You know, that's actually a really good question. I believe that in some communities, education just isn't as valued as it should be. Being a good student is not considered "cool" in some communities. And crime is too accepted. I hope I don't come across as "whitey" lecturing here. I haven't had to struggle in a poor urban community in my life, and so I'm not able to fully relate. But others, such as Al Sharpton, have expressed it well: "Some of us act like the definition of blackness is how low you can go. Blackness has never been about being a gangster or ." Very well said, I think. I think more positive black role models in the community would help a lot, let kids know they can dream of something better.
I also think the education system has failed some of these kids. As others have said, the local H.S. getting decertified is a pretty big sign that things are remiss, and IMO that the State needs to put more resources into improving public schools. I don't really understand the whole spending a ton of money to bus kids 30 miles to a better school. Much as with the charter schools, I think the money could have been better spent on hiring good teachers improving the local schools. But that's an argument for a different day.
