Negro Digest - Freedom Archives

Educating For Liberation and Humanity
lull l~lo
A COMMUNITY COLLEGE WITH A
NEW PERSPECTIVE
BY CHARLES G . HURST JR.
" . Never losing sight o f the individual, the contemporary
educational institution must be concerned at all times with
massive changes of social and economic conditions which may
enhance the community's potential for successful self-determination
. . . ."
ti~~~ ;HE deplorable state of public education in the United States
leads to the conclusion that the future is bleak and unpromising
for millions of Black Americans who are being told
constantly that education is a ticket to freedom . To coin a
x`~Ilc~~ term familiar to all in the Black Community, education in
the United States from kindergarten through college is in a mess . From
the standpoint of a community that is witness to the many failures of
education to do what it claims as its job-namely educate-an insidious
hypocrisy is being perpetrated, compounded by a callous white public
that does not seem to care . Moreover, the Black Community is becoming
painfully aware of the high level of undesirable waste occurring as
more and more students emerge ill-fitted to serve themselves or society .
The results may be seen through serious erosions in community confidence
and a reluctance of the community to participate in educational
programs that demean without teaching .
Recently released statistics by the Chicago Board of Education showing
that attempts to teach reading are exercises in futility, even at the
eleventh grade level, are carbon copies of those released sporadically
30 March 1970 NEGRO DIGEST