The coronavirus has parents throughout the country considering homeschooling their children. This decision is reasonable, given the absence of a vaccine and allegations that the infection rates have not improved. Ordinarily, one would think that it is unfortunate that parents will miss out on the benefits of free daycare. For the average White child, there may be more losses than gains being taught at home. However, because so many Black children underperform compared to their White counterparts, they may benefit more from being taught at home.
The US public education system has a history of failing Black children. For the short time, Blacks have been allowed to attend integrated schooling, but their education lacks in many areas. For starters, the public education system is predominantly littered with teachers that lack the cultural competency skills necessary to provide a diverse group of students with culturally relevant education.
Black students have had to endure roughly 70 years of inadequate education while still expected to prosper at the rate of White children. The task is unfair and unrealistic and works to sabotage Black Americans’ efforts to use their general education to launch them down a path that would likely bring success. Now is the time for Black Americans to consider taking control of their children’s learning while they await a vaccine indefinitely.
Some will argue that Black children will miss out on the interactional components of attending integrated schooling, but Blacks have never truly been integrated into predominantly White schools. In many cases, Black students attend these schools, but they are poorly recognized anywhere outside of athletics, and even that can become entirely political. The horror stories Black kids share about their experiences in integrated schooling should make one ponder that they may be better off receiving their education elsewhere.
In most White schools, Blacks are rarely prom kings and queens, captains of teams, adequately represented throughout the yearbook, and developed outside of the classrooms. Teachers rarely encourage Blacks to develop their talents outside of school but instead use Blacks’ lack of preparedness as a secret weed-out process to allocate more opportunities for their preferred White students. Now is the time for a change.
Blacks who are capable should sincerely consider taking control of their children’s learning and ensure they are learning what they need to know for the entry exams for the nation’s best colleges. Fear regarding the absence of opportunities to connect with peers can be achieved by entering children into club sports. Children can also join various other clubs that stimulate their interest and help them develop their talents.
My wife and I have decided that if we cannot enroll our child into an inclusive school that provides culturally relevant education, we will homeschool our child until we can. It may be too late or not feasible for some to take the advice mentioned here in this blog. However, many have not started their families yet or have the means to adopt this strategy. If 20% of Black children got an education that does not include having their spirits broken, dreams deferred and allowing them to enter college more prepared than in past, that would be a win.
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