“If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman."
– Margaret Thatcher
Today is International Women's Day and a perfect moment to stop and admire all of the courageous and talented women out there leaving her mark on the world. Today also serves as a convenient juncture for telling the story behind the Sow Gifted Blog.
Last year, on Ohio’s state assessments given to 3rd through 12th grade students, only 34% of black students state-wide scored proficient or higher in reading compared to the 68% proficiency rate of their white peers. Even LESS scored proficient in math. The year prior (2016), the percentage of black students reading proficiently was only 28.3%, so growth is happening- BUT not fast enough.
To emphasize this harsh reality, imagine a school of 100 black kids hastening through the large doors of hope on the first day of school and only 34 of those brilliant souls leaving out ready to tackle the rigor of college and/or a career. That’s the picture the data paints.
At the rate Ohio’s going, it will take us until 2020 to get at least half of the black student population in our schools reading proficiently and it will be 2028 before we’re even remotely close to 100% (and we all know that’s the best possible- yet extremely unlikely outcome.
There is much to be done and WE DO NOT HAVE TIME TO WAIT!
We have the numbers. We know the data. We can no longer put off the education of our children to the bureaucracy of America’s schooling system. Even with the best of intentions (and I say that optimistically), it has failed us time and time again. AND HONESTLY, educating our children should never be left solely up to the school system. Learning starts at home.
We know that literacy plays a huge role in the quality of life.
We also know that the achievement gap WILL NOT be closed if we don’t raise the expectations for what our children can accomplish.
WE have to get involved and invested as parents, as communities, as PEOPLE OF COLOR who care! If our children fail it is because we have failed them. I’m not sure about you, but that doesn’t sit well with my psyche.
I started the Sow Gifted Blog to engage, empower, and encourage parents and communities to sow into the intellect of children. For “all flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today.” – Indian Proverb
The Sow Gifted Blog, the corresponding online platform for Chisley Consulting Group, LLC, offers a variety of services and resources to engage and empower parents and stakeholders. We are change agents! We sow a portion of all proceeds back into the communities and organizations that we serve. Take this journey with us as we sow into the intellect of ALL of our children.
Check out the blog online at www.sowgifted.com and follow us on social media. We look forward to meeting and hearing from you!
Happy International Women's Day AND Women’s History Month! Let's make history together ladies...
