Evelyn Bowden

Program Change

2010-02-26T18:08:00.000-08:00

Tonights Lets Talk Education Radio program on blogtalkradio.com/evelyn-bowden has been rescheduled to air Monday March 1, at 8pm.

Alabama’s Superintendents assessment that the students are gaining in Advanced Placement is the equivalent of making Advancement with a Thimble full

2010-02-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

In a press lease on February 10, 2010, Alabama's State Department of Education stated that "Student participation in AP courses and exams and AP exam scores continue to rise in Alabama." It is encouraging that more students, especially African-American students, are taking advanced courses and exams, however what the press release did not say was that the percentage of students failing AP exams is also on the rise. In 2004 32% of the African-American Students scored 3 or higher, in 2009 only 18% of African-American students scored 3 or higher. The percent of Low-income students passing the exam was down 14% also, and there was an 11% decrease in the percent of All Alabama students scoring 3 or better. Alabama's ranks among other states with a 45%-54.9% AP failure rate.

According to the press release Gov. Bob Riley said, "Expanding Advanced Placement programs is critical to providing a world-class education for our children and making sure they are prepared to succeed in today's "global economy". With whom will Alabama's student be able to compete based on these AP results?

In addition Alabama was one of six states to receive funding from National Governors Associations to expand AP courses to more minority and low-income students as well as one of seven states to be awarded a National Math and Science Initiative grant to strengthen AP programs. Are these AP results a satisfactory return on investment?

Evelyn Bowden
www.blogtalkradio.com/evelyn-bowden
www.letstalked.net

Are You Serious?

2010-02-04T02:01:00.000-08:00

"I feel the past Board members, working with our Superintendent and staff members in the Central Office, have turned the program upward, and with the current "leadership" you will see continued improvement..." Harry Lee. This quote is from an email I received from Mr. Lee in response to information I provided the board on pattern of failure in the Elementary Schools in Tuscaloosa City School system. I suppose his view also applies to this account of the progress at the High School Level also. Is it any wonder that the black children are failing in this system?

Thousands Failed More to Come

2010-02-01T22:48:00.000-08:00

January 26, 2010: The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education voted to extend the contract of School Superintendent Dr. Joyce Levey. For those in the black community the question is what were they thinking. Under Dr. Levey there continues to be astronomical failure of black students who make up the majority to the student population. From 2005-2009 approximately 2630 black elementary students have failed reading and 3810 math compared to 120 white students failing reading and 246 failing math. There are nine elementary schools in the city system. 2 schools have failed black students at the same rate each year during the five year period; 2 schools show a small reduction in failure rate (-1% & -3%)'; the 5 remaining schools have increased the rate of failure of black students as much as 9%. In addition to this, under the Levey administration some 291 students left school with certificates not diplomas and approximately 700 dropped out. Why would you want more of the same in a system thats supposed to ensure education for all, 43% failure for black students yet less than 5% failure of whte students.?

Public School Resegregation

2008-11-19T14:43:00.000-08:00

Well it appears that Tuscaloosa City School System has completed its task to resegregate the schools as best it could and create a private school within the public setting. The only thing left is for the tears, and there will be tears for the children that remain in the 'failing' Western Cluster of Schools. With the advent of the new middle schools and the charter school the students of the western cluster be doomed to continue to fail miserably, just at a faster pace. It has be shown by study after study that children, poor children learn more in middle-class settings. The rezoning creation of additional middle schools and a magnet school that will draw the best students and their parents from schools in the high poverty areas of the Western Cluster thus creating a culture of failure and closing the door to the way out for those who remain.

The shame of it all is that the students of the Western Cluster were sold out by their own. By the board members sent to represent them and look out for their best interest, by the parents and community to weak or too scared to intervene.

Listen to me on Saturday at 10:00 am at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/evelyn-bowden
The subject is The Schools have Resegregated, What are we to do now?

Evelyn Bowden

Post Election Racial Tensions

2008-11-12T07:59:00.000-08:00

I was disturbed to hear that black children in schools in Alabama and Mississippi are facing racial name calling, including use of the "N" word, and being subjected to personal attacks including one reported case of a child being spat upon. To add insult to injury these incidents are going unpunished and some feel being encouraged by unresponsive classroom teachers and principals. One school will allow discussions about John McCain and Sarah Palin but students are forbidden to talk about Barack Obama.

Is this the "Real America"? How should parents and communities respond?

Let's Talk About It.
Evelyn Bowden

Welcome

2008-11-11T08:07:00.000-08:00

Greetings it is with great pride that I welcome you to my new blog space. In conjunction with the talk show at http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/Evelyn-Bowden, I will share with you information and current events about things of interest to me and concerns such as education, the economy and politics as well as social and cultural issues. If you would like to be added to our email listing to receive updates and new program announcements please send your email address to me at http://www.evelynbowden.blogspot.com/

Sincerely
Evelyn Bowden