Surely on this Independence Day, we could appreciate the arguments made, by Thomas Jefferson that, “all men are created equal” in the language of the Declaration of Independence. But on the other side of his thinking process Thomas Jefferson only ‘set free’ seven of his two hundred slaves. There seems to be a mixed message here.

What was really going on in the American colonies that forced Thomas Jefferson to write one of the most influential documents of the United States of America?

The traditional perspective is that the American colonists were being overly taxed and abused by the king of England without fair representation. This was especially true during the mid-to late 1700’s. At this time, many colonial leaders, lawyers, plantation owners, and industry leaders disagreed as to what extent they should resist England or remain loyal to The King.

Also at the same time, American colonies were growing in economic strength that was based on the kidnapping/ stealing and importation of millions of Africans for the use of free labor to cultivate the tobacco (also know as ‘black gold’). There was also cotton, sugar and many other American products, and let us not forget about the countless buildings built and services provided by the slaves. It is hard to imagine the extreme profits generated by the illegal enterprise of slavery. Many Blacks would runaway, fight, and work against slavery to be with their loved ones, whenever and wherever the opportunity permitted, wouldn’t you?

During the year of 1772 in England, Lord Mansfield, a judge, ruled in favor of the slave named Somerset in the Stewart v. Somerset court case. A huge split between England and the colonies happened as a result of this decision. Next, the inaction of the English parliament to fully protect the rights of slave masters to keep their slaves as property sent a rippling cry for freedom for Blacks on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. It also seem to suggest that the King of England might take away the American colonies right to buy, sell, and own slaves.  The book, Slave Nation by Blumrosen and Blumrosen is informative and enjoyable, a must have for your library if you wish to learn more.

John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin and all the delegates of the Continental Congress that signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 sealed their fate if they lost the Revolutionary War against the King, but at the same time they galvanized the interests of the Southern Colonies and the Northern Colonies that the unalienable right to keep human property must be preserved even if it means breaking away from our mother country. They were able to compromise on regional differences in the hopes of maintaining a way of life that gave huge incentives for having Blacks as slaves.

Today, July 4, 2010, we can be proud that the United States of America is a country that is driven by the “rule of law” and that no human has the right to oppress the rights of another without it being punishable by law. We debate, and compromise for the common good, and at the end of the day we may have celebrated over a cookout or perhaps some fireworks. If I could special order a part of the fireworks, I would have the name “SOMERSET” blazing in red-white-and blue in the grand finale.  I believe we must have the best understanding of our history so that we may fully appreciate the freedom we enjoy.

• To Pray… More Often…. It is a Universal Principle that heals. We know that G’d is the Most Merciful and can rejuvenate your spirit, and grant you success over all problems. Come lively to prayer and come into your success.
• To Count Your Blessings… It’s easy to dwell on your problems but sometimes when we do this inventory check, we might just find our hidden talents.
• To Compliment someone today… If we know that 17% of Americans suffer some level of depression shouldn’t we be resolved to finding solutions that lift spirits. You never know when you might need someone to return the favor.
• To Keep your promises… we used to say, “My word is my bond”, or “My word is BOND to Allah (G’d)”, our words and our trust are very valuable commodities and must be handled with care and respect for our brothers and sisters.
• To Exercise more…This is necessary to keep a strong body, even if it’s just walking. See your doctor first, to make sure that you create a regiment that’s not harmful.
• To Read more…and share what you read to others… This keeps your mind and others sharp, turn off the “Tel-Lie-Vision” try reading the scriptures or other wholesome books.
• To Eat to live, not live to eat…Don’t eat too late at night, it makes the heart work harder than it needs to at night, over time this leads to other complications.
• Finally, let us be resolved to Uphold the ideal that, “Who is not kind to our weak ones is not of us”, as stated by the Last Prophet. We can interpret this to mean that it is un-American to befriend those who put down or take advantage of others. Imam W. Deen Mohammed, a spiritual leader who taught how Muslim life is synonymous with the best principles of American life, coined an expression as a theme in 2001 that I feel we should revisit as a motivator for this summer, “WE CANNOT STOP NOW”.

This article is a partial reprint of an earlier publication posted on www.improvingandmoving.com

Comments are welcome, via Email traheem@improvingandmoving.com or your comments can be posted to this blog.



