Comments on: Guest Blogger: NYC Teacher takes on NPR Article, “At school, lower expectations of Dominican kids.”

By: anotherdominican

anotherdominican — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:15:26 +0000

I agree. I knew MANY peers who dropped out of college or high school because they felt the key was money and NOT education. So that meant FAST money, whether it was by selling pot, or by accepting the cashier/stock/dental assistant/secretary position/office manager. I had a former class mate who was smart and still decided to drop out of NYU after 2 years because she rationalized she was already making money part time and would make more full-time. Junot Diaz also gave an interview highlighting the lack of interest or emphasis exhibited in Dominican culture in getting an education. I think it amounted to that people looked at him like he was an alien because he read books. I still dont think that gives educators ANY right to short change any racial group. They all deserve the same attention and push. I do remember clearly the craziness I saw from kids exiting IS 52. There is something really messed up when POLICE have to stand by as 10-13 years olders get out of school because there were frequent melees and beat-downs. But I disagree with using poverty and language as a reason why Dominican parents dont put the same attention into their kids academic achievement. SPANISH is the 2nd most commonly spoken language in the US and government services and commercial services are now available to understand/read/heard in english AND spanish. I know of too many poor ass indian and chinese families that came to this country NOT speaking english from equally poor regions of their developing countries who have still understood the focus of giving their kids a better life by making them succeed academically. If real change is wanted then truth will have to be spoken and combatted with corrective measures. I honestly dont know what those corrective measures maybe other than literally removing dominican kids and placing them in completely different environments where they can succeed. Unfortunately, Dominican kids succeed from Inwood, NOT because of the community, but despite it.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:31:19 +0000

I agree wholeheartedly with the teacher on this topic.

Its wrong as an educator to place labels onto students. The effect it can have on some, as evident in the article, is devastating.

I may not be a teacher, but im Dominican and went to school with Dominican kids from Kindergarten to 12th grade.

I went to a Catholic school in the neighborhood, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, which was the best school around. It really helped keep me out of trouble, and around like-minded, ambitious individuals.

But I saw what went on at the PS 152′s, IS 218′s, and other schools around. The gang violence, pre-teen girls pregnant, and early drug use. And this is not me trying to create a division between public schools and private ones, but that’s what I noticed growing up in Dyckman.

As for my people, I can say that there’s more of an emphasis on getting a job and just making it sometimes. That’s just being honest.

If a job can make you money and school isn’t necessary, that is ‘fine’ for a lot of Dominican parents.

You also have to understand that many of these parents are poor and uneducated, and fresh to this country. Some don’t even speak the language.

They see fellow countrymen in DR who have no education either, but have money. Sometimes, they think that’s all they need.

As for the knock on DR parents, there are also ‘many’ parents who are very education oriented. And those aren’t just the parents of middle and upper class Dominicans, but poor ones as well.

Just like any other minority group, these students will face serious challenges from what’s in their neighborhoods; drugs, gangs, and violence. And as the teacher said, a year of hard work can be undone in three, hot summer months.

As for ‘AnotherDominican’s’ comment, I agree, I think there aren’t enough community groups focused on the issue of education in the Dominican community.

There are barely any groups to begin with unless they are politically related.

I think its time that there are groups created in our neighborhoods to further help not only Dominican students, but all students of every color.

This article may have just inspired me to do something like this in the community. And if you guys are interested, I would be willing to work on a project to bring more awareness to the community on how important education is.

By: anotherdominican

anotherdominican — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:23:38 +0000

This is reprehensible for an educator to be doing this. However, the fact remains that the majority of chinese families focus on education and invest time and money and their livelihood in promoting their kids to get as far as possible. This means their ENTIRE extended family (uncles, aunts grandparents, cousins). While some dominican families do this, the majority do not, and almost never beyond the immediate family. So the few dominican families who would be interesting in taking this kind of effort are spread out and cant reach out to each other because they arent aware of each other. I grew up in inwood….I can assure you the number of parents not interested in going the extra mile for their kids outnumbered those who did exponentially. So for them it really was about going it alone. Also, Im not sure how this works in Chinese families but in Dominican families there is inherent distrust of other dominicans because we are just as likely to rob/defraud from each other as we are outsiders of our communities (think about what goes back on the island)….Think about it…would you necessarily trust your community if you knew they were capable of stealing from you if given the chance (SS, identity, credit cards, money, good)?

By: Jonam

Jonam — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:18:49 +0000

Its good article
Thanks