OUR kids can't read: Will you help?

I was stunned to see the statistics in the November 9, 2010 New York Times article entitled "Proficiency of Black Students Is Found to Be Far Lower Than Expected". It hurt my heart to think about the magnitude of what we are dealing with.

Recently as I sat listening to students read to me, I realized I have to find a way to do more. I volunteer two days a week at a local District 150 school to read with students. This is my fifth year. I read with 4 students for 20 minutes each. Ideally, a child should probably read at least 20 minutes per night.

It started out selfishly - it was a way to be at the school; I could observe my student and I could help out. Win-Win. But I never lost sight of the fact that in many cases, the twenty minutes I was giving a student to read, may be the only time they had an adult, other than a teacher, sit with them and encourage them to read.

Read the article below and think about it...

Black kids can't read: What are you prepared to do about it?

The statistics in the November 9, 2010 New York Times article, "Black Boys Score Far Behind White Students," leave one speechless. According to the report entitled "A Call for Change" released November 8 by urban schools advocacy group the Council for Great City Schools, only 12 percent of black males are proficient reading at grade level reading while in fourth grade, compared to 38 percent of white males.

The statistics do not look much better when comparing for poverty as measured by qualifying for school lunches. Poverty does not seem to answer the question because, according to the report, poor white males do just as well as black males who are purportedly not in poverty. Looking forward, things don't get better. The article states:

President Obama stated: "One of the best anti-poverty programs is a world class education." I wholeheartedly agree. We know that people learn in different ways and many have different styles of learning, but there is no excuse on the part of our country, teachers and parents for the abysmal performance of our young men in education. The ability to read and do very basic statement analysis is crucial in just about every area of life. If one cannot read, they will not make solid, well-informed decisions. The likelihood of being deceived by contracts or any type of written agreement, multiplies when someone is a poor reader.

Armed with these new statistics, we must take action as a community and nation. We know that black male dropouts lead the country in terms of incarceration and that this trend will continue to increase. The high cost of sustaining a prison system -- in desperate need of reform -- is illogical and fiscally impossible. We need to conduct a national dialogue on how to get to the heart of criminality and truly start intervening at the first sight of risk factors. These traits unfortunately start before the child is ever born. As a strategic forecaster, I'm tempted to bury my head in the sand as I look forward.

So let's look at our options. Black males who drop out of school are likely to live in long protracted periods of poverty. They will pick up skill-sets often involving a criminal lifestyle. More than likely they will spend time in jail or prison, leading to the wrong type of schooling. We are faced with mounting crises in the black community and the days of deflecting simply will not work.

We can no longer trust in a savior that will emerge and fix our problems. The deliverers will emerge within our community. Mentors, coaches, parents, grandparents and professionals from all walks of life will say, "Enough!" The question is: How unbearable must this situation become?

We know that we should mentor young men and women in all areas of life, but we also have to send this message: "If you are unable to take care of children, it is unacceptable to have them. Stop!"

We have a plethora of "baby mamas" and daddies in all communities -- black and white -- who do not have the wherewithal to raise healthy kids. The 40 percent out of wedlock rate is a national crisis. We have to read the writing on the wall -- enough is enough. Unfortunately some can't read it. Those who are literate have to start reading it for those who can't, and teach them a better way.

What's the protocol for calling a Community to Action?

You don't have to be a follower of Pastor Harvey Burnett to acknowledge that he has been vocal about trying to find a solution to stop the crime and killing in Peoria. It is unfortunate that Pastor Burnett feels the need to ask for inclusion in the Mayor's recent call to action event. It is also unfortunate that crime is so bad here that there is room for everybody at the table. For that reason, the event held at the Dream Center can only be helped by Pastor Burnett continuing to call attention to efforts (or lack thereof).

Below is Pastor Burnett's response to an Anonymous Poster who continues to question the Pastor's true intentions:


Anonymous said: So, Pastor Burnett, did you attend?

Pastor Burnett said: Since you are kind of slow when it comes to this particular point let me say it like this...where were you or any of these officials 18 murders and 12 months ago when I made the initial call on Feb. 12th, 2009? Why did it take 15 days from Jan. 5th 2010 until Jan. 20th 2010 for the Mayor to respond to my request for a meeting to deal SPECIFICALLY with this agenda...Remember this was AFTER we had already rolled out a Peoria safe community campaign that he was fully aware of.

Why did the Mayor in our meeting on Jan 28th NOT MENTION his plans that were announced on Jan. 20th, the same day his secretary set the appointment with me?

