In 2006, I attended the college placement discussion at East Chapel Hill High School (ECHHS) for parents of sophomore students seeking to enter college. Three of the high school’s guidance counselors – two of whom were African American – made helpful introductory remarks. Then, parents went to specific meeting rooms to converse with representatives from colleges located throughout the state.
Out of nearly 175 parents present, not one African American parents attended. This situation reminded me of an observation one year earlier when, out of nearly 300 parents, only one African American parent attended to hear a panel discussion designed to better enable parents to help their children through high school. The panel included an African American and a Hispanic community leader, as well as Anson Dorrance, coach of the UNC Women’s Soccer team.
Rigor Required
The informative briefings one year earlier, at ECHHS were for parents of rising 9th graders. The first session focused on what courses students would need to graduate from high school and be prepared for university studies, technical college, or direct participation in the work force. At the first meeting, attending parents listened with rapt attention. Graduating from ECHHS with the new requirements requires rigor.
The children of many parents, however, did not attend these crucial meetings. Only one African-American parent attended the first meeting. At the second meeting where parents got to meet and listen to school counselors, department heads, and teachers, about 275 parents attended, three of which were African-American.
So, four crucial meetings with chronic African American under-attendance: What’s going on? To me, this reflected the future of America.
And 17 Years Later
In 2023, those 13 to 15 year-olds represented by the parents at these meetings are now 32 and 33, out of college and graduate school if they had attended, ready to buy cars, houses, start families, and participate in the economic mainstream. Those who were not listening back then were likely unprepared all throughout high school, and unprepared now to participate in the economic mainstream. Yet, someone will say that education in Chapel Hill is unfair, that it rewards only certain groups and deprives others. Others will rail on about “social justice.”
In another 17 years, 2040, I wonder if anything will be any different, and if greater numbers of African-American parents will take the time to listen to administrators, teachers, counselors, and college representatives who hold vital keys to the quality of their children’s lives.
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