dramadiscoveryandlearning.com Blog

by Michael Hirsch
(Reprinted from the UFT New York Teacher Newpaper, May 10, 2012)

Hirsch reported that, “In the April 12 “Making the Grade? Assessing School Progress Reports’ Measurement of Annual Academic Achievement,” the Independent Budget Office found that schools with percentages of black and Hispanic students or special education students are likely to have lower progress report scores, regardless of the merits of the staff and school leadership.
“The IBO said that the DOE’s practice of using peer group comparisons–comparing schools with comparable socioeconomic student populations–yields more accurate results than simply comparing standardized test scores, but the progress reports fail to adequately control for such factors as poverty, homelessness and family and neighborhood dysfunction–variables that can affect student outcomes but are not the fault of teachers or administrators.”
Hirsch also pointed out that the IBO report found that “the difference between a C and a D can reflect merely an arbitrary methodological choice by DOE and not a true reflection of school effectiveness.
(Hirsch, 8)

The new and exciting Broadway musical, “Leap of Faith,” makes believers of us. With a rousing melodic score by Alan Menken, brilliant choreography by Sergio Trujillo and Raul Esparza in the starring role one cannot help but feel the heart jump for glorious joy. What begins as the vehicle for a big confidence job, the revival tent, ends with a real transformation to an honest faith and enduring love.
As “Rev.” Jonas Nightingale, Esparza exhorts the glory and mercy of God while secretly plotting to take the hard-earned monies from the townspeople in this small farm community suffering from a long drought. The device of the ear piece with instructions from his con artist sister, Sam, cleverly reveals the duplicity of hi
s powerful preaching and healing gimmicks. The sheriff learns about his scam and gives him three days to leave town.
The sheriff, however, is a strikingly beautiful but straightforward redhead, played by Jessica Phillips, and Esparza successfully woos her into a romantic tryst. He soon learns that his sexual prowess does not stop the clock especially after he suggests the ability to “heal” the sheriff’s young son who is confined to a wheelchair. She resents his false claims to her son and jails him.
The combination of the multi-octave voices of Kecia Lewis-Evans, Krystal Joy Brown and Leslie Odom, Jr. with the lyrics of Glenn Slater, and Menken’s soaring music lifts this story to exceptional heights for the Broadway musical. Some of the most moving numbers include “Rise Up,” “Dancin’ in the Devil’s Shoes, “Like Magic,” “I Can Read You,” and “Are You on the Bus.” Direction by Christopher Ashley highlights the dynamic performance aspects of his revival choir and Esparza’s preaching.
“Leap of Faith” has lots to offer including audience participation that may surprise you. This Tony Award nominated musical continues its open run at the St. James Theatre on 44th Street.

Tennessee Williams’ classic, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” returns to Broadway starring Blair Underwood as Stanley. Directed by Emily Mann’s, “A Streetcar”takes route through a multi-racial New Orleans. Nicole Ari Parker (Blanche DuBois), Wood Harris (Mitch) and Daphne Rubin-Vega (Stella) complete the cast of the powerhouse drama about faded beauty, romantic delusion and violent urges. The show features revisions made by Williams and a score created by noted jazz composer Terrence Blanchard. The revival of the Pulitzer Prize winner officially opens April 22 at the Broadhurst Theatre, 235 West 44th St..

For tickets go to streetcaronbroadway.com.

— Jeanette Toomer, April 14, 2012

Make plans now to join members of NCTE, including members of the Council’s Executive Committee, on Capitol Hill on Thursday, April 19, 2012, for Literacy Education Advocacy Day. Register now!

See the agenda, the topics we’ll be discussing, and other information about Advocacy Day. Go to www.ncte.org and register.

In addition to learning the latest about literacy education issues at the federal level, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with legislators and their staff members and to share your personal stories and experiences from your classroom with them.

Curious, but want to learn more? Read about our previous events and learn more about visiting legislators in DC.

Can’t make it to DC? That’s all right! You can share the stories from your classroom and your expertise as a literacy educator during Literacy Education Advocacy Month right from home! See our list of ideas for speaking out — most items will take you 5-10 minutes, but there are also ideas that will take a little more or a little less time.

www.ncte.org

The broadway musical, “Leap of Faith,” is running in previews at the James Theater. Raul Esparza stars as the con man preacher who breezes into a small Kansas town where he sets up his revival tent. Along the way this hustler finds romance in an unexpected way. Esparza, previously nominated three times for Tony Awards, is no newcomer to the Broadway razzle dazzle. Veteran composer Alan Mencken pens the score and director, Christopher Ashley (”Memphis”), returns with his talented award-winning touch.
“Leap of Faith” opens April 26th at the James Theater, 246 West 44th St.

