However, in my twenty some years as a classroom teacher, I haven’t found such assumption to be accurate. There may be some exceptions, but overall, the idea of separate gender classrooms as a solution to the education crisis in American is just another failed experiment.

Challenge of Same-Gender Classrooms

Instead, I have discovered that same gender Classroom Drama: Redirecting the Dominator’s classroom are sometimes more challenging than coed classroom environments.  Often classroom filled with only young men are filled with boys who challenge one another for alpha privileges.

The high amounts of testosterone keep young boys jostling for classroom dominance. Many times the atmosphere can become extremely wild and crazy.   I embarked upon this experience when teaching in an all boy academy in the city of Minneapolis.  In all grade levels, there was a competitive desire for dominance and control among the male students.

Likewise, in the girl academy in the next building wasn’t all that effective as well when it came to focus and learning. The girls often had strong attitudes and operated in clicks, which created constant conflict and distraction from learning.

The Bottomline

The bottom line is that same gender classroom are not the solution to the achievement gap.  Superior learning depends on the nature of the student, as well as the conditions surrounding the student.  For example, if you take really educated girls and boys and place them in opposite classrooms, their performance and productivity will probably stay the same.

On the other hand, if you take a group of low-income students living in oppressive environments and separate the boys from the girls by placing each in different classrooms,  the rate of academic performance will most likely stay the same and  you will still have to deal with the same discipline challenges: talking, lack of focus, attitudes, and conflict.

The Senselessness of Same Gender Classrooms

Therefore, it makes little sense to have separate gender classroom.  I have found that having a coed classroom helps each student interact and learn about the opposite gender.  This idea of relating to the opposite gender is important when it comes to growing into adult-hood.

In addition, in a coed classroom, the girls seem to produce a more calming effect upon the boys because they are less likely to challenge one another due to the threat of embarrassment.  The female energy, which consists of supportiveness, understanding and nurturing, appear to calm the aggressiveness and wildness of male energy.

Until there is a solution that takes a significant dent out of the achievement gap, academic experiments involving the same gender will only be just that: an experiment.  Significant increase in student learning depends on a number of factors, including the mental, physical and environmental conditions of students.

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According to Roland G. Fryer at Education Next, “On average, black students typically score one standard deviation below white students on standardized tests–roughly the difference in performance between the average 4th grader and the average 8th grader.”

This Achievement gap remains highly discouraging.

According to  Valerie Strauss of the  Washington Post, “The persistent gap in the District reflects on the questionable nature of some of the reforms that have been implemented in the city and elsewhere around the country — which too often ignore the outside-of-school influences that affect how well a student does in class.”

Non-academic influence plays a significant part in a child’s motivation to succeed in school.

No doubt, there has been some educational progress made on various local levels across the United States. But the overall initiative to elevate African American students to the level of academic competence needed to be successful in life has been elusive.

So the question is why African Americans students are still behind and why the achievement gap is so difficult to close. I believe there are several reasons.

Lack of Understanding of Life Skills

One reason African American student trail other students in academic achievement is the misconception of how life works.  Millions of black students are not aware that hard work and perseverance is a necessity in life if success is to be achieved. These principles are largely ignored on the domestic front. Many African American homes are in turmoil day in and day out.

Poverty, drugs, crime and disregard for meaningful progress are the pitfalls of the black community in America.  A mentality of living for today characterizes daily existence. The preference for pleasure over hard work and purpose is the dominant mentality, especially in many oppressed African American communities.

The parents are not largely to blame for this overwhelming preference for pleasure.  African American culture, especially in the music sphere, has had a massive influence on the young black Americans. The entrance of gangster rap music in the black community played a significant role in hijacking the minds of young black men.

The negative messages sent into the black community created a poisonous perception of life, a life in which women are degraded, and bitterness against others is glorified.  Others may disagree, but I believe this conclusion with immense conviction.

Before the introduction of gangster rap, a sense of brother and sister hood existed in the black community.  Strong brotherhood, respect for women, teachers, and the community were powerful attributes of black culture.

Lack of Life Altering Discussions

The most important person in a child’s life remains his or her parents. Whatever words parents say or don’t say will lead and guide their children throughout life.  A parent’s failure to have life altering discussions with their children is like allowing a toddler to walk toward an open well where snakes and crocodiles dwell in massive numbers.

If you examine the lives of the most successful people in life, you will discover that they attribute their success to an encouraging message their parents told them at a younger age. This parental obligation is the key. Parents must instill a success mentality within their child at an age (infant to 10 years) in which the child is still receptive.

But what should a parent tell her child? The most important words I think a child should hear from the lips of a parent is that they are” unique, loved, and made for excellence in all which he or she does.”  A child should hear these words over and over again over the course of many years.

