Why We Promote Academic Excellence
Ashley knows how to fuel my passion for promoting academic excellence in urban ZIP codes. She got up early on a Saturday morning and joined others from King High School’s Student Government Association at Temple Terrace Elementary School. The pictures she sent me include one in which she and a young student are reading. Another picture shows a black male reading with a younger student.
“Gee, Jason, they are just pictures!”
No, they are REALITY!!!
Ashley and her mom spent time with me the evening before. She took time out of her busy, Class of 2011 International Baccalaureate high school Friday evening schedule for a Café Kili Academic Excellence Fellowship with me. Her Student Permanent Record Summary Worksheet—I have a copy of it—epitomes Academic Excellence in the world-renowned International Baccalaureate program. During our fellowship, Ashley confirmed that the university at the top of the US News List of America’s Best Colleges invited her to submit an application for admission.
At the beginning of the 21st century, I encountered a young lady sharing SAT tips with urban youth at a church on a Saturday morning. I approached her and learned that she was a recent 2001 graduate of Yale University. The picture of her sharing her time with youth made an indelible impression on me. The picture “caught my eye” and fuels my passion for promoting academic excellence. The reality is that there are high-achieving youth in our community who routinely nurture Enthusiasm for Learning in younger students—and Recreate the Picture!
The Council of Great City Schools (www.CGCS.org) is having its 54th Annual Fall Conference in Tampa this week (October 20-24, 2010). The conference includes a Townhall on Black Male Achievement on Friday afternoon (2 to 4 PM). Depressing statistics will probably hold center stage during the discussions. At Café Kili Friday afternoon, we will be watching a webcast of the Townhall because the meeting is not open to the public. A posture-size replica of the second picture Ashley sent will be visible at the Café Kili fellowship. Imagine if the 66 school district members of the conference embraced “Recreating this Picture” as their goal for black male academic achievement. A variation of Mark Twain’s observation seems appropriate:
“The man who does not read good books [with children] has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.”
On the campus of Morehouse College, one can find Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words on “The Value of Education”:
”We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of education. The complete education gives one not only power or concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate.”
Tags: academic excellence, black males, Council of Great City Schools, Hillsborough County Schools, Reading
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