So far as any of these officials are concerned and based on your logic, are we to assume that they (the officials) didn't come or say a word to me since the initial call on Feb. 12th 2009, because they wanted to be on the dias or because they were uninterested or simply wanted attention?

Now, if I were like you I could make that case because I could ask where are any of their phone calls to me or any of the families that people like me and Carl Cannon ministered to when these tragedies took place? They've had 12 months to respond and haven't said anything until now. I did not so much as receive a "whatever I can do" from any of them... So is it be fair for me to paint the picture that somehow these officials didn't care or only wanted publicity?

Surprisingly, using your warped form of logic I guess that would be appropriate, but I make no such claim...

Fact is that the Mayor has a duty to the citizens to INCLUDE them and especially those who can be readily identified in the field and who are carrying forth agenda effecting the citizens we are trying to reach. We are not students of his campaign, neither should we be approached as such. We don't approach him in that manner why should we be disrespected?

I contribute. We contribute. What do you do besides hide behind anonymous? That leads to this comment that I agree with as it pertains to your commentary in this thread: "But what do I know, I'm an idiot."

Thank you for affirming my initial thoughts!

Calling the Mayor out on the Community Call to Action

Word on the Street says that Mayor Jim Ardis will join state Representative Gordon and state Sen. Dave Koehler to host a Community Call to Action forum and workshop from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Dream Center, 714 Hamilton Blvd.

The forum is aimed at addressing crime in Peoria with a goal of identifying causes of violent crimes in the Peoria area, developing community-generated violence prevention methods and establishing a timeline for implementation of new methods.

Pastor Harvey Burnett is calling the Mayor out for what he alleges is politicizing the Community Call to Action forum, instead of making a real grassroots effort to effectuate change...

Mayor Ardis,

First, I do not wish to rebuke you, for I do not believe that it is my place and I certainly respect your office. I do wish, however to express my concern over your actions regarding the upcoming Community Call To Action that will take place Saturday Feb. 13th 2010 at the Peoria Dream Center.

First, my concern is not with the forum itself as the Pastor's Association under my direction endeavored to do this type of event, having a meeting almost exactly one year ago, Thursday Feb. 12th 2009, as confirmed HERE under the EXACT name, A Community Call To Action. Our second meeting was at the same location, The Peoria Dream Center. This information is confirmed HERE.

Personally, as you know, I encourage efforts rendered to the community from multiple facets as you and I have discussed as recently as 2 weeks ago. I think that it is in the best interest of the community for as many individuals as possible to be involved in this important task especially in light of the crime that we witnessed last year. None of us want to see those things duplicated at any time in the future.

The problem I have is that you, in planning this event, totally overlooked or minimized the participation of people who have been identified to avail themselves in service to this community. Speaking frankly, if there is anyone that should have been asked to participate in this event, I would think it certainly would have been myself. I can't speak for others as I don't know if they were asked to be involved, but I know that myself and others who I can identify and have also availed themselves openly over the last few years were not asked or considered by your office for this event.

I don't mean and or intend to sound like I or we deserve some sort of special treatment or am prideful in any way, but for you to totally exclude me and persons like me as a part of a process to develop effective strategies against crime and violence, especially in light of the fact that I personally have such a great investment into the issue and a proven track record of community service addressing this issue, makes your actions highly suspect as political posturing. I hope and believe that I am totally wrong, but this is how it appears.

This event, to me, signifies that it is business as usual in Peoria. None of the people, including the State Representatives that you feature in this event, have ever contacted my office in any way shape or form to assess the needs of the community, victims or the victims families. Although that isn't a measurement of their commitment to the community, I can only say that I have personal dealings and interactions with many of families of violent crime victims and have been vocal in looking for solutions and preventive measures in times past.

I don't believe that I am unique in my efforts, but I have taken measures that others haven't from time to time and have gladly done what others haven't done in service to this community. This is why I find it difficult to understand the motivation behind calling a community to action and not involving leaders who have been identified through personal service to be dedicated to that cause and the betterment of our community.

In conclusion, I don't believe that there is anything that I would like you to “do” regarding this other than make a commitment to better involve citizens such as myself who are on the front-line of this battle for the safety of our community in all aspects. I believe that there must be a greater interaction between political, and social factions of this community to truly address the issue of crime and violence and promote the message of community safety in the best possible manner.

Thank you for your time.

Pastor Harvey Burnett