b'EDUCATIONAncient Secrets for Success, Part 2By Carolyn R. Jones, Ph.D. and they have to do nothing? Should we continue towages,gettingmaterialbenefitsthattheydonot meet, make threats, and watch as nothing changes?deserve like government financial aid for college, col-Aofques- Is 400 years not enough time for educational institu- lege admittance, and jobs that they are not qualified list tions put forthtions to get their act together and meet the needs ofto have but gain through Affirmative Action. Many byBlackandall the children? Schools, whats stopping you?whitesareafraidoflosingwhiteadvantageeven BrownparentsI know schools will not adequately address thesethough most claim they have not benefited from it. andcommunitiesquestionsorfindtheanswersweareseekingThisdoesnotmeanthatIthinkallwhitesare fordecadeshavebecause they have not done so in one hundred fifty- white supremacists or racist. My argument is that beenpresentedfouryears.Toanswerthesequestions,Ireachedwe as black and brown people need to find solutions toschooladmin- back into the history of Africanto our own problems, and when watch online: bocnews.com istrations,schoolAmericans long before we werewecanjoinhandswithother boards, and teach- dragged into this country. Whatgroups as equals, we should do ers, but have not been answered with any satisfac- kindofsocietydidwecomethat. But right now, for Black tion. The questions are: Are some reasons for thefromandwhatispreventingfolksweneedtofindasolu-lack of school achievement due to the fact that thereus from going back to what wetiontotheeducationalcrisis are too few teachers, administrators and staff sup- knewandwhatwassuccess- using powers of the divine spir-port who look like them? Are some of the childrenful practice for us? A strategyit. Solutions aligned with divine failing because teachers do not know how to supportI have used in my private psy- spiritualpowercanandwill theirlearning?Aretheyfailingbecausetoomanychotherapypracticewithcli- allow us to create educational of those who teach them are afraid of them or doentswhoarefacingaseriousinstitutions that not only result not like them? Are they dropping out because theydilemma is to have them holdinhigheracademicachieve-get labeled as early as 1st and 2nd grade as fod- upa.50-centpieceasclosement for our children, but also der for the prison system? Are they losing interesttotheireyesaspossibleandcreates a foundation committed anddroppingoutbecausethecurriculumfailstohavethemtellmewhattheyto equality, and a structure for acknowledge their culture and the contributions ofsee. They report back that whatthe development of high morals people who look like them? Are they dropping outthey basically saw was the .50- andvaluesofallstakehold-because they fail to see people who look like themcentpiece.Thenaskthemtoers:students,parents,staff, inthebookstheyread?Arethereothervariablesmove the .50-cent piece out toadministration and community that should be taken into account that prevent ourarmslengthandaskedagainmembers,leavingbehindthe children from succeeding in both public and charterwhat they see? This time theyself-centered,greedyagendas schools?seeeverythingthatisinfrontCarolyn R. Jones foundinourcurrenteduca-Are we to go for another 400 years watching ourof them as well as the .50-centtional institutions. children fail? Do we have to continue begging schoolpiece.Ourstrongcommitmentto administratorstohavemeaningfulconversationsFor too long the African American community haseducation is not new, it came from our past cellular aboutthechallengesourchildrenface?Doesthesought solutions to our educational frustrations bymemory of life lived in Africa. Before being enslaved systemfeelitcanappeasetheblackandbrownlooking for the solution from the close-up view of thein America, we lived in a civilization that was com-communities long enough for the noise to die done,.50 cent piece. From that viewpoint, it is impossible tomunity and relational based and group and family reach beyond what we already see, think and believe.oriented, and one that valued high levels of learning. However, using what we see, think and believer fromOur collective memory recalled the time (over 4,000 the up-close .50 cent viewpoint is crazy since theseyears before the birth of Christ) when our ancient institutions are living up to their founding principles,ancestors developed a civilization that was the envy how then can we expect them to change to meet ouroftheworld.Fornearly3,000ofthoseyearsour needs? We must realize that these institutions areancestors were free of any substantial threat of war It is clear that the greedfounded on white supremacy, discrimination, unfairorofanycontinualwars.Itisaknownfactthat treatment, control by the white wealthy elite, greedycivilizations not facing continual wars have time to and selfishness of theand selfish politicians and propaganda that stressesdevote to deep thinking and scholarly works; these the inferiority of all black people and other margin- societies develop scholars, thinkers and inventors. alized,oppressedgroups.ThefoundingprinciplesThis was happening in Africa while other European white elite and politiciansof most educational institutions, public and privatecountries were still living barbarian existences basi-havebaked-indisparities,racism,andinequalitycally due to continual wars and the threats of wars. were the driving forcesof opportunity. Sadly, the notion put forth today isDuring this sustained length of relative peace, our that these systems will change once, old white-folksancestors developed a culture in which its members die. We need to re-think that position! The research in the establishmentshows that 17 percent of todays young white peoplelived by a moral code that rested on the three mani-arewhitesupremacistsandthenumberisgrow- festations of God which were also placed in man/woman by God as It created us. Those manifesta-of mandatory public- ing. If we read our society correctly, we can see thattions placed in us are: omnipresence, (God is eternal the majority of whites, and even some blacks andandsoisman),omniscience(thoughtisGodand browns, are propagandized through the media and schools.othersourcestobelievethatAfricanAmericans,God gave us this power allowing us to think all kinds Latinos and other marginalized groups are respon- ofideas,innovationsetc.),andomnipotence(God sible for creating instability in our social structure.brings all thought into existence and this man can Through propaganda most whites believe that blacks and browns are stealing their jobs, working for lowerContinued on Page 158 NOVEMBER 2019 BOCNEWS.com'