CHANNEL: Education

Emmanuel Verdine is a one-man force in giving Haitians and non-Haitians alike access to the Creole language. Through his books and dictionaries, he inspires Haitians to take pride in their roots, something that older generations have shunned upon arrival in America.

An open letter to Dr. Carol Johnson, superintendent of Boston Public Schools, advises her on actions to take to end the blatant disrespect that some teacher have for Haitian students.

More than 50% of Black and Latino teacher candidates are failing the Mass. teachers-licensure exam.  The high failure rate has prompted the Mass. Department of Education to find out why.

New England Ethnic News spoke to three education and testing professionals to learn more.

African American and Latino high school students voiced their opinions about violence in their lives, snitching to cops, and education, at a meeting convened this month by the Boston Public Health Commission.

The renovated Jeremiah Burke High School in Dorchester will have a new gym, library and community center, all in one place. The combination reflects a trend in integrating schools with after-school programs, without having to relocate students, says the Dorchester Reporter.

Some 500 immigrants waited at Fuller Middle School in Framingham, Mass., on Jan. 24, hoping to be one of 165 winners for free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, reports NEWz's Eduardo A. de Oliveira.

Students at Media Communications Technical High School in West Roxbury, Mass., held a Media Expo on Feb. 1. Guest speaker Mel King challenged them to use their media skills to solve social problems, reports NEWz's Frank Herron.

The "People Empowering People" program of Danbury Children First graduated 23 Latino parents who learned valuable leadership skills, reports the Tribuna newspaper. (**EM PORTUGUES**)

Boston's school-dropout crisis has adverse effects on the city, notably crime, prosperity and quality of life.  Dorchester residents should demand more accountability from elected officials and from a school system that graduates less than 60% of its enrolled students, says Mamadou Ndiaye.

Howard Manly is the executive editor of the Bay State Banner, the oldest African American-owned newspaper in Massachusetts.

Manly talked to NEWz on Feb. 1, 2008, about the future of the paper (a new magazine is in the works), race in America (will always be a factor), and major issues among African Americans (health, education and politics).