Here are twenty-five lessons that can be learned in discussion over a game of chess, checkers, Monopoly, Scrabble, Boggle or almost any board game.

1. Learn how to be competitive, and never give up.
2. Learn patience.
3. Learn concentration and focus.
4. Respecting rules, and ethics.
5. How to plan ahead.
6. Learn how to be one step ahead (or more) of your opponents.
7. Analyze your options.
8. Every move counts, and every move has consequences.
9. Use what you have wisely, to make good choices.
10. Don’t be too greedy.
11. Learn how to stay out of danger.
12. How to deal with intense pressure.
13. You can win some and lose some, and still end the game with dignity.
14. How to defend yourself against your opponent.
15. LUCK does increase your chances of winning if it is not gambling luck but is L.U.C.K.(Labor Under Correct Knowledge).
16. Taking the game too serious, like life, can lead to stress and some other illnesses.
17. Taking chances can get you into more trouble… if you fail to think before taking the chance.
18. Learn how to think outside of the box.
19. Good sportsmanship.
20. In some games you can learn how to manage money.
21. Learn to think twice before you move and speak.
22. Just like in a game, people can get cheated in life if they are not observant of their surroundings, don’t give cheaters a chance- stay alert.
23. Even when the odds are not in your favor, you can still turn the game around, so NEVER GIVE UP.
24. A bad decision and move can be fatal in the game, and in life.
25. In order to win the game sometimes you have to sacrifice something of value. The higher level you want to achieve the more sacrifice you may have to make.

At the end of the day, playing a board game gives you an opportunity to learn more about your child, and the child can also learn more about you. It is an incredible chance for you to break the ice to open discussion on topics that are not comfortable but are connected to the lessons presented in this article.

1. Increase Parental Involvement by Cranking Up Your PTA meetings.

More parents tend to attend PTA meetings when there is a hook for parents to attend monthly meetings. Some parents need to see a component of the meeting that clearly benefits them. More than just free dinner, innovative principals have been known to schedule student performances, host project fairs, offer random door prizes (ranging from local business coupons or tickets to a ball game), release principal updates and newsletters, offer special classes to parents (even parents can teach these classes), and give parent recognition plaques. These activities will garner support for the PTA which will make the school better. These ideas can be initiated by the principal or a few concerned parents. When there were not enough classrooms to accommodate the students at one school, the PTA President found the resources to get two mobile classrooms added to the school, and the district did not have to wait a great length of time to get them and to set them up.

2. More Involved Parents can Increase Accountability and Support of:

• the child (by reviewing home works, preparing student for projects and assessments, regulating behavior)
• the teachers (by supporting and requesting feedback about behavior and academics)
• the school’s administration (by keeping open communication about how parents can support the school’s initiative and how the school can prioritize parental concerns)
• the school’s board of education.  What if every public school board meeting was attended by 5 to 10 percent of the parents with children in the school system? How much different would the votes on the budget be? Would board accountability of educational staff be more focused on parental concerns? Would chronic problems be addressed quicker, and would there be a greater understanding between parents, teachers and administrators?

3. Parents as fundraisers

Some parents may have unique connections with local business and political leaders and can take the lead on some of the fundraising within the school at special events and ball games.  Once a year, some PTA’s would have parents sell food as a fundraiser at their speech and debate tournaments. This money would offset the cost of funding a competitive team. Some would even create an ad journal (to be given to tournament participants) that would raise even more funds for the school.

Too often parents are not included in enough of the decisions made in the big debates about education.  If parents were more involved, I think, we will see political leaders making decisions not solely based on hostility between politicians and union leaders. They will say, “we are listening to what parents need to help determine what changes must happen to improve education”.

Imagine a school district that can promise 65-100% college tuition paid for every hardworking student that graduates. Kalamazoo Schools did it, and is keeping the promise. This was a community effort that included parents and many others. See the link, read the success, duplicate what is wholesome in your own community. President Obama noticed their success and will be the keynote speaker at this year’s graduation.

You can do it too.

1-Keep God First!

