If Fathers Can

If Fathers Can

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person:
he believed in me. Jim Valvano (Coach and Mentor)

There are community programs, social initiatives, governmental support, school vouchers, urban initiatives, and religious seminars, creating opportunities for fathers to be active in their child’s school.
If Fathers Can look past their White faces, African American faces, Hispanic faces, Latino faces, Asian faces, Haitian faces and other cultural faces and see there are more Intervening (failing) schools that need support by fathers being mentors and role models; the Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida has set a great example by getting involved showing that collaboration of city government and education can work in saving programs and empowering students. There is applause, congratulations and high fives from these successes, it does not have to stop there. If Fathers Can work together positive change for schools can be created.

“A man's worth is measured by how he parents his children. What he gives them, what he keeps away from them, the lessons he teaches and the lessons he allows them to learn on their own.” Lisa Rogers

If Fathers Can see sports and entertainment are viable alternative outlets to rise from poverty, they should see opportunities in (STEM) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics for their children. Statistically the odds of being a sports and entertainment star are exceedingly low, but the odds to be involved in areas of STEM, for children even minorities are higher with community, church and family support, with a strong college/university level education. Students can beat the odds of failure if they have the parental support from their families. The Mayor has set a great example; fathers can make a significant impact if they are involved consistently.

In the educational realms of school districts nationwide, students shouldn’t wait on Superman, Batman to save schools or save them. There are more children in Alternative Education Programs, Overage Programs, STAR Programs, Drop Back In Programs, Title One Programs, and the list grows that the line between “regular student” and “alternative education student” blurs. The movie “I Can Do Bad All by Myself”(2009) suggests, no student should have to do bad at all if education is supported and respected, if fathers make a choice to support their children not just on an athletic field, but on academic field where it is more important. Across this country fathers are perceived as not wanting to take a serious role in schools and be held accountable for their children’s academics. Schools have academic success stories and academic strengths because of father’s participation; there should be more. All children need support and guidance to be successes in education; children need to hear success stories, stories of overcoming poverty, drugs, violence, and devastating family situations, they need to hear from fathers, grandfathers, uncles, stepfathers, and surrogate fathers. Their voices are important and do make a difference.

There is a growing travesty not just in the African American community, (it is felt more here) fathers are missing the opportunity to volunteer, mentor and positively influence children in their education. Interestingly fathers attend football games and basketball games, exalt and praise sports, but are few in parent/teacher conferences, school board meetings, PTA meetings and School Advisory Councils. A father’s attendance is important for the support and encouragement of their children’s growth and setting a model for the value of education.

If Fathers Can take this opportunity to be proactive, become involved in the schools, support their child who may feel unsupported and alone. If Fathers Can build on a paradigm shift similar to what was created by Jacksonville, Florida Mayor Brown to support schools by visiting, inspiring students, encouraging fathers, building on success, and setting high expectations. More fathers should be proactive and visible; fathers need to be involved. If Fathers Can attend football games, get hyped, excited and envisioning champions on athletic fields, where is that same vision and energy for champions in the classroom?

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the change that we seek.” President Barack Obama

If Fathers Can rise up and be the role models, mentors, support mechanism and influencers of academic change then students should be able to attend higher education (college and university), vocational education and military educational options instead of potentially being denied entrance because of low test scores, low motivation and no support. To many students attending college/university take remedial classes to gain entrance.

Malcolm X stated, "Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today."

As an instructor at Edward Waters College I see the excitement in student faces and their personal drive, there is great talent and awesome potential. Even at the college level students need parental support and guidance, fathers do make a difference. No student should be looked down on by where they go to school; they should be celebrated and supported for their desire to continue their education no matter what school they attend. How will children be prepared for the future if they are not supported, guided and motivated?

The future holds new jobs in technology; who will be the engineers and scientist that create and support new technologies? If Fathers Can model the value for education and hard work more students will graduate; If Fathers Can motivate their children to understand in this decade, “nearly two-thirds, of all the jobs created will require a college degree” (White, S. 2006, NCES). If Fathers Can be consistant and dedicated in supporting, educational opportunities more children will be successful academically and there will be none or fewer intervening (failing) schools in neighborhoods in America.

by Sean Jackson (Florida A&M), William Jackson, M.Ed. and Cheryl Williams, RN

This information is for teachers who are considering or who are already blogging about their school day.
The instructional day is so varied that teachers must be cautious about their blogging content that they put online. Not to embarrass, call out, identify or spotlight children that may present a cause for concern.
Any pictures of children put on a web site, social networking site or in the newspaper must be granted permission first from the parent or guardian. Check to see if there is already a media release form for students at the school.




Video about Blogging Content for Teachers


Wm Jackson
Teacher with DCPS
http://about.me/williamdjackson

Cyber Bullying and Stalking in HBCU’s

A new academic year is starting for HBCU students. HBCU students will take back to school excitement and enthusiasm for another academic year of discovery and growth . The excitement of a new term, new courses, instructors, and classmates for growth in diverse careers to positively influence our world. As a public school teacher in DCPS and Professor at Edward Waters College, caution is also being shared concerning growing bullying and cyberbullying. Technology is being used to spy, taunt, stalk and bully students at HBCU’s.

