress Proposes an End to FCAT

The Florida Senate proposed a bill this week that could get rid of the dreaded FCAT. Many are saying “good riddance.” There has been a fight over this test since its inception in 1998. As a parent with a third grader who will be taking the test next week (a third grader who has gone from excited, to worried, to anxious, then back to excited) I understand all the emotions wrapped up in this test. Every mommy wants her baby to succeed. I encourage parents to let lawmakers know their concerns about the possible changes that might take place as early as next school year.

The purpose of the test is supposed to be to make sure kids are getting what they are being taught and that seniors are prepared for college or work before they graduate. Though there is evidence of some positive effects from the FCAT (such as higher graduation rates and narrowing achievement gaps), many students are still struggling. So the Florida House of Representatives and Senate have proposed bills to take a look at the FCAT and assessment in general to see how they could be improved to measure student progress.

The Florida Senate introduced a bill that would actually make testing standards more rigorous. Students would have to take end-of-course exams in algebra I, geometry, algebra II, biology and chemistry or physics. Educators will also develop a new English/Language arts exam. These exams could start replacing FCAT for high school students beginning next school year.

After all the pressure and test anxiety over FCAT, making tests harder might seem kind of crazy. But supporters of the bills say students will only rise to meet the added challenge. They say in order to ensure that our students and all of us will have a bright future, we must make sure that they rise to meet the challenge. Right now, 80% of freshman entering community colleges in Florida have to take remedial classes for the first year before they can take any classes that actually count for credit. This is a waste of time and money. The new requirements are supposed to make sure this doesn't keep happening. I don’t have a problem with challenging the students. But just testing to show that kids are having problems isn’t enough. What is in this bill that makes sure that all the students and educators will be prepared to fix the problems and rise to meet the challenge? We have to keep an eye on these lawmakers to make sure ALL the children will be served by this bill.

Till Victory is Won: Who Will Take the Baton?

When I went to the Seminole County School Board Meeting a couple of weeks ago, I must admit I got a little discouraged. The Board heard and responded to the will of the people. That was good. There was a relatively large turnout. That was good.

My concern was about who turned out (or who didn’t). Though the proposal discussed in this meeting would have affected students living in Seminole County, the majority of attendees were over 50 years old (too old to have children who attend Seminole County Public Schools). Where were all the parents? Where were the students? I know that most young adults work. Many were not able to make it due to work schedules. However, everybody was not at work or preoccupied with some important matter. I know a few more parents could have made that meeting.

I remember when working with the NAACP, I would always get asked, “How do we get the young people involved?” This is such an important question. The Civil Rights Movement generation is getting older. After the meeting, I heard one pioneer say, “They could have at least waited until we were dead to try this.” (I won’t mention her name. But please feel free to elaborate on your comment if you read this). I thought that was such a poignant statement. I’ve been thinking about it ever since the meeting. What is going to happen when those who paved the way have moved on?

Ironically, it has been speculated that one reason young people aren’t civically engaged is because of all the advances the older generation fought to make. Schools are integrated. We have black millionaires. We have a black president for goodness sake. So have enough battles been won? Do we still need freedom fighters?

The NAACP just named Roslyn M. Brock as the chairman of the board. I was encouraged by this announcement. The NAACP is making an effort to reinvigorate the freedom movement. Ms. Brock (44) is an intelligent, accomplished and committed leader (and she's a Florida girl). She has established her agenda to work on improvements in education, the criminal justice system, health care, economic empowerment and civic engagement. She also will work to reestablish the NAACP as a multicultural organization that addresses the needs of all disenfranchised people. Go to www.whoisroslynbrock.com to read about her. Benjamin Jealous, at 37, is the youngest president the organization has ever had. Both of these leaders are too young to have had to experience racial segregation. However, they are fired up about the work. What can we do to motivate other young people?

Equal Education Threatened in Seminole County Florida

The school board in Seminole County Florida will vote tomorrow on a controversial rezoning plan. The proposed plan has raised the attention of parents and community groups such as the local NAACP and Goldsboro Front Porch. If approved by the school board, this plan will affect all students living in the Northeast and Northwest clusters. Currently, students living in the North part of Seminole County are able to choose from a pool of schools called “clusters.” If some school board members (and parents living in the more affluent sections of the county) have their way, students will be forced to go to “neighborhood” schools.

The clusters were set up in 1998 to ensure that schools would be integrated and that all students would have access to quality education. The Supreme Court ruled in 1954 that schools were to be integrated. The federal government observed many school districts including Seminole County for decades to make sure the integration orders were obeyed. Seminole County worked for many years to get out from under the regulation of the federal government. The district instituted the school choice program in 1998 to settle the desegregation case against Seminole County. They achieved what is known as “unitary status” in 2005, meaning they had eliminated all vestiges of discrimination.

