I served for 6 years on my school board in Pennsylvania, so I am somewhat familiar with education problems. I see none in Florida and especially none in Pinellas County. My wife is a volunteer at an Elimentary school, and has a degree in Special Ed. That is our background. Now, for the problem.

I am sure that all thinking persons in our community are aware that in a classroom, there is one teacher attempting to educate a group of children. If the teacher is white, he/she teaches ALL the children. If the teacher is black, he/she teaches All the children. The teachers do NOT seperate them into black and white groups. When tests are given, ALL students, black and white , get the same test. I know that there are some who would like tests to be different. Maybe one in English, and one in Ebonics, but that is illegal. And not a smart thing to do, since ALL the graduates, who wish to work, need to speak English, and possibly learn math and computers. These three things seem to be necessary to survive in this country.

Teaching Black History may be nice for learning their cultural history, but it will not get you a job. Nor will cocking your hat to one side, and being able to shoot a free throw. Unfortunately, in the black community, sports are cool; Education is UNCOOL. TV is fun, but studying is NOT. Being out on the street till the early hours is cool, but studying is not. Unfortunately, the Parent, or parents, if the child is lucky, do not attemp to control the child and make education a requirement.

All Educated people, and all Teachers realize that when young we learn to read. Later we READ TO LEARN. If you choose to do neither, you will remain poor, and are likely to end up doing something illegal. Thus the DISPROPORTIONATE number of blacks who are incarcerated. You notice I caped the word disproportionate. There is NO law that says that criminals have to be jailed in a proportionate manner. Do the crime and spend the time. If there is a reason why Blacks are a dicipline problem in school, it is NOT because of discrimination, it is because they always seem to have a chip on their shoulder; just looking for someone who might have "DISSED" them. If it is a white person, then it must be "Racial".

There have been thousands , if not millions, of black people who have studied, prospered, and made it in this Country, and are not "Uncle Toms" . If they are in sports, they are looked up to. If they are in something else, they are looked down on. I am afraid that Bill Cosby hit it right on the head. But who is listening?