– Jeanette Toomer, April 14, 2012

After 40 some days of local and national protests, the special prosecutor charged George Zimmerman with second degree murder of Trayvon Martin, a black teenager walking home one evening in Florida. Martin was talking to his girlfriend on a cellphone when he noticed Zimmerman watching him. Zimmerman, who had already telephoned the police for advice, followed Martin in spite of the officer’s order to stop watching Martin. At some point, thereafter, Zimmerman left his vehicle and confronted Martin shooting and killing him with his gun.
Angry protests followed because the local authorities did not charge Zimmerman with any crime after killing Martin.

— Jeanette Toomer, April 14, 2012

This year marks African Voices 20th Anniversary! They have expanded into hosting readings, writing and literary workshops in addition to their annual Reel Sister’s Event. Go to africanvoices.com and make a contribution to this growing cultural and educational center! Read more below about upcoming events.

Our next reading is a storytelling event for Women’s History Month to benefit the African Voices’ Get Your Read On! literacy program. Please support our youth by purchasing tickets ($10). If you are unable to attend, the tickets will be donated. The event will feature master storyteller Thelma R. Thomas and be held on March 10, 2012 at 6: 30 pm, 270 W. 96th St.

You may also contribute to our ongoing 20th Anniversary campaign to support the magazine. If you have not made a contribution, you can donate directly to our website at www.africanvoices.com or use the link below to join our fundraising campaign.

Please post the campaign to your FB or Twitter accounts to help us spread the word!

If you do not wish to donate online, you can mail a check or money order to African Voices, 270 W. 96th Street, NY 10025. If you have any questions, you can reach publisher, Carolyn Butts at (212) 865-2982.

Please pass the e-mail forward to family, friends and colleagues! Carolyn Butts, publisher.

Stop the campaign by some corporations to hinder voting registration. Read letter below and click link:

Dear Friends,
For years, the right wing has been trying to stop Black people, other people of color, young people, and the elderly from voting � and now some of America’s biggest companies are helping them do it.

These companies have helped pass discriminatory voter ID legislation by funding a right wing policy group called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Voter ID bills linked to ALEC have already passed in seven states,1 and similar voter ID bills have been introduced in 27 other states.

Supporters of discriminatory voter ID laws claim they want to reduce voter fraud (individuals voting illegally, or voting twice). But such fraud almost never actually occurs, and never in amounts large enough to affect the result of elections.3 What is clear is that voter ID laws prevent large numbers of eligible voters from casting a ballot, and could disenfranchise up to 5 million people.4

ALEC’s voter ID laws are undemocratic, unjust and part of a longstanding right wing agenda to weaken the Black vote. Major companies that rely on business from Black folks shouldn’t be involved in suppressing our vote. Please join me in demanding that these companies stop funding ALEC:

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/alec

ALEC�s right wing agenda

The American Legislative Exchange Council is a behind-the-scenes group whose membership consists of legislators and corporations who work together to push legislation that benefits their interests. ALEC crafts model legislation, which its member legislators then introduce in statehouses across the country, without mentioning its corporate ties. The group has written legislation to impose harsher criminal penalties on juveniles, to privatize education, and to break unions.

ALEC is funded in part by the Koch Brothers, the same family that funds the radically conservative tea party. It also receives funding from large corporations, many of which are household names.

“Voter fraud” and discriminatory voter ID laws

Supporters of discriminatory voter ID laws say it�s needed to stop “voter fraud.” The fact is that voter fraud rarely occurs, and when it does occur it does not happen at a scale that would change the outcome of an election. The kind of voter fraud addressed by the ALEC voter id bill happens as infrequently as death by lightning.5

Over and over again, the myth of widespread voter fraud is used to justify stronger restrictions on voting and voter registration (like voter ID laws), as well as voter roll purges. It has also been used to attack organizations which register large numbers of low income and minority voters, by painting simple mistakes made during registration drives as organized efforts to commit voter fraud. These kind of made up scandals have helped the right wing convince the public that voter fraud is real and voter ID laws are necessary to protect the integrity of elections.

The truth is that voter ID laws are discriminatory � Black people, Latinos, the elderly, students, people with disabilities, and the poor are all less likely to have the photo IDs necessary to vote under these laws.6 For example, if you’ve recently moved because of foreclosure or some other economic circumstance, you’re more likely to have recently ended up in a new state which won’t accept your out of state driver’s license. If you don’t have a car, you’re less likely to have a driver’s license in the first place.

In many states, it can be expensive and time consuming to secure the proper ID. Even when the ID itself is free, it often requires supporting documents like a birth certificate which cost money to achieve. There are already stories of voters who have been eligible for years struggling to navigate a frustrating bureaucratic maze in order to vote. Requiring ID to vote amounts to a modern day poll tax. And that’s the real purpose of voter ID laws - they are an important part of the modern effort to suppress the votes of groups that usually vote against right wing politicians.

These laws are part of a long history of voter suppression directed at Black folks and other underrepresented groups. No longer is the Black vote suppressed through violence, intimidation and literary tests. It�s now suppressed through laws that make it burdensome and difficult for many Black folks to vote.

