A Study of the Concomitant Problems Facing Most of the "At-Risk" African American Students in the Benton Harbor Elementary School System: A Case for an Alternative Model

ProblemIt would appear that the problem of school truancy, retention, and subsequent academic failure is a major educational crisis which puts most of the African American students at risk in the Benton Harbor area schools.PurposeThe purpose of this study has been to determine the concomitant educational problems facing the "at-risk" African American students in the Benton Harbor Elementary School System and to suggest positive changes through an alternative model.ResultsThe results of the survey indicated that approximately 90-95% of Benton Harbor educators agreed to changes. Administrators and teachers strongly agreed that the recommendations, based on the findings, if implemented, would be considered as positive changes in the learning difficulties observed among the at-risk African American pupils in Benton Harbor primary schools. The survey first spelled out the observed educational difficulties of the African American at-risk elementary students in Benton Harbor. Second, it indicated that recommendations based on the results, if implemented, will positively affect the educational needs of the at-risk African American students in the Benton Harbor primary school system.ConclusionsBased on the findings of this study in chapter 4, and based on the review of related literature in chapter 2, ten conclusions have been drawn. They are reported in chapter 5.RecommendationsEight recommendations are made with a view to provide discussion and further study. They are developed in chapter 5.