Up Where We Belong Helping African American and Latino Students Rise in School and in Life

by Thompson, Gail L.

• ISBN13: 9780787995973
• ISBN10: 0787995975
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-04-20
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

In Up Where We Belong, Gail Thompson asked the students in a low performing school to be candid about their high school experiences. Using this information and relying on data from questionnaires and focus groups, Thompson discovered a huge gap in perception between how teachers and students view their experience of school. The book explores this disparity, and uncovers some of the reasons for students' low achievement, apathy, and frustration. Most important, she offers vital lessons for transforming schools-especially for underachieving kids and students of color.

Author Biography

Gail L. Thompson is associate professor ofeducation at Claremont Graduate University and a respected speaker, workshop presenter, and consultant. Her research has focused on beliefs and perceptions about African-American students. She is the author of Through Ebony Eyes: What Teachers Need to Know But Are Afraid to Ask About African American Students from Jossey-Bass, African American Teens Discuss Their Schooling Experiences and What African American Parents Want to Know. She is also co-author of Exposing the Culture of Arrogance in the Academy. She lives in Rialto, California.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. x
About the Author	p. xi
Introduction	p. 1
In the Classroom
"You Can Tell If They Care": Why Students Need Caring and Highly Qualified Teachers	p. 13
"It Would Be Nice to Learn Something About My Culture": A Plea for a Culturally Relevant and More Interesting Education	p. 38
"It Don't Make No Sense to Give Us All These Tests": Student Effort, Achievement, and Attitudes About Standardized Tests	p. 65
"They Just Think We're Loud": How Discipline Policies and Practices Can Affect Students' Attitudes About School	p. 97
On the Schoolyard
"We just Can't Seem to Get Along": Race Relations on Campus	p. 131
"You Don't Know If They're Gonna...Bust a Columbine on Everybody": Why Schools Won't Ever Be Entirely Safe	p. 154
"Everybody's Intimidated by Us": A Candid Conversation with African American Males	p. 179
"This Place Is Nasty": How the School's Physical Environment Can Contribute to Student Apathy	p. 206
Out in the World: Beyond the Classroom and the Schoolyard
"Yes! They Do Care About My Education": Parent Involvement in Schools	p. 223
"They Should Worry More About Our Future": Why America's Stepchildren Need a College Preparatory Curriculum	p. 245
The Truth Can Set Us Free! Seven Lessons I've Learned About School Reform in America	p. 266
Notes	p. 291
Teacher Demographics	p. 309
Student Demographics	p. 310
Additional Information About the Student Questionnaire Respondents	p. 311
Teacher Questionnaire Results	p. 312
Student Questionnaire Results	p. 319
Classroom Management Exercise 1	p. 327
Classroom Management Exercise 2	p. 328
Index	p. 329
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