The Black–White achievement gap.pdf pld991

Closing the achievement gap between black and white students on standardized tests would go a long way toward achieving true civil rights, declares former education secretary Paige and his coauthor, educator (and sister) Witty. Citing a wealth of statistics and their own personal experiences, the authors make the case that the gap is real but malleable, and has real-life consequences in everything from income to insurance coverage to the likelihood of incarceration. Detailing historical factors, including slavery and race discrimination, the authors argue that low expectations of black students and negligence on the part of black leaders to this pressing issue are to blame for the dismal achievement gap. They highlight schools that have been able to close the gap, educating black students of low-income families and sending them on to college. They also dissect the political and sociological arguments behind the gap and criticize the African American leadership culture—meaning liberal ideology—that has failed to come to grips with the underlying reasons for the gap and to offer real solutions. Paige and Witty do offer real and practical solutions on every level from individual to organizational in a call to arms to address the issue at the last frontier in the civil-rights struggle. This is a passionate, well-researched look at a troubling—but solvable—social problem.