Shannon Said:

Is Racism Really the Major Obstacle Facing Blacks Or Something Else?

We Answered:

"The Bell Curve", and another book "IQ And Nation's Wealth", point toward the primary problem. American blacks have an average 85 IQ.

People are always talking about leveling the playing field, and they just keep blaming teachers. It is not the playing field, and it is not the teachers or the schools. A cold hard fact is that blacks as a group simply are not as intelligent as whites as a group. Nothing is going to work until we begin working from reality rather than liberal wishes and baseless beliefs.

Gabriel Said:

Risk Behaviors?

We Answered:

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "what are some at risk behaviors". Is this your student, and you're trying to find ways to help him, or is this a case-study you're working on for college or something? It's hard to tell from the way you write this.

If this is a case study for college, then going to let you do your own homework. But if you're wondering how to help a student in this situation, you're first "move" is to form a relationship with this student. You can do that by acting glad to see him, asking him about things you know (or hear) that he is interested in, and talking to him in an up-beat, personable way. Then, talk to him about what you see. Surely, you have some participation grade figured in that will be affected by sleeping and goofing off in class, and you can discuss your concerns about that grade with him.

Finally, call home and involve the parent if the above interventions don't turn things around. Don't be afraid to involve other school-personnel who may be influential in his life as well.