“If the 6.2 million dropouts were all educated and gainfully employed, the economic attraction of the United States to would-be undocumented aliens would plunge. As it is, 69 percent of black dropouts are unemployed; and, the corresponding percentages for whites and Hispanics is 54 and 47, respectfully. The report attributed the oddity of the lowest rate for Hispanics to the fact that many illegal immigrants included in that category compete successfully for jobs with native-born youths.

There is no better investment in the United States at present than high schools targeting high school dropouts for enrollment and graduation.

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McNamara was a member of the Harlan Community Academy’s debate team, which meant he often stayed up late doing research on issues like biofuels and global warming, and he and his teammates set up mock debates on weekends so they could practice for tournaments. Because of his dedication and debating skill, McNamara won a full ride to Northwestern University. He’s just one example of how participating in debates has helped Chicago Public Schools students excel academically, while also improving their social skills.

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Research indicates Pickert is likely right. 2004 University of Missouri study found that debating skills have a positive effect on academic performance. And researchers at the University of Michigan are looking at the impact on academics.

Robert Pincham, Harlan’s debate coach, says all of his debaters have received college acceptance letters from such schools as the University of Illinois, Howard University and Vanderbilt University.

Obscured within theses national and city initiatives is a surging rate of murder by and against young black males. Over the past five years, the number of juvenile black male perpetrators increased from nearly 800 to almost 1,150. In human terms this translates, on average, to one additional assailant per day.

The thrust to new reform efforts in Education must account for the revolving prison doors and criminal temperament surrounding the nations African American youth population.

Young black males >