Corporate-backed voter suppression

Some of the companies supporting ALEC may simply be unaware that the group is involved in voter suppression. Others might think that voter suppression will benefit their political interests, and hope that they can get away with supporting it because so few people have even heard of ALEC.

Adding our voices to this campaign will help convince these companies that continuing to support ALEC will hurt their reputation with consumers. Please take a moment to join me in standing up to corporate-backed voter suppression.

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/alec

Thanks.

References

1. http://www.campusprogress.org/articles/new_evidence_of_alec_connections_in_all_successful_voter_id_legislatio/
2. http://www.economist.com/node/21529061
3. http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/the_myth_of_voter_fraud/
4. http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/10/gop-alec-could-make-it-harder-5-million-cast-ballots
5. See reference 3.
6. http://www.brennancenter.org/page/-/d/download_file_39242.pdf

What are you doing to celebrate Black History Month! With my high school students we are participating in the NCTE’s African American Read In. Visit www.ncte.org for more information. On February 4th the Association of Black Educators of New York is celebrating people of African descent with the winners of its essay competition at the Public Library in Brooklyn. Visit abeny.org for more information.
Are you attending a special event in honor of black history? Are you reading a book by Toni Morrison, Edwidge Danticat, Walter Mosely or other African, African American or Caribbean author? Are you going to see the movie, “Red Tails.” Plan ahead and take a friend. What are you doing to celebrate Black History Month?
– Jeanette Toomer

The Association of Black Educators of New York
Black History Essay Contest 2012

Theme: “Peoples of African Descent: Global Influences and Traditions.”

In honor of 2011 as the United Nations’ Year of People of African Descent, this year’s ABENY Essay Contest will celebrate the global influence of peoples of African descent. Students are asked to research how Blacks have brought African culture, values or themes to countries throughout the world, particularly Haiti, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands, South America, Central America and the United States. African leaders and their contributions in bringing African culture, values or themes to the world may also be considered. Here are some examples:

Muhammad Ali from the United States Patrice Lumumba from the Congo August Wilson from the United States
Adam Clayton Powell from the United States Jean-Jacques Dessalines from Haiti Zora Neale Hurston from the United States
Miriam Makeba from South Africa Bob Marley from Jamaica Malcolm X from the United States
Jan Carew from Guyana W. E. B. Dubois from the United States Derek Walcott from St. Lucia

In writing your essay, follow these steps:

1. Select one person of African descent. (Note: He/she does not have to come from the above list).
2. Identify the person’s country, and his or her achievements.
3. Discuss how he/she helped to bring African culture, values or themes to the world. Examples of African themes include racial pride, equality, self-determination and social justice.
4. Explain how reading about this person has influenced you.

Guidelines: Students in the NYC Public Schools are invited to participate as follows:
• Students in Grades 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 should write a 250-400 word essay.
• Students in Grades 4 and 5 should write a 200 word essay.
• Students in Grades 2 and 3 should write a 150 word essay.

Essays will be judged based on the following criteria:
content, presentation, originality, neatness, quality of research, adherence to topic,
proper use of language conventions, proper use of punctuation and grammar

In addition, all entries must:
be typed or neatly written using dark blue or black ink on 8 and half x 11 paper with margins; have a cover sheet that includes: the title or topic of the essay,
school, district, borough, student’s first and last name, grade, class; the teacher’s first and last name and email address, and the principal’s first and last name and email address.

Important: Include research used, references and bibliography. Essays which do not include references will not be considered.

Only three (3) entries per school will be accepted. Entries will not be returned.

DEADLINE:
All entries must be postmarked by the close of business no later than Monday, January 9, 2012. No entries will be accepted after the postmark date.

PRIZES
• Each winner will receive a certificate at the ABENY “Bridge from Africa” ceremony during Black History Month, Saturday, February 4, 2012, 1-3 PM, Cadman Plaza Library, 280 Cadman Plaza at Tillary Street, Brooklyn Heights, New York.
• Additionally, each winner will receive a $50 U.S. Savings Bond upon completing and submitting the required U.S. Savings Bond form which requests the student’s full name, social security number, and a mailing address. The completed form must be submitted to Mr. Victor Jordan, P.O. Box 100042, Vanderveer Station, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, on or before Friday, March 9, 2012 in order to be eligible to receive the bond.
• Principals or their designees will be notified by email of the winners. The Savings Bond form will also be sent by email to principals or their designees and distributed at the Bridge from Africa ceremony.
• If there are questions, contact Dr. Sheilah Bobo at sbobo@schools.nyc.gov or call her at 917-412-9099.

ABENY ESSAY CONTEST COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Dr. Sheilah Bobo and Ms. Jeanette Toomer, Co-Chairpersons; Mr. Victor Jordan, Essay Bond Coordinator; Ms. Nora Barnes, Ms. Aletta Seales, and Ms. Larcelia Kebe, Education Committee Chairperson

Please mail essay entries to: Ms. Jeanette Toomer
PO Box 1092
Cathedral Station,
New York, NY 10025-1092