Opinion
MultiethnicCurriculum;MyOwnThoughts
.... must be humanized in order to
by Laurence DeShields
The color line constitutes
a formidable deterrent, to in
troducing and sustaining teach
ing about black American his
tory and culture in school dis
tricts and the institutions of
our nation. The factor that
causes enormous disquiet and
traumatization in school dis
tricts is not the concept of
multiethnicity, but rather, the
aspect of multiethnicity that
focuses on the black Ameri
can in American life. The his
tory and experiences of black
Americans are lacking in aca
demic validity and signifi
cance.
In view of the hostility
and “de-educating factor” that
we as blacks have endured,
since our ignominious trans
port to this country, it is re
markable that today we believe
in our fundamental humanity
and worth.
The notion that Black
History is a separate history
is nonsense. Black American
history is inextricably inter
woven with the history of our
nation. The significant move
should be a presentation of
the authentic record which
depicts the reality and truth
of the role and contribution
of black Americans to
American history. Textbooks
have been little assistance
in this effort.
A genuine multiethnic
curriculum focusing on
blacks will require cridcal
and sedulous reexamination
of the idealistic professions
of our Declaration of Inde
pendence, the “melting pot
theory”, and the concept of
equal opportunity. The cur
riculum of the student must
be the realities of our history,
past and present: the historic
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failure of our nation to extend
the blessings of liberty to
twenty-five million blacks de
spite their citizenship; the
transfer of blacks from the
plantation to theurban ghettos;
continued poverty in our
society in the face of unparal
leled prosperity.
Curriculum planners,
teachers, administrators, and
the mass media have a tremen
dous responsibility in correct
ing the wrongs of the past and
present. Teachers and admin
istrators carry a special respon
sibility inhelping all children,
particularly those who have
been told repeatedly by their
society that they do not have
value and worth because of the
color of their skin.
Black history provides a
basis for the unfolding of and
objective and factual depicting
of American history. Our
Dublic schools and institutions
must be humanized in order to
help black children and youths
to discoverthemselves and rec
ognize their fundamental wonh
and value. In short, a person
who does not know his or her
history cannot really take pride
in what he is, particularily if
he has been told countiess
times that he or she has no
meaningful past.
There is a new generation
of black Americans who are
proud and inspired by their
heritage; and uncompromis
ingly honest in their delineation
of the plight of black Ameri
cans in today’s society. Noth
ing less than a “radical re
construction” of the curricula
of our nation’s public schools
is required to bring
truth, integrity, and reality to
blacks in a multiethnic curricu
lum.
Destroy Student Apathy;
Activate, Participate, Motivate
By Patrice Gibson
In propose the following
questions to the student body of
WSSU to provoke thought on
these issues:
For example, why are we so
slow to open up to new experi
ences? Why do we blatantiy
refuse to take full advantage of
available opportunities offered
to us as a student body? A
perfect example of this would
be student Co-oping. It would
only make good sense to use
this opportunity to meet and
work with potential employees.
If students are interested in Stu
dent Co-oping they can get more
information in the Public Rela
tions Building.
Another area where we hold
ourselves back is being “con
scientious in attitude.” There is
no reason for a student to sit in
class and not participate in class
discussion. Yet nonparticipa
tion more often than not is the
case in the classroom, where
the same one or two students
do most of the talking. Our
parents spent over $1600 for
us to sit in class, act like a
monk, and not contribute to
the class discussion. (The only
person who can take a vow of
silence anywhere - are monks.)
Again, don’t be fooled by that
old saying “silence is golden ;
that is a load of bull! Silence
is more often than not - deadly!
Last but not least is good
old student apathy which is at
an all time high on this cam
pus. No justification can be
found for student apathy.
WSSU has over 70 clubs and
organizations just waiting for
people to participate. When
you the student comment and
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