In a recent column, Clarence Page commented on a hot topic — the idea that more and more American boys are falling behind academically, graduating at lower rates and choosing not to go to college. But this Washington Post article asserts that this “boy crisis” is largely a manufactured one:
“The alarming statistics on which the notion of a crisis is based are rarely broken out by race or class. When they are, the whole picture changes. It becomes clear that if there is a crisis, it’s among inner-city and rural boys. White suburban boys aren’t significantly touched by it. On average, they are not dropping out of school, avoiding college or lacking in verbal skills. Although we have been hearing that boys are virtually disappearing from college classrooms, the truth is that among whites, the gender composition of colleges is pretty balanced: 51 percent female and 49 percent male, according to the National Education Association. In Ivy League colleges, men still outnumber women.”
Posted by Melissa Cooley
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27 Comments
Oh, goodie, it’s only the inner-city and rural boys who are getting left behind. So, as long as those Wonder-bread suburban boys are alright, there’s no problem . . . nothing to see here.
This is what passes as a “liberal” columnist on The Wichita Eagle Op-ed page. This is what they print to provide “balance” to spittle-flecked virulence of Cal Thomas or the idiocy of Kathleen Parker.
Real nice.
“left behind”? Or drop out? Does our public school system contrive to exclude certain people/races from the schools? Or do they drop out voluntarily, then becry the system when they can’t get a job as a rocket scientist?
I loved some of Bill Cosby’s comments, when he said you can’t blame the problems of the poor blacks on white society anymore. It is the blacks (and other minorities) who are hurting themselves by refusing the freely offered public education.
Left,You may have some points, but for journalists being labeled a hack is the worst thing that they think can happen to them.
Why do you think Bush/Rove/Cheney/McClellen trot that one out so frequently?
And lastly, I don’t think that Melissa was necessarily offering this as a counter-point to a right-leaning argument. It could very well be that she was attempting to set the record straight via statistics which tell a different story than the one that was recently told.
That was my journalist defense for the day…
Okay, fine. I’m not attacking Melissa for the post, and it has some small insights.
I’m looking at the bigger picture of the Eagle Op-Ed page.
Vicious right-wing hate-mongers like Cal Thomas and Thomas Sowell, inane and insipid Bush-shills like Kathleen Parker, Cato Institute, and Heritage Foundation “balanced” with ethnics like Clarence Page and Trudy Rubin.
No real liberal in the bunch except for Molly Ivins once every four months.
Raptor–
Bill Cosby has done very well for himself, hasn’t he?
Having the luck to become the token house negro for corporate entertainment interests doesn’t give him the experience to speak about the struggles of “his people.”
He has all the authority of George Clooney or Barbara Striesand, except since he parrots what the RIGHT wants to hear, he must be “taken seriously.”
Sooo. Hook, are you then saying because you don’t like Bill Cosby that what he is saying is false?
So it is your contention that white people ARE responsible for the high drop out rate of black men?
During one speech, Cosby urged blacks to take personal responsibility for their lives. Is he wrong about that as well?
Sorry, left….attacking the messenger doesn’t change the message.
No, I’m not saying that.
I LIKE Bill Cosby.
He doesn’t have any more authority to pontificate on social issues and be believed than any other entertainer.
The Right-Wing-Nuts write books about “Hollywood liberals” who should “shut up and sing” (referring to Barbra Striesand), but when an entertainer like Cosby or the little-known Ron Silver say what they want to hear, they suddenly become a new Daniel and get to speak at the Republican national convention.
I don’t dislike Cosby. I just don’t think he knows what he’s talking about.
“Personal responsibility” is of course very important to one’s success. It’s also a convenient way to blame the victim and justify doing nothing to improve society.
Left,
Is that because you cannot deal with such an educated man? Cosby has worked hard all of his life and has given back to the community many times over because he is thankful for having what he has. What he does not tolerate are those that blame everyone else but themselves for their failures.
Does Cosby bother you because he is black and is speaking the truth? It appears that you stereotype people by the color of their skin. Because he is black he should talk and act like he is an uneducated man? He should not have his own views and opinions? He should say the things that Jesse Jackson and others spew?