Now some fear that since the district is not being watched by the federal government, they could be reversing the many years of desegregation work. The school board says the reason for the proposed changes has nothing to do with reversing integration but is instead an effort to eliminate the cost of busing students. Community leaders say the reason for this rezoning plan is to keep minority and low-income students out of the more affluent neighborhood schools as parents at these schools feel minority and low income students are bringing down test scores. The community leaders such as Seminole County NAACP president Turner Clayton, Jr. also feel this plan will severely hurt the schools in lower-income neighborhoods. Clayton fears minority and low-income students will lose access to quality teachers and funding if schools are not fully integrated.

The school board will meet and vote on Tuesday, February 9 at 5:30 p.m. It is very important that the members of the community show up and call to voice their concerns. The meeting will be at the Educational Support Center located at 400 E. Lake Mary Blvd in Lake Mary. The following are school board members and contact information:

Diane Bauer: 407-320-0495 or 407-695-3552e-mail:Diane_Bauer@scps.k12.fl.us
Jeanne Morris: 407-320-0385e-mail:Jeanne_Morris@scps.k12.fl.us
*Sylvia Pond: 407-320-0371e-mail:Sylvia_Pond@scps.k12.fl.us
Sandra Robinson: 407-320-0381e-mail:Sandra_Robinson@scps.k12.fl.us
*Dede Schaffner: 407-320-0588e-mail:Dede_Schaffner@scps.k12.fl.us

*Expressed support for rezoning.

President Proclaims Black Economic Empowerment

I am always inspired and awestruck when I consider the seemingly unscalable mountains African Americans have had to climb and imagine the unbreakable barriers African Americans somehow managed to break. My soul looks back and wonders over God’s amazing grace toward our people.

President Barack Obama honored the strength and determination of African Americans in his Official Annual Proclamation of African American History Month on February 1, 2010. The theme for African American History Month is “Black Economic Empowerment.” The President urged all Americans to “honor the African Americans who overcame injustice and inequality to achieve financial independence and the security of self empowerment that comes with it.”

The President also expressed his administration’s commitment to overcome today’s challenges through extending credit to small businesses that will enable them to thrive, reversing tax breaks for large corporations that move operations overseas instead of hiring Americans, and giving breaks to companies that provide jobs to stimulate America’s economy. He also stressed that education is key. Therefore, the Obama administration will invest in schools and work to make college available to all students to prepare them to compete in a global economy.

The President pledged to do his part. However, he acknowledges that neither he nor the U.S. government can do it alone. Just as it took the commitment and determination of regular people to break those barriers and climb those mountains of history, it will take the same commitment and determination today. President Obama calls on parents and community leaders to partner with him to “push our children to reach for the full measure of their potential, just as the innovators who succeeded in previous generations pushed their children to achieve something greater.”

You can go to http://www.asalh.org/ to download the entire Presidential Proclamation and learn more about the origin and founders of African American History month.

Tonjanika Smith Speaks Truth to the People in Sanford

When it looks like darkness all around us, God always shines a light and gives a reason to hope for the future. I witnessed just such a reason as I listened to Miss Tonjanika Smith speak at the Sanford MLK Oratorical Contest last week. This young lady is confident, intelligent, humble and wise beyond her years. She spoke about Dr. King’s message of the “Beloved Community” and how our egos and personal ambitions get in the way of our progress. Dr. King called this corruptive pride “the drum major instinct.” Miss Smith admonished us to use our drive to serve and lift up others. If not, we will only hold us all down. Following are excerpts from her speech:

This drum major instinct is found in every one of us—and it is, as Dr. King described, the “desire to be out front, a desire to lead the parade, a desire to be first. And it is something that runs the whole gamut of life.”

Understand that the drum major instinct is never going away, but when used correctly, when used for good, it could make things happen. The way Dr. King says it, “If you want to be important…wonderful. If you want to be recognized…wonderful. If you want to be great…wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” Obama’s job as president is to serve the American people. A doctor’s job is to serve the needs of his patients; a lawyer to serve the needs of his clients; a parent to serve the needs of their children. A community’s job is not to boast about how many millionaires they have living in it, but to serve the needs of its civilians.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” Not how much money do you have? Not how much is your house worth, but what are you doing for others? What are you doing to aid in the creation of the Beloved Community?

King once went on saying “…say that I was a drum major for justice…a drum major for peace…a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.”

When all the material values, when all the awards and titles are stripped away, when the color and orientation and nationality is no longer a distinction among us, what will define your life? Were you a drum major of the crusade for the Beloved Community, or were you one of the unfortunate ones that let their drum major instinct—their ego—trip them up and lead to their downfall?

