Philadelphia Mandates Black History for Graduation

[wildeyed]

PHILADELPHIA, June 22 - Angry that public schools here have always taught American history through a Eurocentric prism, parents of black children began pleading with local school officials to offer a course in African-American history. That was nearly 40 years ago.

This year, their pleas were finally - and emphatically - answered. Starting in September, students entering city high schools as ninth graders will be required to take a course in African-American history, making Philadelphia the first major city to require such a course for high school graduation.

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Mr. Perzel, a Republican who represents a district in northeast Philadelphia that is largely white, said in a letter to the commission chairman, James E. Nevels, that he was concerned that the mandate "will divide, rather than unite" the city "and thereby erode the positive learning environment."

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One of her students, Christopher Davis, 18, said: "In American society, we're known as gangsters, drug dealers and killers. People don't know all about our heritage, what we stood for, our accomplishments as a culture. I feel better now because I know a little bit more about how we lived before we got here."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/25/education/25philly.html?th&emc=th

[SemperEadem]

1. it's a good idea

education never hurt anyone.

Only pride keeps one stupid.

[FrenchieCat]

2. I think it is great for young people of all ages to be taught

accurate history.

In this day and age, as in the past, that has not been the case.

The closer we get to the truth, the better.

This is a good thing!

[fortyfeetunder]

3. Have you seen the post of this topic on LBN?

It has all the makings of a freeper flame fest. I am not surprised it hasn't been locked yet.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1580552&mesg_id=1580552

edited to add the link.

[wildeyed]

4. Oh yeah, we are flaming it up in LBN.

I have been posting in that thread, too. So far, many of the posters have been quite positive. One or two major exceptions, but I kind of expected that.

[mark414]

5. as a resident of Milwaukee

let me just say that if I ever see "Jeff In Milwaukee" i'm going to slap him silly!

[wildeyed]

6. lol!

You are welcome to him. I am done with that guy. :crazy:

[GOPFighter]

7. Black History will divide the city?

Mr. Perzel, a Republican who represents a district in northeast Philadelphia that is largely white, said in a letter to the commission chairman, James E. Nevels, that he was concerned that the mandate "will divide, rather than unite" the city "and thereby erode the positive learning environment."

Hardly. Black History is exciting. I had two semesters in college and so much of it was new to me. Black History is the story of struggle and triumph. I had tears in my eyes after some of the readings we were assigned. I'm afraid the pablum we get during Black History Month has made people think Black History is nothing more than a list of African Americans and their isolated achievements.

Hardly.

[wildeyed]

9. I went to a small, progressive high school.

The only thing I remember, we had a non-eurocentric history class that started out with the statement that the pilgrims were all criminals and sexual deviants, or something like that. I think the teacher was trying to shock us out of complacency and facilitate debate. But I remember rolling my eyes and thinking, 'doesn't surprise me a bit, Steve' (We called the teachers by their first names.)

So likely I got some decent history in high school. But it is all a blur and all sooooo long ago.

I am not a huge history reader as an adult. I mostly prefer fiction. But I read the Taylor Branch biographies of MLK and have been watching some of the TV shows mentioned here. And I don't feel the least divided. I feel much more connected, actually, since I better understand US history.

[Swamp Rat]

8. 'Bout time a COMPLETE history of the USA is taught.

No more white washing!

[Brewman_Jax]

10. Great idea

Too long the history of black people in North America has been consigned to trite and non-heretical references of MLK, Benjamin Banneker, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, George Washington Carver, and a few others during Black History Month. :eyes:

I had a great linguistics professor in college who appeared to be white, but had done years of research in SE Africa and had a West African family. I learned more about black/African history in 2 quarters than in my previous 19 years.