You are like so many. If you are black and do not stand with the poor is me group then you are not black enough. This has been said of Col. Powell and Condoleezza Rice. Stop being such a racist Left.
Ruby?
Do you ever read a whole thread?Cosby got brought into the discussion by raptor. (he’s one of yours)
And while we are on strotypes let me sum you (and probably raptor too) up.(affecting red neck accent)
You ate dirt half your life. ANd you were THANKFUL to eat that dirt.And by god if you can’t make it in this country you aint tryin. You’re to busy makin’ bad choices. And why should you have to pay taxes so the GUVVERNMENT can redistribute your hard earned money to a buncha layabouts or pay for their dern kids school.
So another subject about underfunded education. Hmmmmmm
Just how is the GOP on education funding? Tardy? Absent?
I think the biggest problem boys have in school is that learning isn’t “cool”. So, there is no desire to excel.
True Ben but should we expect any different of boys in school when Amercian culture at large is somewhat anti intellectual?
absolutely correct J R
Cosby was not preaching so much about personal responsibility as he was ranting about “hip hop” culture. He sounded like what he is – a rich old man. An old man, I would like to remind him, who has made some mistakes in his life; but somehow it is always easier to see those made by others — espcially young folks.
The world needs ditch-diggers too. If you aren’t going to college, I’d suggest boning up on your spanish.
Ruby–
Whoa, way to flip-out there.
I can’t take “educated people.” I can’t take “black people who aren’t the same as all the other black people.” So I’m racist.
Get a grip.
How much “personal responsibility” could a slave practice? Would you ask a slave to be the very best slave she could be? If a slave worked really hard, could he escape slavery?
There are social forces working on us today just as pervasive as slavery was. Demanding nothing more than “personal responsibility” completely ignores those social forces and dooms society to the status quo.
BTW, Paris Hilton is very successful.
What “personal responsibility” did she practice to be so rich and famous?
Why are Todds posts usually no more than a blogfart?
I’m glad he said that though. It gives me a chance to share a little something.
Remember Caddyshack? And Judge Smails? He said “Well the world needs ditch diggers too”That has stuck with me. And to me, when I think of Republicans, Judge Smails is what I see!
As to the issue; we are not letting boys BE boys anymore. There is entirely too much medication of what used to be called active little boys. Disruptive? Break out the Ritalin!
Obviously, I don’t have the free time you do, JR. I mean, it’s obvious that you either don’t have a job, or are defrauding your employer, all for the sake of your 3 paragraph diatribes about how the republicans screwed you.
Do you really think your parroted, programmed talking points are considered original by anyone, anywhere? Has your pointy head every produced a thought that wasn’t colored by your narrow political view?
It must really suck to be you.
Anyone who’d like to check out what JR looks like:
http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/weenie.htm
Toad?
I mentioned your post only in “passing”. I think I summarized the nature of your average posts fairly well.You should actually feel flattered. I seem to be the only one who pays your posts any mind at all. And while I did not insult you personally, you did present me an opportunity to share a view I have of Republicans in general.
You seem to have been very angered by my take on Republicans… Truth hurts?
I believe there are many factors to be considered, an overall lowering of expectations in that most do not in reality need a college degree. In part because of there not being enough careers that demand a degree, there is only so much demand for Doctors, Lawyers, engineers, etc. Of those at least some are being fill from overseas, either by the job moving to another country or the position being fill by someone from over seas.
Our education system has been reflecting this fact for some years now, a side effect is the “Why bother” mindset. If I am going to end up with a job that does not depend on whether I have a degree or not. Why bother to go to college and rack up student loans, spending hours studying when it does me no good?When I was in High school the goal was to educate everyone to go to college. Even though few actually ever went. Then there was vo-tec as a option for those that wanted a career without a degree.
