Customer Reviews

Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education

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While Jawanza Kunjufu, an author of nearly two dozen books, writes primarily for an African-American audience, this book is full of good observations about boys in special education in general.

There is a growing concern about the number of boys in special education as compared to girls. Kunjufu joins more established authors such as Christina Hoff Sommers ('The War Against Boys')and Michal Guiran ('Boys and Girls Learn Differently') in pointing out that there is something wrong out there in the world of education as far as boys are concerned.

Kunjufu gives wonderful advice about the questions parents should ask if they are brought in to the school to discuss placing their student into special education. His suggestions include signing nothing until you completely understand it, insisting on seeing what modifications have been done up to this point (unfortunately, some teachers have the reputation of referring every student who does not learn quickly from that teacher's ONE teaching style for special education services) and asking for a different assessment test (it is your right) - scores can vary widely from one test to the next.

His best advice comes in the area of the IEP, or Individualized Education Plan. All special education students must have one and most are vague. He insists on specificity and the book is worth the purchase price just for this chapter alone - both for the prospective special education parent and the special education teacher.

Kunjufu's target audience is African-American, as I've already said. I am not, so some passages were not really aimed at me. I was not comfortable with Kunjufu's seemingly equating inner-city poverty with African-American culture in general. As he points out in the beginning of the book, that this is a stereotype. However, he reinforces that stereotype over and over again. It could be that he is really targeting that segment of the African-American population... Like I said, I don't know.

Regardless of my comfort level with certain passages, this is a must read if your student is being referred for special edcuation services. It is a quick and practical read with a clear table of contents to get you quickly to the IEP and Parent Empowerment sections and room for notes in the back.

I give this book a grade of A

Kunjufu sheds light on an incredibly important social problem in our public schools: the overplacement of black boys in special education classes, yet I felt overall that he succumbs to the same problem that he blames others of in the opening of his book, he presents no real solutions! I commend Mr. Kunjufu for writing a bold book for a larger audience and if this book brings any positive attention to this issue, he should be applauded.

First, let me address many of the positive points that he addresses. I must add as a caveat, however, that nearly all of his advice is becoming mainstream knowledge in public schools. He often treats this material as if it is revolutionary and never thought of before. He explains that classrooms must be designed for boys, which is rarely true in female dominated classrooms. (82% of elementary teachers are female.) Multiple intelligence training is also essential to ensure that boys' (and all learners) are being addressed. Developmental differences between genders should be incorporated into literacy lessons.

Perhaps my biggest critique of this book is its generalization of all black boys having the same needs. By making this assumption, we must assume that all black families are the same and that communities, schools, socioeconomic status make no difference. He does acknowledge this, but then returns to simple models and charts that reinforce the similarities of all black boys. Many of my black male special education students did not like rap music or sports, and taking the individual out of teaching is very dangerous.

I do agree in one of his suggestions, that we need more black male teachers. How do we encourage more black men to teach? By berating white women who are filling the gap, we are accomplishing nothing!

Other criticims, don't read on if you liked the book or expect to - His tone is often dogmatic and condescending towards teachers, he includes religion as a solution and advocates having Bibles in the classroom!, brings in faulty arguments about links between nutrition and education, defends OJ Simpson, and uses loud screaming fonts to make his point.

Not a scholarly read, but does bring attention to an atrocious social phenomenon that must be understood and stopped! Hopefully our new president can help get us on the right track.

I purchased Dr. Kunjufu book "Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education" when my son African Amercican entered kindergarten. My research began after I received several complaints from my son's teacher of his behavior. This book is a must have if you are raising a African American boy. Dr. K provides information on the statistics of a large percentage young black boys attending special education programs and being prescribed medication; such as Retalin to help them focus in school. According to the statistics there exist a larger % of AA boys in Special Ed courses than white children and female children. Subsequently, to reading this book my son's teacher suggested that I have my son evaluated and when I refused she politely insinuated that my son needed to be evaluated so that he could be prescribed medication in order for him to be calm during school hours. Dr. K explains how such medication can ultimately lead our son's into a behavior of drug use in their later years, leading to a life of crime and drug addiction. We must be aware of the psychological traps that are being set for our son, please do not listen to the schools. In many cases this behavior can be corrected simply by placing your child into sports programs, establishing homework skills, reading with your child, limiting and screening television programs. I have read many of Dr. K books; such as Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys, Developing Positive Self- Images & Discipline in Black Children and Motivating & Preparing Black Youth for Success. I am so grateful to Dr. J; my son is now eight years old and he has calm down so much without the special education programs or medication. Also, I should mention there was never an academic issue, just behavior. I saturated my son's after school hours with sports, reading, church activity and eliminated all TV time during the week (took SpongeBob out totally). Please do not misunderstand what I am saying some boys need special need programs; but Dr. K will help you make that determination and find other alternatives and not rely strictly on the advice of the teachers and the school staff. Such information provided by Dr. K helps AA parents to educate themselves on such processes, so that you provide the best possible education for your children. I am a single AA mom raising a my son in a difficult environment and I need all the help I can get...thank you Dr. K (I'm also purchasing "Raising Black Boys")

I have been a student of Jawanza Kunjufu's writings since college, his books and presentations have been a critical part of my development as an educator, entrepreneur and mentor to students.

Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education not only presents the facts about the low expections and unfair treatment of African-American boys in public schools, but it also provides solutions. The solution that is most important is that African American parents must become involved in the education of our youth. Schedule several conferences and visits to your child's school and hold the teachers, administrators, the child and yourself accountable to the education of your student.

I recommend this book and all the books written by Jawanza Kunjufu to anyone who is interested in the education of youth and more specifically, African American youth.

Linsey Mills

Author of Simply Outrageous

simpyoutrageous.org

I brought this book because it is very revelent. The book is Afro- centric. In some was has a strong 60's type message and tone. The facts are true, candid and thought provoking. I highly recommend the sections on how to deal with the school system as an advocate for the child as well the sections on developing the child's self esteem. The recommendations in the book do work.It's a good book for educators and African American families regardless of your child's grades. I highly recommend it.

The teachers who do not reside within the same urban areas of the public schools should read this book. This book confirmed my suspicions about the Teaching styles of Teachers who do not understand how to teach the African-American male students.

When I first visited my son's classroom, I made a mental note to view the boards for educational material. However, after reading "Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education", I witnessed how the educational boards only reflected Caucasian references. There were no references attributed to African-Americans or Latinos, which made up 90% of the classroom. I agree with the author that there should be more Afro-centric educational systems within the urban area, but it is these African-American school administrators who would feel more threatened about adopting such educational centers or programs.

I used this book as a resource for the meetings with my son's Teachers. After reading this book, I have decided to take my son out of the public school system and enroll him in a private educational institution. Although private school is not the answer to all, but least there is some sort of accountability and I can have a more active role in the school's decision process for educating the children. The public school system needs a major renovation in order to secure the future of the African American students. I am not suggesting for the removal of these ineffective Teachers, but at least have the Teachers (all ethnic groups, including the African-American or Latino Teachers) go through a de-sensitizing program so they become aware of the culture of the African-American students within an urban area.

This book provided as much insight as I needed to adress the topic I had been researching. Very useful

Every parent, educator, school board member, etc. should read this book. I have been in education for over 20 years, and I can say with no hesitation that Mr. Kunjufu is on the mark with this book.