In good times your child should be encouraged to remember that the true source of rewards and benefits are by permission of God. This will help to keep the child stay grounded and NOT to have a swelled head as if the child acquired the good of this world on his/her own.  In bad times remembering God can help your child maintain faith and hope for a better time when the moment is too difficult.

Remember it is too often that man GETS and FORGETS, while God GIVES and FORGIVES. When there is no you one else to turn to you can always put your trust in God, as a source of peace and salvation. If there is no mention of the Creator in the schools then where else would a child get to acknowledge his/her Creator except through discussions with the parent.

2-Keep Trying!

When your children are given a task and they give up too quickly when the task gets difficult, they are not pushing themselves to their maximum human potential. They need your words of encouragement to give it another try. The expression I like to remind people of is, “If you fall down seven times, get up eight”. If everything is handed to your child without understanding that they have to earn “it”, then when your child grows up they will never have the stamina to follow through with a task if it gets even a little difficult. You can create tasks around the home to challenge their minds and body. I can never thank my parents enough for the simple chores and push they gave me to keep trying, and never give up.

There is too much good work that needs to be done and we need you.

See Bill Gates share with you about the war to equalize opportunities http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_YQmRD_q9Y&feature=related I think it gives us a mission greater than self that is worth fighting for.

3-Don’t Let the Small Stuff Frustrate You.

Sometime I notice people get into a ‘PANIC MODE’ about minor setbacks in the course of their day. Panic Mode is just a grown up version of a temper-tantrum that is out-of-control. I don’t know a single human that can say that they NEVER get frustrated about some daily happenings, it is natural. Usually, the frustrated person compensates for the situation by calming creating a ‘Plan B’ to deal with the problem. However too often an overwhelmed and frustrated person can become panic-stricken, and may lash out at others through yelling, cursing or some other inappropriate behavior (including shutting down or giving up). If this happens to your child, teach him to step back to look over the situation, counting to ten slowly, or to think about alternative ways to express his energy. Modeling ideal behavior also helps your child to see the right way to behave. Help your child to understand that he can create options to achieve success.

4-Remember those who made it possible for you to be here.

There are many individuals who sacrifice and risked their lives for all people to have equality, property, freedoms, and rights that your child enjoys today. On this Memorial Day, it is fitting to remember the soldiers that were killed in preserving justice, and the surviving veterans. But there are also many pioneers and heroes who never stepped onto a battlefield the battlefield came to them and they risked their lives to protect others. The color of a person’s skin did not stop them from doing the right thing on this Memorial Day 89 years ago.  See the story at the bottom of this page.

5- Plan to Be a Winner.

There are several things you can teach your child to do.

• Counting your blessing (they as a way boost your spirits- write them down as a list)
• Writing/ Setting long and short-term goals
• Making schedules to map out your day, week, month, and year
• Honoring your commitments, and keeping your promises
• Never ever give up on your dreams becoming a reality, be around those that will help you get there.
• Repeating this five step cycle for making sure your child is successful in life.

Forgotten HEROES in TULSA Race Riot Memorial Day 1921.

A riot that some call an attempted genocide of African-Americans (estimates range from 200-300 blacks were killed) began in the United States at Tulsa.

A few white Tulsans who helped African-Americans survive the killing should be honored as heroes in a time of racial war. I copied a couple of excerpts here and give you the link.  http://www.tulsareparations.org/TulsaRiot3Of3.htm All of the italicize below is from this source.

“Mary Korte, a white maid who worked for a wealthy Tulsa family, hid African American refugees at her family’s farm east of the city.”

“A white couple named Merrill and Ruth Phelps hid and fed black riot victims in the basement of their home for days. The Phelps home, which still stands, became something of a “safe house” for black Tulsans who had managed not to be imprisoned by the white authorities. Traveling through the woods and along creek beds at night, dozens of African American refugees were apparently hidden by the Phelpses during the daylight hours.^.”

Other white Tulsans also hid blacks, or directly confronted the white rioters. Mary Jo Erhardt, a young stenographer who roomed at the Y.W.C.A. Building at Fifth and Cheyenne, did both. After a sleepless night, punctuated by the sounds of gunfire, Erhardt arose early on the morning of June 1. Heading downstairs, she then heard a voice she recognized as belonging to the African American porter who worked there. “Miss Mary! Oh, Miss Mary!” he said, “Let me in quick.” Armed whites, he told her, were chasing him. Quickly secreting the man inside the building’s walk-in refrigerator, Erhardt later recalled,

Hardly had I hidden him behind the beef carcasses and returned to the hall door when a loud pounding at the service entrance drew me there. A large man was trying to open the door, fortunately securely locked, and there on the stoop stood three very rough-looking middle-aged white men, each pointing a revolver in my general direction!

