Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/55384
Positive changes More than 71 percent of the boys and youth in the program demonstrated a positive change in attitude toward teachers, school personnel, and school. More than 76 percent of the boys and youth increased their con- nection to a trusted adult in school. More than 72 percent of the boys and young men understood that some adults have high expec- tations of them. Between year 1 of the program and year 2, this increased 40 percent. 89 percent of the boys and young men increased their "goal setting" related to school and career. More than 79 percent of the boys and young men increased their understanding of the impor- tance of staying in school as it relates to future meaningful careers and education. (Source: Mary Kreger. Compiled from a survey of 14 adults working with the Boys and Men of Color program.) receiving an education and also having a social life. "We also visited Electronic Arts, a Pixar each other instead of reverting to an alter- cation. They are much more willing to talk things out." She is especially pleased to see African American and Latino boys getting along. "They are seeing the commonal- ities instead of the differences," she says. "They realize both groups have had to overcome common struggles as far as poverty and stereotypes of who they are and what they represent based on the color of their skin or language." Keith Brown, an OEA mem- ber and coordinator for the BMOC program at Bret Harte Middle School in Oakland, also sees the BMOC program having an impact. At UC Berkeley, says Brown, stu- dents toured dorms, visited classrooms and libraries, and talked to students of color. By talking to college students "who looked just like them," the youngsters saw higher education as being acces- sible, desirable and fun, and under- stood there can be a balance between video game company that produces popu- lar video games students recognized," says Brown. "It made a powerful impression for them to see that skills are needed to pro- duce these games and that it's possible to have a career doing something you enjoy. They learned that a job at Electronic Arts requires 'hard skills' like math and science, and 'soft skills' like being a good listener or team building. After this, our students saw the connections between working and school and why education is important." Teachers who head BMOC Keith Brown at individual school sites are in charge of selecting students for the program. According to the program's criteria, these stu- dents must have a C average, attend school more than 80 percent of the time, and have minor behavior issues. "We select kids who are kind of in the middle of the road," says Brown. "Often, as educators, we put a lot of energy and focus on students who have severe discipline issues or students who are very far below basic, or those who excel at school. But stu- dents somewhere in between sometimes don't get the nurturing and attention they deserve. They can be swayed through peer pressure not to take school seriously or to drop out or get involved in gang activity. It's important to really mentor and cultivate those students who might otherwise get neglected in our own school system." Brown says being involved with BMOC is a way of giving back to the community. Years ago, when he was a student at the mid- dle school where he now teaches, he had the opportunity to visit UC Berkeley, meet with college students and take summer classes. "A program like this had a positive impact on me, and I feel good about having the opportunity to provide a similar pro- gram for black and Latino students at my school," he says. "I think programs like this are essential to show that teachers — and unions — are first and foremost when it comes to supporting public education and taking an active role in fostering community connections to provide powerful learning." By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin MORE INFO For more information or to start a BMOC group on your campus, contact the CTA Human Rights/Community Outreach departments at (650) 552-5313. February 2012 / www.cta.org 23 Photo by David Hernandez