<p>I visited with professor and writer John McWhorter at Barnes & Noble where he was discussing his latest book. During the Q&A interesting points were offered by he, regarding not just the achievement gap for low-income students but also the “Shaker Heights phenomena,” wherein kids of relatively “income-comfortable” and educated parents have low regard for academic acheivement.</p>
<p>McWhorter believes that the tactics of some civil rights leaders are to blame for the problem, in addition to negative elements of popular culture. I guess you might say McWhorter is on the same page as Bill Cosby. In any event, when McWhorter appeared on “Meet the Press” along with Marian Wright Edelman earlier in the week, Ms. Edelman’s expression looked as though she had eaten something that gave her really bad indigestion. When I asked McWhorter about it at the bookstore, he laughed and said that Ms. Edelman had lectured him in the studio lobby, admonishing him that he should “know more and be more appreciate of the Civil Rights movement.”</p>
<p>Anyone read McWhorter’s writings and have any thoughts?</p>
<p>Two links of interest: First, the Shaker Heights School District, which links the WaPo article McWhorter mentioned. Second, a NYT article (more recent), which points to a similar problem in Princeton Township, which was brought to light by No Child Left Behind testing.</p>
<p>Thanks for the links. NYT article was very interesting. I was not aware of the MSAN (Minority Student Achievment Network) which includes Evanston. Our school district is somewhat similar, although we don’t have a nearby research university.</p>
<p>sounds like a very good book
I have been working in the educational community with some long time black leaders, some whom are very angry- and they have held onto their anger- ( by which I do not mean that they don’t express it) for decades.
From my point of view- they are very narrow minded. They think they are great advocates for minority youth, but they are more about complaining than accomplishing something. I don’t know, maybe they were as idealistic as I, 50 years ago, dealing with the school district and the city would wear anyone out. But to criticize caucasian families who are trying to advocate for their childs neighborhood school in a traditionally caucasian neighborhood, but then criticize caucasian families who choose to move into traditional minority neighborhoods, seems like they aren’t going to be happy no matter who lives where. It makes them pretty contentious to work with.</p>