Dr. Rema Reynolds Vassar, left, an associate professor at Eastern Michigan University, wants more solutions for Black students in Detroit and Beyond.
Black students in school systems throughout the nation need intervention.
From students facing mental health-related challenges to others facing education gaps and trying to catch up from falling behind during the pandemic – a seemingly insurmountable task of finding education solutions, however, might not be that far away.
A virtual education conference highlighting Black children’s needs is right around the corner.
A Centering Black Children in Education Conference, August 15-21 led by Conference Creator and Host Dr. Rema Reynolds Vassar is aimed to draw the ears of educators, community members, students, concerned citizens, and parents across the nation.
Dr. Vassar, an associate professor at Eastern Michigan University, told the Michigan Chronicle that as a former K-12 educator, teacher, counselor, and principal (and in higher education since 2005) she has a passion for minorities in schools.
“I want those underserved, underrepresented to have equal access and opportunity and I’ve devoted my life to that,” she said.
The conference theme is “The BlackPrint: Recognizing Our Dopeness to Realize Liberatory Education.”
Dr. Tyrone Howard will kick off the conference on Monday, August 15 with a charge that will take attendees into a week-long exploration of what Black students, parents, and communities experience in schools; identifications of solutions, and celebrations of triumphs.
“Come and learn about wellness, student achievement, school success, advocacy, joy, leadership, and love with Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, Dr. Rich Milner, Dr. David Stovall, Dr. Ivory Toldson, and more,” the conference’s website said of the conference speakers.
Several topics in the conference include, “Love, Hope and Affirming Learning Spaces for Black Students,” “Stop Putting Black People in Jail,” and “Creating Liberating and Justice Oriented Learning Spaces.”
The conference, in operation previously, saw the education system in a new light during the pandemic to pause and rethink some things no longer working for Black children in schools.
“Our responsibility through this conference is to influence, to inculcate educators, parents, health care practitioners, social workers, and school policy and practices. Clarifying our strengths, delineating our struggles, and mandating our next moves is to be curated and articulated for us, by us,” according to the conference description. “We are our answer. We will conjure and manifest Education for Black children. It will be what we say.”
Dr. Vassar said that schools are a “reflection of society.”
“I believe in the potency of education and creating or disrupting our society,” she said adding that whatever is done in schools is then produced in the world. “The conference is thinking about the brilliance of Black folk; the excellence. If we want to change the world have to change schools – it doesn’t matter if it is public, private, charter or homeschool. … Schools are the most potent point for all social change.”
Right now, Michigan’s education system needs change.
The state ranks low across the nation and is also behind other states who, are failing their students, too, despite notable gains to solve the growing problem.
A recent education report, Still Stalled: State of Michigan Education Report 2022, tells some of the story revealing that Michigan currently ranks 32nd in the nation for fourth-grade reading. Without intentional efforts toward improving these numbers, that ranking could drop to 39th by 2030, according to Ed Trust-Midwest’s Michigan Achieves! Indicators.
The gaps are even wider for students of color, underserved students, and low-income students, according to the report. Michigan is also in the bottom 10 states nationally for Black students in early literacy and eighth-grade math. COVID-19 also has continued to impact students across the state with increased opportunity gaps.
“Michigan’s public education system does not have to be the barrier that stalls the dreams of Michigan’s children and their families. Instead, it can be the catalyst for success and prosperity,” the statewide education report noted. “With greater access to effective educators, principals, and counselors, and better funded and supported schools, all students can be supported on their educational journey.”
Beyond education, students still need help with their mental health. During the 2021 school year, roughly half of kindergarten through fifth-grade kids reported these mental health struggles, according to a published report, and at least 40 percent lost a loved one.
“Those are little people. Those are 5-year-olds, basically, to about 10 years old. Half of them expressed that they felt sad, mad, worried, and anxious,” Deputy Superintendent Alycia Merriweather said in the published report. “Every single school there are people who dedicate their lives to take care of our kids.”
“The additional services that we have, we have across all schools. But if the parent doesn’t sign the consent, we cannot offer the services. It is illegal,” Merriweather said in the article.
A proposal for the 2023 budget entails loan assistance to bring in behavioral health professionals and a day-long treatment program for children in the child welfare system who are facing issues in school and home settings, according to the article.
Dr. Vassar said that it takes a concerted effort to bring all the pieces together to help Black students shine and take their appropriate place.
“We have to figure out what is happening in schools for us to not be where we should be at the top,” she said adding that there has been a long history of “suffering,” “struggle” and “triumph” for Black students in school but that’s not all. “We should be getting victories in our school systems (there’s) got to be something in the system, all these systems, really that would keep us from winning. … the conference is an in-depth examination from scholars across the world around Black children, families, school communities and educators … and we can figure out solutions.”
For more information visit cbceconference.info.
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