What is not expected the harassment, embarrassment and stress of cyberbullying, stalking from people met in person or online from parties or social gatherings. Once a person has “locked you into” their cell phone, as a Facebook friend and on other social media platforms it is hard to delete, block and hide from them.

The feeling of cyberbullying is like, “someone following your every move. You try to get away but they know all of your information: email addresses, phone numbers, Facebook page.” A. Spivey (Black College Wire).
Cyber bulling/stalking is becoming more prevalent with new advances in SoLoMo (Social Local Mobile) technologies. Cyber stalking is defined in electronic platforms as being pursued, harassed, stalked, or contacted by another person continuously and without consent (crimelibrary.com). This also comprises false accusations, the transmission of threats, identity theft, sexting and solicitation of sex.

The actions of cyberbullying and stalking are not fun, entertaining, nor playful, that is why a person must be careful of who takes their photo or a video of them. Once the photo is taken or video recorded they have lost control of that digital content. The environment of an HBCU is for academic growth and excellence, there is history behind each school. Students need to understand their inappropriate behavior is punishable by jail time, fines, expulsion, legal restraining measures, and the potential for retaliatory violence from their victims.

Cyberbullying has created turmoil for students and in some cases for instructors. Statistics show the affects are increases of suicide planning, suicide attempts and physical retaliation. The public schools are facing tragic results from bulling, events like suicides by youth as young as 11are growing across the country. In Springfield, Mass (2009) Carl W Hoover (11) African American male suffered from continuous attacks of bullying. Carl tragically hung himself, he was a football and basketball player, Boy Scout and yet he was called “gay” and taunted. Tragic results like these are what parent’s fear when bullying starts at school, extends into the community, online and even in church.

Carl W. Hoover story..
http://videos.masslive.com/abc40/2009/04/hundred_from_the_community_sho.html

The prevalence of bullying has been discussed by Oprah, Tyra Banks, Dr. Phil and President and First Lady Obama. The Antibullying conference at the Whitehouse shows on a governmental level bullying, cyberbullying, stalking and harassment is being taken seriously. Cyber laws are being created and enforced with the victims and those committing the crime in mind. Prosecution of bullies does not always solve the issue, counseling and intervention strategies in schools, communities and churches are preventative measures that many can be involved in. R. Mahaffey, an FBI Deputy Marshall in Jackson, Miss. in charge of the Cyber Crime Center says, “We live in a technology driven society and not everyone uses technology for positive means.” Students at HBCU’s and other higher educational institutions should know that once they login to the schools network their Internet activities can be monitored, data collected can be used in a court of law against them. Mahaffey explains, “School age students and college students list too much personal information on their profiles in social networks which can be easily accessed and manipulated.”

This is why many times students wonder how people get to know so much about them and their patterns of movement that can be used by cyber and physical stalkers. Girls and women need to be aware that now people stalk them online without them knowing and it makes it easier to stalk them on the college campus, around town and even in the public or private schools environment.

A. Moncrief, freshman computer science major from Joliet, Ill., attended a technology conference stated, “I have chatted before and see all sorts of weirdoes,” Moncrief said. “I have learned codes and structures of websites. If I wanted to I could hack into a site or someone’s computer; it is just that easy, if I wanted to cyberstalk a person I would have no problem because people put so much information about their lives online especially girls.” The Internet provides the anonymity to empower the bully to become more malicious and express their harmful feelings.

The laws in place do protect citizens who have been violated in the cyber realm, consequences of breaking the laws include fines and/or four years in prison. Words of caution and wisdom by Moncrief, “If you feel you are being cyber stalked or been a victim of a scam, save all the emails or chat blogs. Print off multiple copies and contact the proper authorities immediately.”

The entertainment industry has also taken note of this issue, recently LMN (Lifetime Movie Network) has several shows relating to bullying, stalking and cyberbullying; on ABC Family Network the program Cyberbully premiered with great reviews (http://abcfamily.go.com/movies/cyberbully).

On a more personal note, I’m a parent that has a child in college and high school, it is really important for parents to sit down with their children to talk about their online activities. Parents need to make students understand the seriousness about bullying/cyberbullying this academic year. The risks of physical harm, stealing of personal identity, and damaging of reputation should not be looked upon lightly. The stakes are too high for young people who attend HBCU’s to better their futures.

Resources copy and paste into a new window to view:
CNN Politics
http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/03/10/obama.bullying/index.html
Stop Bullying
http://www.stopbullying.gov/
Stop Girl Bullying
http://stopgirlbullying.com/
Stop Bullying
http://stop-bullies.com/
School Board News
http://schoolboardnews.nsba.org/2011/03/bullying/
Everybody Hates Chris
http://www.bet.com/shows/everybody-hates-chris/news/2011/bullying-an-epidemic.html
Bullying Not A Game For All
http://www.bet.com/news/health/2011/04/25/bullying-not-a-game-for-all-involved.html
Bully Police
http://www.bullypolice.org/brenda.html