Miss Smith is a senior at Lyman High School, where she is ranked 21st in her graduating class. She is a member of the National Honor Society, maintaining a 4.2 GPA. Smith is well-rounded, not only excelling academically but also spiritually, culturally and socially. She participates in conferences, pageants and community service projects at her church. She is the captain of her step team. She volunteers to feed the homeless. She is running for the national title of “Youth of the Year” for the Boys & Girls Club. She has applied to 13 colleges (Harvard University among them). She plans to major in Business, specializing in Economics/Finance. She will then go on to earn a master’s degree in Legal Studies, concentrating on nonprofit organizations. Miss Smith is certainly letting her light shine.

Haiti Rising

Haiti has been politically and legally free since 1804. Haiti is the first free black nation in the Western Hemisphere. Haiti is the home to a very proud, very tenacious people. However, Haiti has suffered during its’ history, revolution after violent revolution, tragedy after disturbing tragedy, coup after bloody coup, disaster after unimaginable disaster. So I have asked the Lord (just as I know many are asking) why can’t Haiti (and the rest of the black world) seem to overcome? I just needed to voice the question that is piercing my heart at this time.

Haitians have been in control of their own nation for over 200 years. I know there are many complex political realities in Haiti. There is corruption in government and interference from other more powerful nations. But what plagues Haiti seems to be far deeper and more complex. Of course the earthquake that has shaken Haiti is not something that we can control, rationalize or explain.

Some have suggested this recent disaster is a case of sinners in the hands of an angry God. They suggest because Haiti is all wrapped up in occult practices, God is punishing Haiti. I suggest these people delve a little deeper into Haitian history before they pass rash judgments and make claims about the intentions of God. Besides, if we take a look around, we’ll see there is plenty all over the world and right in our own backyards for God to be angry about. Haiti is just the lesson in point for today. God is pointing our eyes toward Haiti right now for a reason. We need to be studying and asking why.

Haiti has been shaking for a long time. My prayer is that the shaking has intensified to the point where we will take notice. That we will take action. That it doesn’t have to get stronger than a magnitude 7.0 earthquake.

Haiti suffers because of the corruption and greed of its’ leaders. Although they have resources, only a small elite class benefits from them. The rest of the people suffer in poverty. Poverty leads to more corruption, criminal and immoral behavior, poor education, and hopelessness. A cycle of poverty perpetuates itself as the rich keep their wealth and do everything they can to keep the poor from getting their wealth. Although I don’t live in Haiti nor have I ever been there, I can identify with these conditions. I have seen these conditions in my own neighborhood. I saw it when Hurricane Katrina battered New Orleans.

God is trying to make us look. Look at what we are doing. He’s trying to make us change our actions. He’s trying to make us see that He is in control.

Man has caused confusion and turmoil, oppression and distress with weapons and political games. The way we are acting is causing violence, turmoil, corruption, immorality and instability all over the world (not just in Haiti). Wealthier nations feel secure as long as we have power and wealth. But God has the power to tear down anything we have the power to build. We must acknowledge this fact. Acknowledgement of this fact will lead Haiti and the rest of us to act in a way that will bring peace, equality and prosperity.

The former senator of Haiti Dr. Louis-Gerard Gilles has said, "The hospitals cannot handle all these victims. Haiti needs to pray. We all need to pray together.".

If Haiti does indeed look to God, there will be great and lasting change. If Haiti experiences this kind of change, it will be such a powerful example for the rest of us. Haiti’s history is no accident. Its’ position as one of the poorest countries just miles away from the richest country on the planet is also no accident. I pray for Haiti to rise out of this stronger. With God, they can. Let’s pray they will.

Anika Noni Rose: What Else But a Rattler?

Congratulations to Anika Noni Rose for two 2010 NAACP Image Award nominations. Rose is up for “Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture” as the voice of Princess Tiana in the animated film The Princess and the Frog. She has also been nominated for “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Series” for her role in the HBO show No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Rose has already won a Tony Award for her performance in the hit Broadway musical Caroline, or Change. And by the way, Rose is a graduate of Florida A& M University (Go Rattler!). Where else besides “The Hill” (the highest of seven hills in Tallahassee, FL) could you get enough gumption, savvy and strength to go to New York City with no job and no money and end up an award-winning movie star? Ms. Rose is an inspiration to black girls and all girls.

Other nominees include Denzel Washington (The Taking of Pelham 123), Monique (Precious), Gabourey Sidibe (Precious), Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side), Glee (Outstanding Comedy Series), America Ferrera (Ugly Betty), Jamie Foxx (Law Abiding Citizen), and Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy). The theme for this year is “One Nation, One Dream.” The nominees are very diverse as the NAACP will use this show as an instrument to appreciate all cultures through an African American lens. The Image awards will air on Fox on February 26 at 8 p.m.

Much love to all the nominees. But I know the Rattler will Strike, Strike and Strike Again!