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Parents, Schools, and Black History
Copyright 2006-2010 by Jeffery Bradley - All Rights Reserved --
Contact Info
The published version of "How to Make Black History Month Last All Year!"
purchased direct from the publisher here.
Educators and education policy makers
at the national and state levels should support a Black history
curriculum in our schools. Parents and schools can be partners in
this endeavor as they work toward their common goal of educating
children. Following are some well-proven measures for supporting
your children’s study of Black history at school, and for forming
productive relationships with those responsible for their education
away from home:
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Become
familiar with your school’s history program. Ask yourself these
question:
- What do I see in my child’s classroom that shows Black history is
valued there?
- For example, are maps, globes, atlases, and original
source documents visible?
- Are newspapers and current events media part of the curriculum?
- Are biographies, myths, and legends used to study Black history.
- Does my child regularly have history homework, and history projects
periodically, including debates and mock trials?
- Are there field trips relating to Black history?
- Is my child encouraged to ask questions and look for answers from
reliable sources?
- How is knowledge of history assessed in addition to tests based on
the textbook?
- Are my children learning Black history in elementary and middle
school, and are the Black history curriculum well coordinated?
- Does the Black history curriculum include world Black history as
well as American Black history?
- Does my school require teachers to have studied Black history Or
does it assign Black history classes to teachers with little or no
background?
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Talk often with your child’s teacher.
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Attend parent-teacher conferences early in the school year.
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Listen to what teachers say during these conferences, and take
notes.
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Let teachers know that you expect your child to gain a knowledge
of Black history, and that you appreciate their efforts towards
this goal.
-
Ask the teachers what their expectations of the class and your
child care.
-
Agree on a system of communication with the teachers for the
year, either by phone or in writing twice a semester, and
whenever you are concerned.
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Keep an open mind in discussing your child’s education with
teachers; ask questions about anything you don’t understand; and
be frank with them about your concerns.
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Help to improve Black history education in your child’s school.
-
Volunteer in
your children’s Black history class, for example, to organize
visits from the mayor or local historians, and to local
historical sites.
If you
feel dissatisfied with the Black history program, talk to your
children’s teachers first, and then to the principal, Black history
curriculum division, superintendent, and finally the school board.
Also talk to other parents for their input.
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