Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu: Back to School…”As summer Comes to a Close, School Begins for Our Children…”
By Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu
African American Images
CHICAGO, IL – As summer comes to a close, school begins for our children. If your child was not academically engaged for the summer he will return three months behind his peers. Most of what your child was taught in May will have to be reviewed in September. You can tell it’s time to go back to school because retailers know that, next to Christmas this is the second highest sales season. Teachers are concerned
when parents will buy the latest designer gym shoes, but cry the blues over $75 dollars for school supplies. Some have said that Black people buy what they want and beg for what they need. Is that true?
I have found research which says that the most important determinant of a child’s academic success is not income, number of parents, nor the educational background of the parent. The most important factor is the conversation between parent and child. When children live in homes where the most frequent topic of conversation is academics, they thrive. I am encouraging parents to have dinner together with their children without television or any other electronic device. We need to have some good old fashion conversations where careers, dreams and goals are developed. I am also suggesting that after dinner the entire family, including adults, have a minimum of an hour of reading. Children tend to develop a love for reading when they also see their parents reading.
If we must turn on the television, I encourage you to watch programs like, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Password,
Child Genius, programs on the History and Animal channel, and other similar shows.
I am reminded how Sonya Carson produced an exceptional pediatric neurosurgeon. This poor single illiterate Black woman simply told her sons no television during the week and had them read library books and write reports. Dr. Ben Carson resulted from conversation and reading.
The last point I want to mention is the importance of establishing a relationship with your child’s teacher. Research shows that teachers treat your child better when they have met you. Please visit the class, and when possible observe the class and exchange cell numbers. Ask the teacher where your child is academically, in each subject, and her goals to raise the child’s level. Hold the teacher accountable throughout the year. And try to make sure that the teacher has high expectations for your child. Do everything you can to keep your child out of special education and in Gifted & Talented, Honors and Advanced Placement classes.
Excerpted from, There is Nothing Wrong with Black Students, by Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu.
For additional information, contact (708) 672-4909 x731, P.O. Box 1799, Chicago Heights, IL 60412. Website: http://www.africanamericanimages.com, Email: customersvc@africanamericanimages.com.
Photo: Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu
