Journal of a Black Teacher

It's time for parents in the Twin Cities to reevaluate their list of local black charter schools that were initially created to offer quality education and uplift communities. However, they are now facing scrutiny over claims that these schools have shifted their interest from student well-being to financial gain. The concerns have been raised because it is reported that some of these schools may be exploiting the charter system and treating students as revenue generators rather than nurturing learners. This very nature of the commodification of education undercuts charter schools' goals: to be innovative and deliver high-quality education. Parents must demand openness, refocus on student-centered learning, and find ways to break down the walls that isolate charter schools. The real question must be: Are these schools meeting black children's educational needs, or are they capitalizing on them?. By reconsidering these factors, parents can create pressure to institute a

By Don Allen, Ed. S., M.A. Ed., MAT (Editorial Opinion via AllenEd) Minnesota's persistent efforts to increase the number of Black male teachers have commendable intentions. However, the limited success of these initiatives suggests a fundamental flaw: the overemphasis on creating new Black male teachers without addressing the broader systemic barriers that hinder their success and retention. To effect meaningful change, we need a comprehensive, research-driven approach that reimagines the entire educational ecosystem. The Problem with Singular Focus The strategy of simply recruiting more Black male teachers overlooks the complex challenges they face within the educational system. These teachers often find themselves in environments that are not conducive to their professional growth or personal well-being. This can include: - Cultural Isolation: Black male teachers frequently work in schools where they are one of the few, if not the only, Black staff members. This isolation can l

  Despite the best intentions, resources are sometimes directed toward initiatives that yield lackluster results or fail to address the root causes of crime. It's time for a paradigm shift – a reevaluation of how the Twin Cities invests in ‘community shirts’ to ensure that every dollar spent translates into tangible benefits for the plan of actually reducing crime - the band-aids are all used up. It’s time to turn to charter schools and after-school academic programs for parents and their children. Related Story :  Minneapolis commissioner addresses fraud accusations in safety initiative.   By Don Allen, Ed.S., M.A. Ed., MAT        It's a pressing question - what happens when a plan fails? And what if that same plan, despite being reoriented, fails again? In recent years, the allocation of city funding to various groups and organizations, especially in the street protector sector, has come under intense scrutiny. While the intentions behind these funding initiatives are commend

A. This has nothing to do with white supremacy or race, sorry.   2023 : What will people think about our society 20 years from now? We should be looking at, answering, and taking action on this question. Admit it, the wheels are stuck, feelings are more important than the competition; nuclear waste in well water is ‘safe’ to drink; really? (Monticello, MN.). And the chicken wing shortage (seriously, somebody skipped math). The US has supported Ukraine in the war with the equivalent of enough money to pay every 12th grader in the United States $10,000+ to attend their senior year with enough left over to remodel most US schools. Why does the media get to decide who ‘caste’ leaders are? Why are the lowest common denominators in human capital priced at the highest value? ‘The View’ or the ‘Steve Harvey Show’ might not have my best interests at heart. We have an unbalanced power dynamic that gives most authority to those on top with a successful elimination of the middle (missing middle)

Note: While this piece is fictional, the art is real-life. " Police killed a Black Army veteran outside his home. His family wants answers"  (Griffith, 2021) NBC News .  Not knowing he was born both a success and a target, 23-year-old Army veteran John-Terry Lucine returned home from the service ready to live his life to the fullest, unaware of what could happen to an unarmed man in today’s society. Life, so he thought, awaited him.   By Don Allen -  All Rights Reserved.       T he Army was great. I did my three years – got out, came back here. Captran County is hot, filled with people running from one side to another. Suburban neighborhoods with names like Mars, Lunar One, and Apollo have popped up out of thin air. This is the big city, not the city I left three years ago.       Momma put me to work right away. She asked me to get some paint and fill in the letters on the old wooden mailbox out front of the fence. It had been weather-beaten while I was gone, and the family n

  Click here to read my report .