“What do you want?” I asked sharply. Strangely, those guns frightened me not at all. I was so angry I could have torn those ruffians apart-three armed white men chasing one lone, harmless Negro. I cannot recall in all my life feeling hatred toward any person, until then. Apparently my feelings did not show, for one answered, “Where did he go?” “Where did WHO go?”, I responded.

“That nigger,” one demanded, “did you let him in here?”

“Mister,” I said, “I’m not letting ANYBODY in here!,” which was perfectly true. I had already let in all I intended.

“It was at least ten minutes before I felt secure enough to release Jack,” Erhardt added, “He was nearly frozen, dressed thinly as he was for the hot summer night, but he was ALIVE!”

Some whites, in their efforts to protect black Tulsans from harm put themselves at risk. None, perhaps, more so than a young Hispanic woman named Maria Morales Gutierrez. A recent immigrant from Mexico, she and her husband were living, at the time of the riot, in a small house off Peoria Avenue, near Independence Street. Hearing a great deal of noise and commotion on the morning of June 1, Morales ventured outside, where she saw two small African American children, who had evidently been separated from their parents, walking along the street. Suddenly, an airplane appeared on the horizon, bearing down on the two frightened youngsters. Morales ran out into the street, and scooped the little ones into her arms, and out of danger.

A group of armed whites later demanded that Morales hand the two terrified children over to them. “In her English, she told them ‘No’,” her daughter Gloria Lough, later recalled. “Somehow or other,” she added, “they didn’t shoot her.” The youngsters were safe.

To learn more visit:

http://tulsareparations.org and http://newracialstudies.ucsb.edu

The good news is that we can do something to combat this level of ignorance, plus at the bottom of this posting there are a few links to suggestions, great music, and video that will inspire and teach diversity in the home and in the school.

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell Pretends Civil War Had Nothing to Do With Slavery, but after intelligent pressure he reverses his decision to respect the dignity and experience of African-Americans.

See the article here > http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/07/AR2010040705100.html?sid=ST2010040705182

“Efforts by Hispanic board members to include more Latino figures as role models” in the new Social Studies Curriculum were repeatedly defeated and ignored by the Texas Board of Education.

See the article> http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/education/13texas.html

The issues in Virginia and Texas, are some of the signs, (of the many that are out there), that reminds us of why students must be taught in every school an appreciation of diversity.

A student of any race or ethnicity should be aware of challenges face by their own group and that of other ethnicities, so that when they grow older, it is not just African-American people standing up for the injustices of slavery, lynching, and Jim Crow mentality on African-American people. When students grow older, it is not just Jewish people standing up for the injustices of the Holocaust. It will be people of every hue reminding the world of the near annihilation of the Native American, called “Indians” on the continent of North America, to make sure it never happens again. Through a proper engagement with social studies in the schools, homes and in the communities, intelligent people of every race are advocating for fair justice in the pending Arizona law that seems to profile Latinos & others to curb immigration.

No matter what my race or ethnicity, I am determined to stand up for any group in our society to ensure that we never see slavery, discrimination, the Holocaust, or systematic genocide against another group every again; I tribute this attitude of respecting and protecting diversity, to my learning about my own culture, and learning about the struggle/ accomplishments of the entire human race.

PARENTS and EDUCATORS MUST NOT DISCOUNT THE ROLE every group has played in shaping America. Let’s research and teach our children the truth about their heritage, before it gets whitewashed or deleted from the text in the schools, so that they may stand knowing that there were others, like them, who stood for what is right and just.

In challenging times it is typical for populations to “hunker down”, and only look out for their individual self or race; however it is of the noblest character of humanity to bond in unity with others for a higher cause (like preventing genocide, poverty, and child abuse),  regardless of race, for the betterment of humanity.

