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Friday, July 25, 2003

Compiled by Michelle Massie, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Yesterday marked the start of the National Urban League's in Pittsburgh. Hundreds of high school students from NULITES chapters across the country gathered at Carnegie Mellon University's Wiegand Gymnasium for a kick-off event to launch the conference. In between games, music and other activities, we asked several of the participants the following question:

	Top row: Blake Butler (left), Ashley Gendrett; Center: Yaves Ellis, Maurissa Taylor; Bottom: Rashea Cook, Justin Ferguson (Steve Mellon, Post-Gazette)

What can urban schools do to better prepare African American students for college?

"Teachers can step up with how they look at education. Don't slack in the way you teach kids and don't let kids slack. Teachers also have to step up the level of intensity. For a lot of my friends who go to public school, it's easy for them to turn in their homework late. Teachers shouldn't allow that to happen. It shouldn't be that easy to get away with."
-- Blake Butler, 15, of Pittsburgh, sophomore at Sewickley Academy

"I think there should be advanced placement and honors programs at every school. It's important so that students can learn to their fullest potential. Many times poor schools don't have honors classes. Without funding you can't get a program started. There also has to be more tutorials to prepare students for honors programs."
-- Ashley Gendrett, 17, of Houston, freshman at Texas A&M University

"I would say that during school to place students into internships. A lot of students get to college and don't know what they want to do with their lives. An internship in high school would help them to make a better decision about their future. Students would get a chance to be in the workplace and see what goes on behind the scenes. It's all about exposure and what you're seeing."
-- Yaves Ellis, 17, of Columbus, Ohio, senior at Whitehall-Yearling High School

"Schools can offer classes based on black history. They should also have more electives based on the careers we want to be in. Schools should have classes for 12th-graders that teach them about what they'll be doing in college."
-- Maurissa Taylor, 15, of West Palm Beach, Fla., sophomore at Palm Beach Lakes High School

"We need better books. Sometimes there are not enough books, especially English and social studies books. The books that we do have, they need to be more up-to-date. Most of the books are from '94 and '95."
-- Rashea Cook, 17, of Bronx, N.Y., a senior at John F. Kennedy High School

"The schools should have more summer programs ... so students will have a jump on their classes. Summer programs give students a chance to do better because they are not overwhelmed the next year because they know what to expect in their classes. These programs also give students the chance to meet people from different neighbors and cities."
-- Justin Ferguson, 14, of Penn Hills, a sophomore at Penn Hills High School