Is there a relationship between special education and prison? Is there a parallel between illiteracy and incarceration? Is there a relationship between Ritalin and cocaine? Why are African American males placed in special education the greatest and White females the least? Have we designed a female classroom for male students? What percent of special education students are mainstreamed back to the regular classroom? What percent graduate? Were you aware that 20 percent of the teachers make 80 percent of special education referrals? These are just some of the many questions raised and answered in Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu's latest book, Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education.

I really enjoyed reading the book, because there are chapters for teachers, psychologists, parents, and community activists. I was not aware that special education has become the new form of segregation. Special education legislation was created in 1975, 21 years after Brown vs. Topeka. It was designed to insure that all children regardless of hearing, visual, or physical impairments would receive a quality education. It was not designed to be a dumping ground primarily for White female teachers who choose to rid themselves of African American boys.

I especially enjoyed the chapter on Gender differences. If we know that boys have a shorter attention span, how should teachers alter their lesson plans? If boys have a higher energy level, what provisions should teachers make? How do we allow for maturation differences? What has Europe done to circumvent this problem? My favorite chapter was on reading. I was not aware that almost 80 percent of the boys labeled for special education are also illiterate. Kunjufu argues that maybe we should improve our literacy curriculum, rather than disproportionately sending Black boys to special education.

If you have read any of Kunjufu's other books, you know he advocates solutions. He has two full chapters of solutions that exceed 100. Last, he provides parents with strategies in the most important meeting of their child's life- the IEP (Individualized Educational Plan). The author encourages parents to reduce their child's sugar consumption and television viewing.

This is very significant book for anyone concerned about African American males.

Keeping Black Boys Out Special Education
By: Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu
Distributed by: IPG/Lushena/Baker & Taylor/Ingram
Price: $15.95/ 190 Pages
ISBN: 0974900028