LEAP: The Future Of Black Education (Gladys)

Ms. Worthy’s lecture was very inspiring to me. I really appreciate knowing that there are organizations in the world dedicated to bringing education to the people of Africa. I also really appreciate the fact that the program is not limited but open to any student who wants to attend. I feel as though I have heard many people discuss the educational struggles and injustice in Africa but have not seen a lot of people do much about it.

One key point I found in this lecture was the fact that African American children should be taught in a way that is special to them and that being taught by our oppressors is not always the right thing. For example, the LEAP school is purely based on traditional views, not the Europeans. Everything that is thought there is to help culturally build the students and teach them what they would not learn in normal schools.

Another key point I found interesting is the five main tenets of cultural relevant teaching which African logic, African Epistemological Styles, African Axiology, cultural visibility, and Social, Emotional and political responsibility. I feel as though these five things are what sets the LEAP schools apart from most. The students in LEAP are learning about the pure history of the African Americans. Not what you are taught in most schools which is usually influence by white people who don’t want us to get the whole truth.

            I also gained much information about the injusticeness toward the Ubuntu people. I learned about the struggles they had to go through when the white men decided to come and still away all there resources and people. I learned about how they were banned to talk out against white people and how they were not allowed to attend schools. This makes me very sad because Ms. Worthy talked about how accepting the people were and I think it’s a shame that they were willing to give others a chance but were not given that chance themselves.

            I definitely believe that cultural relevant learning would definitely positively impact our people if we make good use of it. But I think that mostly can come from the household people grow up in. I believe it is up to the parents to teach their children about their history. Not hide it as if it were something to be ashamed of. But again, not all parents know about their own history so schools would be the last place to accomplish this. If made good use of, cultural relevant learning could definitely make students embrace their history and maybe use it as a motivation to go further in life.