Gregory Freeman: Adults Need To Teach Youngsters That It's OK To Do Well In School. P-D 3/21/1997

Headline: ADULTS NEED TO TEACH YOUNGSTERS THAT IT'S OK TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL
Reporter: By Gregory Freeman

Publication: ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Last Printed: Fri., Mar. 21, 1997
Section: NEWS, Page: 2C, Edition: FIVE STAR LIFT

I first met Kim Rogers eight years ago.
Rogers was a 17-year-old student who lived in the Walnut Park neighborhood where, as she described it, many people carried guns and where people were willing to shoot others for committing such heinous crimes as stepping on a toe or accidentally bumping into someone. Rogers, who is black, talked to me about how people in her neighborhood would tease her as she walked past their houses because she was going to school. They chided her for getting an education. They told her that going to college was worthless, that she'd never achieve in the white man's world. Some accused her of "trying to be white."
Rogers ignored the chiding. Today, she is a lawyer at Bryan Cave, the city's largest law firm. Rogers says the folks who used to tease her now see her as a role model and are happy about her success.

While she no longer lives in the Walnut Park neighborhood, she lives only blocks away and visits her old digs regularly. This year, she spent some time on voter education, making sure that several of her old neighbors were registered to vote.
"I'd ask people why they weren't registered to vote, and they'd tell me it was because no one had ever asked them to, " she said. "If your parents never voted, it's not surprising if you don't find that to be something that's important."

Rogers is a strong young woman who was able to withstand the harassment that went along with her quest for a higher education.

Unfortunately, that's not the case with many black youngsters, who are often pressured by their peers to act as if they have no intelligence whatsoever. Many of these kids are extremely bright, yet feel that they must act otherwise to fit in.
   Like Rogers, kids who display their intelligence or who speak proper En glish are often accused of trying to be white, as if intelligence and knowledge of the English language are traits reserved only for whites. It's a theme any racist could love: Whites hold the monopoly on intelligence; blacks are dolts.
   Almost any inner-city teacher can point to examples of students who are very bright but who refuse to show it in their work. The youngsters think it's somehow cool to be stupid, or at least book-stupid (it's not cool to be street-stupid).
   Of course, that's a lot of nonsense. Those youngsters who think it's cool to be stupid now will find out later that it's not so cool to be unemployed. It's not so cool to hang on a street corner all day because no one will hire you. It's not so cool to be 30 years old with no legitimate means of support.

Right now, though, many young people aren't getting that message, but they should.
   Parents need to make it clear to their children from a young age that being smart is a good thing. That may sound like a given, but in too many homes education is not considered a priority.
   In that sense, the African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child" becomes relevant. In many instances, it may take people other than parents to help children learn the importance of education.
   Sometimes those villagers may take the form of concerned schoolteachers, who may have to take students under their wings to instill in them the importance of education.
   Sometimes those villagers may take the form of neighbors or relatives, who may have to talk regularly with young people to show them the way.
   Sometimes those villagers may take the form of people like Kim Rogers, who are willing to go back into their old neighborhoods and teach the lessons that they've learned.

Whatever form those villagers take, no one can dispute that they're needed.
In some circles it may be cool to be stupid, but there can be no question that it's stupid to be uneducated. No student should be ashamed of being smart.

Thanks to all of you who expressed concern over our family cat, Bullwinkle, whom I wrote about Tuesday. My family and I appreciate the cards, letters, faxes and e-mail that you sent. After putting up a good fight, Bullwinkle died this week. We'll miss him - even me, the self-proclaimed dog lover of the house.

Daniel Schesch - Webweaver

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