VEA instructional conference keynoter Jawanza Kunjufu challenged teachers gathered in Williamsburg from around Virginia to take a new look at their assumptions and their progress. While explicit in his praise for good teachers, he found little praise for the school systems in which they work. Particularly worrisome to him is the fate of boys, low income children and children of color. He pointed out that white girls do best in school. Schools teach in a manner that reinforces girls' natural talents for small motor skills, he said, and then punishes boys for not having those natural talents.
Black boys fare worse under the system than do white boys.
Black boys are the most prevalent in special education and white girls are the least prevalent, he added. A consultant with African American Images and prolific author with a reputation as a passionate speaker, he proceeded to do just that. Some in the audience of the first general session of the VEA's annual instruction and professional development conference listened intently and nodded from time to time. Others squirmed uncomfortably. But they all listened.