The system finally faced the fact that most would not go to college and moved toward gearing the system to reflect that fact. When most have a better chance of employment at Wal-mart then on Wall street. With there being still enough that would go for a college degree to fill any positions available. Reality sucks does it not? ( of the seven people I work with on third shift, four have degrees. I graduated five hundred and thirty third out of five hundred and thirty five of my high school class. Yes there were two people that did worst then I did and still graduated high school)
The “why bother” mindset also effects others that are non-white and inter-city. if you feel beaten down to begin with then you are defeated before you start. That is what Cosby was talking about, if you are setting around crying about how unfair life is. Life has no choice but to be what ever you think it will be. True, there are no assurances in life. You can go to college, carry a 4.0 GPA and still end up falling flat on your face and on welfare. But the difference is that at least you can truly say that YOU did all the right things and it is life that is against you.
“ How much “personal responsibility” could a slave practice? Would you ask a slave to be the very best slave she could be? If a slave worked really hard, could he escape slavery?”It sounds simplistic, but even in slavery it is how you handle it that makes the difference. If a slave excepted that they are nothing more then a slave, that is all they will be. If they work really hard they may not escape slavery but they may escape some of the trials of being a slave. The whip may not strike their back as often, they may receive what other may not. They are still a slave, that will not change except some of the aspects of being a slave. Personal responsibility maybe nothing more then not excepting that all you are is a slave.
Right. Or we could all accept the fact that slavery is bad and change the system.
Right now, we have a system of “free enterprise” that a lot of folks view with a religious fervor.
Trouble is, the free market rewards people for growing wheat or for making poison gas or selling heroin. All the free market cares about is supply and demand. As long as somebody wants poison gas, money can be made off it.
The value to society is not accounted for at all.
Take the case of leaded gasoline. Austria recognized in 1913 that putting lead into gas would result in more deaths and mental retardation among children and outlawed it. America, bowing to the free market god, kept gas leaded until the 1970, with the result of millions of affected children. Lead in soil from car exhaust is still a problem.
Interestingly, oil companies said they had to raise the price of gas when lead was added. Then fifty years later, they had to raise the price to NOT add lead. Hmmm . . .
But that’s the “system.” Don’t think about it. Just practice “personal responsibility.”
Or take the case of global warming. Every sane person–that excludes Hank–knows that the evidence overwhelmingly shows that greenhouse gases are increasing because of burning fossile fuels.
How do I deal with this global problem through “personal responsibility.” Quit my job so I don’t have to drive anymore? Turn off my furnace and let my pipes freeze?
Personal responsibility is not going to solve this problem. It takes SOCIAL responsibility–that means renewable energy NOW, tax breaks for alternative fuels NOW, beefing up research money NOW, fusion nuclear reactor research NOW.
Needless to say, the personal responsibility people aren’t pushing for any of those things . . .
The initial topic was about boys not getting an education. My premise on that was that inner city boys are not ‘left behind’ as much as they drop out voluntarily, and do not practice much personal responsibility for their own lives.
Somehow, that ‘morphed’ into global warming?
Interesting direction this ‘discussion’ took…
Rap–
Why do inner-city and rural boys have less personal responsibility and suburban boys have more?
Genetics?
Is Paris Hilton somehow more responsible and hard-working than your plumber? Do CEO’s of tobacco companies provide more good to society than a wheat farmer in western Kansas who’s barely scraping by?
“Personal responsibility” allows conservatives to put all the blame on the victims of an unjust society without having to do anything about that injustice.
Black and non-White “latinos” have average IQs of 80-85 and as such are not capable of doing advanced academic work. Affirmative action can get minorities into college but their 70% dropout rate shows that they should be there in the first place. “Inner city” minorities should be steered towards technical and vocational training programs but why be a plumber when you can be a pimp, gangbanger or drugdealer?
Viva La Raza Blanco!!
Well said Left.It is interesting and telling that so many who cry “personal responsibility” seem to give their President a pass from such concerns.
