Baruti K. Kafele

This book was required reading for my job. It's a quick read, set up in a question/answer format. Since I've been in education for 20 years, I can honestly say I've heard all of this before, but for a new teacher, it is definitely food for thought. I only beg to differ on the idea of visiting families. For a middle or high school teacher who has 100+ students, it isn't practical. Also, many parents would be intimidated and uncomfortable with having a teacher visit. I think it's overstepping the bounds a bit, in many districts.… (més)

It is refreshing to read an educational book about African American teen boys by someone who has been there, done that. As principal of Newark Tech High School in Newark NJ, Kafele devotes his like to driving his students toward excellence. His approach makes sense as headdresses the need for inspiration, learning styles, goals and aspirations; experience and realities; needs and interests; challenges, obstacles, and distractions; peers, parents, and neighborhoods; and, history and culture. In chapter two, he asks us as adults to inspect our own expectations and behaviors toward black teen boys. In chapter three he turns his attention to the community and the individual characteristics of boys surrounding self- esteem, self-image, self-discipline, self-repect and self-actualization. Kafele then turns his attention to the program he has developed for middle and high school boys to help turn their ideas toward excellence. He addresses a number of tough issues and provides guidance from his experience to solve them. He ends the book with lists of behaviors teens commit to do such as: I am at school every day; I arrive on time to school and classes, I make he honor role, I develop strategies to achieve goals, I read books and newspapers on a daily basis and a plethora of other “I dos.” It should be obvious that this book is a must read, a must discuss, a must take action book. Put it at the top of your list.… (més)