The sole responsibility of African American parents is to teach their children the value of success and progress in life.

Not only should a parent teach their children success, but they should also do all in their power to talk and walk success as well. Small children are imitative. For the most part, children do what they see their parents or other adults do.

Lack of Teachers of Color

Let’s face it. Studies show that African American Students, as well as Hispanics, Asian and Native Americans, can often relate more effectively with teachers that represent their ethnicity. Not to say the Caucasian teachers are not effective. This myth is furthest from the truth.  Some of my best teachers were Caucasian. I related well to them. But I also delighted in sitting in a classroom where black teachers were in charge.

Studies show that black children often rebel because they are cast into an environment in which they cannot relate. They find it difficult relating to Caucasian teachers.  Many come from oppressive homes and environments which are hostile toward Caucasian people in general.

Some students are going to be rebellious regardless of whether the teacher is black or white, but I have discovered in many instances were black children acted totally different when in the presence of a black instructor.

Warnings and Recommendations

In examining the reasons for failure in African American education community, the next step is to discover ways to resolve the issue. The plight of African American Education cannot be ignored.  For society to pretend as if nothing is happening is a gross betrayal.

Initiatives which include all facets of society must be implemented to close the achievement gap between black and white students.

Districts must discover new and better ways to enhance African American Education:

• Get parents to make more life altering discussions with their children. Such discussions will help shape a positive mentality in students. Parental influence is the most powerful way of instilling self-esteem in children. Unfortunately, many young parents may have to be trained how to instill success within their child.
• Hire more teachers of color. There should be a massive effort to get more African American teachers into the classrooms. Having a more multicultural teacher force will enhance the entire school environment and create a sense of meaningful connection.
• Train more non-African American teachers how to relate the black children. Let’s face it many non-African-American teachers are at a loss when it comes to effectively relating the African American Students. Because of this sense of confusion, many teachers give up and become frustrated and settle for less than perfect efforts from black students.
• Offering classes which teach on black culture and oppressive communities will go a long way in understanding African American culture.
• Implement more effective programs than “No Child Left Behind.” An effective program must not place the burden of educating students solely on teachers. It will take a village oriented approach to healing the African American community and close the achievement gap among white, black and Hispanics students.

One new initiative offers great hope. Promise Neighborhood is an educational program designed to guarantee that ” all children and youth  living in Promise Neighborhoods have access to state of the art schools and strong systems of family and community support that empower them to attain an excellent education and successful transition to collage and a career.”

The purpose of the program is to target and maximize the educational outcome of children living in the most oppressive communities.  The African American education condition demands more programs of this nature. As I mentioned earlier, a village concept is the most effective approach for transforming African American Education and closing the achievement gap.

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Great teachers are relentless in pushing their students to reach their full potential throughout the entire school year. If there is any achievement gap among students within their classroom, highly effective teachers work hard to close these gaps. Such teachers don’t let up on their students, regardless of whether or not students appear to be making progress.

The First Priority

A teacher’s first priority is to apply some form of discipline toward students who display an unwillingness to give their best effort to completing an assignment or project. Such discipline may involve denying free time or minutes off recess time, special classroom events, or a phone call home to parents to inform them of the urgency of the issue. Great teachers never let a child lag behind others without a genuine fight that takes all the effort they can give.

High Achieving Students

Equally as important, a teacher must create a variety of ways to reward those students that display a passion for high achievement. These are the students who are always at the ready. They are first to come to the circle for morning meeting. They participate. They are the ones who complete all their seatwork and grab a book to read in the meantime. Students hungry for knowledge are always looking for what next.

These students must be rewarded. Supplying such redeemable things as tokens, play money, tallies, and other means that show appreciation will go a long way in keeping these students inspired to excel. Pizza parties, tickets to movies or restaurants, extra recess, greater freedom, special fiend trips with rewards should be considered.

Raising the Esteem of Underperformers

Students who desire to do good work but may be weak in certain areas such a math and writing should be encouraged with every sign of improvement. Although such students may not be as enthusiastic as the high achievers within your class, you must convince them that they are just as special as any other students in the classroom. As their esteem rises, they will eventually improve day by day.

The Major Role of Teachers

In the modern day classroom, teachers must play many roles. Motivating students to be all they can be in this increasingly challenging education system must be taken with a sense of urgency if the next generation is going to survive. Studies show that the American education system is in shambles due to lack of highly motivated teachers. If teachers are not passionate about their profession, then students will not fell excited about their pursuit of academic excellence.

Great teachers are in demand. Every child counts. When you as a teacher push your classroom to excel in their academics and appreciate acquiring knowledge, you would have accomplished one of the most honorable things a teacher can ever do.

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