Also, when a problem can’t be blamed on the victim for a lack of personal responsibility, Republicans and conservatives simply deny that the problem exists.—–
First im going tell people that read what i say im a bible type of guy im 18 and i read the bible some times and i am talking about special education label black male mental retardation.
i hear some yall say what bill cosby said ? well bill cosby does not under stand that the school system and i am in 10th grade if i try to get good grades and get good grade they will put f to ensure my education will not come in virginia hampton and i know some people may say why ? are they doing this ? listen i am doing my best and im learning whats right and what wrong and i still see people do wrong in the school system and even in home bound now. The school system is still put f on my report card becouse i am black and light of color and i know Jesus Christ the savior does not wont to see any one in slave and look into who is who and what is what and maybe we need to see the truth becouse i do and some of these people in the school system are kinda of sick, to label a child just becouse he is black male mental retardation and i really think that is racism and racist black people and white people sit there and do work to ensure the children to be a drop outs in school and understain this they label me in hampton mental retardation in hampton and they sit around some white people joke in my face and mental retardation in the special educatiom meeeting and say your not mental retardation ha ha ha ha ha and i was really say why are they like that some white folk and black folk why do they sit there and see a person suffering becouse some one is taking the child away from the right education and i think becouse some one is putting in there heads to do wrong to black males and think they have free will to do wrong and but i think manly what we need to do is get all these people that are doing wrong to children and people of GOD that try to live a good life to get them sick people that do bad to good people black and white to get them out of the school system and if there being prejudices.
Who has a ear let him hear.
You may say hey what going on ? and see lies and as i am a black male and it really hurt me when people say yea take care of your life and do right but can they back up there words and see the truth and see right from wrong and tell the truth to people in the school system and the people that is head of special education they should do they best to ensure education for black people and white people and remember right from wrong and remember that GOD is a good and GOD does not like racist of color !. The school system is still putting f on my report card, becouse what ? becouse am black and they lable mental retardation when i was young of age and still im trying to get the deploma im in the 10th grade and they wont to put f on my report card just becouse i am black male and was once label mental retaradaton and some one tell me why they are doing becouse they evil and bad people ?
But see them IQ is not true and i ensure you i am not mental retardation and they might of just put a false iq test to ensure i will go into these false classes. They say my iq is 70. Thats like a brand new slavery for black male that ensure they wont get the right education false iq testing and false teachers and remember false person can not hide them selfs for to long.
Virginia Lady that was a white person said :
A lady that was white in newport news, said that you should get the deploma and we did not label you in newport new mental retardation and (hampton did that).
I wont yall take a look see at this site, http://www.tldm.org heaven direaction Jesus and Mary is there and has lessions about school read it and go on the top of the page on top of the blue.
But tell me and all yall tell me are yall with GOD Jesus and Mary and micheal and the angel and GOD is good and tell me this are you with GOOD or evil?
Listen when i was in hampton, they had alot of classes i had to go into even in the middle school and they had it bad i mean they had like when i am in 6 grade in mental retardation label im gona be in regular class computer in 7th grade and when im 6 grader in middle school for i wont have good typeing skill really racist people in hampton some of them in the schools dont you think ? think about clear and you can ask me why and i will tell you, you see ? and they did my mother like and just joked in her face in the special educatiom meeting in hampton.
I do not blame black people or white i blame the evil that some people of race do in school systems and i see that some people have been leting this happen in the school system for what ! for worldly money ? of evil money ? tell me and you should be able to see if thats money you wont to close your mouth to break the children black male or white male from the truth then turn away from it, it is the path of evil racist becouse some one is black or white of color it should not matter and ask GOD about it and Jesus the savior.
Who ever know bill cosby you tell him to contact me if he can and i need to speak to bill cosby on what he said im a student in high school in home bound now. contact me on learnlearning@yahoo.com people that wont to help only people with GOD and Jesus the savior and micheal the angel and with the good angels.
When kingdom come black man and white man and white woman and black woman of GOOD will go to heaven and live on earth in the 3rd see the ligth and live with out sin.
I ensure you that i maybe been label mental retaradation and then they change it to the label speech impariment i am not and i will tell you again the school system in hampton has been racist becouse they know what they do and remember that many people know but will close there ear to truth and eyes to get the peace of the cake (money). Bill cosby you need to stand up then and if the mother and father and teacher and the school system is doing wrong to children stand up and tell them to stop black people and white people tell them to be into stoping the slaveing of black male in wrong labeling mental retardation, becouse they are not mental retardation and change them iq to also suit black males and the school system should to! help children to improve there education and young adults and make program in all states and on t.v show or some thing to change that and bring them to truth and aware of good people and evil people and let them see the light and help them to get good lawers.