This student generated project encouraged students to research, write and present to the class on topics ranging from:

“The Somerset Decision that may have sparked, the American Revolution”

“The Impact of the Haitian Revolution”

“The Lasting Impact of Jim Crow on America”

“The Suppression of Latin American Expression”

“The Impact of the Brown v. Board of Education Decision”

“Social Movements by Women to Create Equality”, and so much more.

For FREE NJ educators and NJ college students can get ideas for teaching diversity appreciation for children of all ages at http://www.njamistadcurriculum.com register and use the UNIT ACTIVITIES.

Also for FREE also visit the Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov/teachers

If you have four minutes to relax to and hear a beautiful musical piece that captures the essence of what we should encourage in our children then click on this link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKaTxt5ijyI

If you want more diversity…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFQ1Ffk1K04&NR=1

Hello is said in many different languages…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om1z9eYtVNo&NR=1

Comments are welcome.

As an appreciation for reading this food for thought and action, there is a link to a powerful song to motivate teachers at the bottom.

Here are 8 ideas that leaders can implement for change.

1. Increase community involvement (via Ministers and members of local churches surrounding your school, PTA, and business leaders)
   1. Business Leaders, Ministers and Imams understand the pulse of the community and will only compliment the effective principal.

2. Engage the Mayor, Councilpersons and other local government officials to adopt a school.

• This could assist in funding a school program or it can create a shadowing opportunities for civics courses.

3. Engage the media when special events featuring students are happening.

• This serves as a source of inspiration for students, parents and other educators. We need more good news in the media about our youth, to counteract the negative news.

4. Ensure safety around the schools by requesting support from the County Sheriff’s Department particularly after school.

• Many large schools are on county roads (at least in Essex County), and it is reasonable to conclude that Sheriff Departments have an obligation to play an active role in ensure the safety of the people/ students.

5. Build school culture by conducting performances or Project/ Civic Fairs.

• Students should create projects that are cross-curricular and thematic requiring usage of math, science, English and history to produce projects that will bring a smile to every parent.
• On parent/ report card night. Don’t forget to invite political and business leaders to review.
• This also is a vehicle to ensure that curriculum relates to students’ lives and the community.

6. Let the first two weeks of school focus students on perfecting school procedures, and basic skills training.  Some examples to be considered are:

• Implement a Positive Behavior Program to encourage student success
• Create a photo or recognition wall for achieving students in many categories
• Teacher review of the syllabus and curriculum with the students (high school)
• Teach students how to effectively study and prepare for tests
• Teach students how to effectively take high stakes tests
• Establish  and teach uniform policies of attendance, discipline, and dress code.

7. Encourage teachers to use “the arts” as a vehicle to motivate learning

• Poetry, drawings, political cartoons, public speaking and music (song writing or listening) are only a few of the activities instructors can incorporate in their lessons to awaken the genius within every learner.
• If this pedagogy is exercised students are more likely to draw upon higher critical thinking skills to produce products that demonstrate mastery of content.

8. My plea to all educators including myself to IMPROVE our Schools might sound like Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes in the song “Wake Up Everybody”.

“Wake up all the teachers time to teach a new way”
“Maybe then they’ll listen to whatcha have to say”
“Cause they’re the ones who’s coming up and the world is in their hands”
“when you teach the children teach em the very best you can.”
Chorus
“The world won’t get no better if we just let it be”
“The world won’t get no better we gotta change it yeah, just you and me.”

If you got 4 minutes listen to the song it’s inspiring.

Here is the link to the song posted on You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojNiEl9zEO8&feature=related

You can use the song with your initial staff development to inspire and remind your staff of their mission.

There are many other recommendations, on my website, that can be implemented to improve the success rate of any school, but the key word is that the ideas MUST BE IMPLEMENTED with the resources available to the administrators.  All of these ideas are obtainable to every administrative leader at virtually no or low cost. You can see these ideas and much more at www.improvingandmoving.com

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

If you think someone can benefit from this information please share it.

Let me know if I am headed in the right direction with this discussion, keeping in mind that this is just for starters. What’s your opinion? What do you find that works in education?

Let me know via post or E-mail traheem@improvingandmoving.com

Educationally Yours and May Peace Be With You,

Tariq Raheem, Educational Leader