public schools

COMMENTARY: Black No More 

It is worth noting that recounting the horrors of slavery, remembering heroes of the civil rights movement, along with a few 19th and 20th century inventors, athletes and entertainers, in no way sufficiently pays proper tribute to the totality of our past. Only by passing down our complete stories and sharing the fullness of our heritage do we properly honor our ancestors and history, a history that long predates the 17th century in North, South and Central America and the Caribbean. We were Africans long before becoming New Yorkers, Jamaicans, Brazilians, Haitians, Cubans or Puerto Ricans. 

Thurmond Wins Historic Race for CA Superintendent of Public Instruction

Pledges to be a champion of public schools and a Superintendent for all California students Assemblymember Tony Thurmond is the projected winner of the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction election. More than a week after Election Day, Thurmond has overcome an 86,000 vote deficit on Election Day to win the election. On Saturday, his opponent Marshall Tuck conceded. “I want to thank the voters of California for electing me to serve the 6 million students of California, I intend to be a champion of public schools and a Superintendent for all California students,” said Superintendent-elect Thurmond. “I ran for

Affirming Black Students Home Language

The failure of public schools to properly educate Black students is criminal. They have long been at the bottom of virtually every measure of effective schooling. Yet the Black community has remained largely on the sidelines; its dominant response, silence.

Success on the Way: Update – Transgender LGBT Rights

Some weeks back I wrote to you regarding transgender (LGBT) rights in U.S. public schools. The way that came about was that President Obama administration issued a directive on transgender rights to public schools from the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice.