Introduction

I have been involved in education in some form all my life. My mom was a teacher, I was a teacher and I presently work for a school system. I have watched young black boys struggle my entire life with how we expect them to learn. I have watched the evolution of the labels....hyperactive, ADD,ADHD, or whatever else you want to use to explain why they are not achieving at the societal norms. I have also watched the anger and frustration of our young brothers and once again it leads to a label of "angry black man". I am ready to try and do something about it. The way we are educating our boys is all wrong, in my opinion. I was considered bright but I struggled with sitting down and doing work all day, indoors, and then being evaluated on how much I was able to retain from that work. All with the eventual goal of going to college, another of my challenges. I think our young black boys need a chance to see how they will succeed in an environment where their skills will be challenged in an arena most suited for their natural penchant for activity. Sure they need discipline but in context. I want to start a school specifically for black boys that will be a boarding school. The emphasis will be on actively creating something. Students will be involved in farming, carpentry, husbandry, technology, music, self-defense, and team building activities, among other things. It will be a boarding school so that we can ensure that the students get proper, regular nutrition as well as consistent rest in a non-threatening environment, which is so different from where many of our black boys go home to now. This is a dream and vision that I am hoping to see come true. I will share my thoughts here regularly. Please feel free to comment and offer your feedback...