THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 30, 1997 TAG: 9701280117
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: ANOTHER VIEW
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: BY JOHN L. HORTON
LENGTH: 69 lines
Is Ebonics the answer to what ails many African-American school children? Based on my experience as an African-American parent, teacher and youth advocate, I would answer emphatically, ``No!''
There is something more basic and germane to the ``education crisis'' affecting African-American children than Ebonics, and that is parental support and involvement. This is the foundation and grass roots ``answer'' to most, if not all, of our so-called ``education crisis'' when it comes to the blueprint and formula for teaching African-American and other disadvantaged children.
Ebonics is a ``symptom'' of what's wrong. Underneath there lies other individual/familial ``causes.'' We must be honest and courageous enough to address these ``causes'' and not focus too much on the ``symptoms.'' Otherwise, nothing much will get accomplished. Another ``silver bullet'' will have not found its target. Alas!
Standard English is the key to unlocking the 21st century. Ebonics is not the answer that is needed for this formidable task. As a people, we have been in America for 400 years. Pure and simple, we need to learn to use effective/standard English. This is the language of the 21st century. This is the language of competence and success. We are fully capable of learning standard English, irrespective of some barriers and handicaps. We can overcome. We will overcome!
For the past decade, I have dealt directly with African-American, inner-city children and their families. Too often, I have found a lack of motivation and enthusiasm for learning the necessary (work and entrepreneurial) skills for the 21st century. If we are smart and have learned from our unique history and culture, we will properly prepare ourselves for these highly competitive, challenging times.
More than anything else, I see a dire need for increased parental support and involvement. It has been said that the family is the original and best departments of health, education, welfare . . . and salvation. Believe it!
Sorry, the ``silver bullet of Ebonics'' cannot do the job for us this time around. As parents we are going to have to do the job for ourselves. These are our children. We owe them our indefatigable support and involvement. Ebonics is a quick fix. Parental support and involvement is a long term cure.
Being a supportive and involved parent is one of the most challenging jobs there is. We are responsible for so much: our children getting enough sleep, eating right, dressing appropriately, doing homework, getting to school on time, staying out of trouble, having a positive attitude, etc. In sum, parents (should) have the ultimate responsibility for the preparedness and successfulness of their children in school. No one can do it - nor should they be expected to - like we can.
Parental support and involvement is the pure essence of ``reaping what you sow.'' If you don't give anything up front, you simply don't get anything back. It takes lots and lots of hard and smart work. Pure and simple. Of all the ingredients that go into the successful education of our children, parental support and involvement is the most important of all. With in-depth parental support and involvement, a student can overcome almost any obstacle(s) and compete with the best of them. Most certainly, this includes overcoming the handicaps and drawbacks of Ebonics.
If you want to give your child a fair chance and/or an advantage, please give that child a healthy dose of parental involvement. As the adage goes, ``For our children to be successful, all we need to do is give them their `roots' and `wings.' '' Accordingly, my message to all parents is: ``Parental support and involvement is the key to our children's success in school . . . and life - not Ebonics.'' MEMO: John L. Horton, former coordinator of Norfolk's Truancy Action
Program at Azalea Garden Middle School, is a youth advocate and
activist.