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- B Patterson
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The Honors Program
By BlackFrederick.com Community Corner Editor Sam Bennett
Published July 01, 2008
As I was beginning to write today’s commentary, an e-mail from John Chaney prompted me to
consider his concerns about how education is considered by a few African Americans in our
community.
Mr. Chaney stated that he believes that Black children have the intellect, but need to change their
attitude about education.
As examples of how education is devalued, he stated that “in our community we honor and revere
professional athletes and celebrate the convict coming home from prison but laugh at college
students trying to make a difference.
He feels that this has to change, because academic achievement serves the much greater purpose
of providing the skills and the credentials to achieve economic freedom and the opportunity to be
empowered to change communities for the betterment of all.
As he concluded, he announced that on June 29Th, 3-5 pm, he intends to present an Honors
Program for Elementary School Students who have achieved "Honor Roll Status" at the Clara Harris
Community Building , and that he would like to get more people involved.
Despite the brevity of his message, it reminded me of who I used to be and who I’ve become as a
result of being encouraged by my mother to obtain a good education.
Although I was raised in poverty in a single-parent home, attending inner-city schools in Newark, New
Jersey and Philadelphia, I was the “unpopular” kid that toughed it out and attended an Ivy-League
school – but not without a rude awakening.
Having graduated 8th in a class of 125 students, I thought that I was qualified to compete as a pre-
med student, but was disappointed to learn that the Philadelphia Public School system didn’t provide
the curriculum that I really needed for that academic environment.
I didn’t get the Chemistry, Physics or Calculus classes that I needed, nor was I challenged enough to
be prepared for the level of effort required to succeed.
Without question - I really had to “hit the books” and work from sundown until the wee hours to earn
my degree.
Although my situation was bad in the 70’s, it is much worse today.
High School graduation rates have plummeted.
According to a May 2007 U.S. Department of Education press release, Secretary Margaret Spellings
said: “Despite our best efforts, there are still vast inequities within our education system.
In too many of our cities, the reality faced by minority and low-income kids is shocking.
As you've heard, 15% of our high schools produce more than half of our dropouts.
Of these dropout factories a majority of the students trapped in them are minorities, and their high
school experience looks vastly different from what most kids encounter.
They go to schools where trash litters the floors, where graffiti decorates the walls... where most
freshmen enter unable to read or do math at an eighth grade-level, and where graduation is a 50/50
shot, or worse.”
When you consider the facts, local community leaders such as John Chaney, Kevin Lollar, Daryl
Boffman, and programs like the Honors Program for Elementary Students and Eliminating
Achievement Gaps should be supported by all who desire to end “ America 's Silent Epidemic”.
John Chaney’s email ended with a Frederick Douglass quote. “It is easier to build strong men than it
is to repair broken ones”.
For more Honors Program information: jordanchaney19@yahoo.com
By BlackFrederick.com Community Corner Editor Sam Bennett
Published July 01, 2008
As I was beginning to write today’s commentary, an e-mail from John Chaney prompted me to
consider his concerns about how education is considered by a few African Americans in our
community.
Mr. Chaney stated that he believes that Black children have the intellect, but need to change their
attitude about education.
As examples of how education is devalued, he stated that “in our community we honor and revere
professional athletes and celebrate the convict coming home from prison but laugh at college
students trying to make a difference.
He feels that this has to change, because academic achievement serves the much greater purpose
of providing the skills and the credentials to achieve economic freedom and the opportunity to be
empowered to change communities for the betterment of all.
As he concluded, he announced that on June 29Th, 3-5 pm, he intends to present an Honors
Program for Elementary School Students who have achieved "Honor Roll Status" at the Clara Harris
Community Building , and that he would like to get more people involved.
Despite the brevity of his message, it reminded me of who I used to be and who I’ve become as a
result of being encouraged by my mother to obtain a good education.
Although I was raised in poverty in a single-parent home, attending inner-city schools in Newark, New
Jersey and Philadelphia, I was the “unpopular” kid that toughed it out and attended an Ivy-League
school – but not without a rude awakening.
Having graduated 8th in a class of 125 students, I thought that I was qualified to compete as a pre-
med student, but was disappointed to learn that the Philadelphia Public School system didn’t provide
the curriculum that I really needed for that academic environment.
I didn’t get the Chemistry, Physics or Calculus classes that I needed, nor was I challenged enough to
be prepared for the level of effort required to succeed.
Without question - I really had to “hit the books” and work from sundown until the wee hours to earn
my degree.
Although my situation was bad in the 70’s, it is much worse today.
High School graduation rates have plummeted.
According to a May 2007 U.S. Department of Education press release, Secretary Margaret Spellings
said: “Despite our best efforts, there are still vast inequities within our education system.
In too many of our cities, the reality faced by minority and low-income kids is shocking.
As you've heard, 15% of our high schools produce more than half of our dropouts.
Of these dropout factories a majority of the students trapped in them are minorities, and their high
school experience looks vastly different from what most kids encounter.
They go to schools where trash litters the floors, where graffiti decorates the walls... where most
freshmen enter unable to read or do math at an eighth grade-level, and where graduation is a 50/50
shot, or worse.”
When you consider the facts, local community leaders such as John Chaney, Kevin Lollar, Daryl
Boffman, and programs like the Honors Program for Elementary Students and Eliminating
Achievement Gaps should be supported by all who desire to end “ America 's Silent Epidemic”.
John Chaney’s email ended with a Frederick Douglass quote. “It is easier to build strong men than it
is to repair broken ones”.
For more Honors Program information: jordanchaney19@yahoo.com
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