Local NAACP addresses education in Bogalusa
Published 7:55 am Sunday, August 5, 2012
The Washington Parish NAACP has decided to address the issue of education in Bogalusa head on.
Quoting President Obama and NAACP National President Ben Jealous, Elbert Buckley, local NAACP president, said, “It’s time to double down on what works.”
Buckley called a special meeting on education last week. Those in attendance focused on several education topics, including the disparity in teacher diversity, and were provided with a teacher diversity document. Other school issues discussed included discipline, safety, job security, charter school concerns and current issues due to changes to principal/superintendent duties.
Buckley said the local NAACP congratulates Toni Breaux on her selection as acting superintendent of the Bogalusa City School system.
“I think her experience and expertise will be an asset to the Bogalusa schools,” Buckley said. “We act as an integral part of the community and stand ready to assist in any way possible and serve in any role Ms. Breaux deems appropriate to assure success for our children.”
The Washington Parish branch of the NAACP stands behind the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African-Americans launched by Obama, according to Buckley.
A joint project between the Department of Education and the administration, the initiative will be overseen by community leaders with a vested interest in improving education for African-Americans.
“We applaud President Obama’s educational goals for the black community,” said Buckley. “The NAACP is committed to adding legions of African-American college graduates to meet the president’s goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.”
The parish NAACP will release an educational report with the theme of “finding our way back to first” in the fall, working in concert with the president’s new initiative.
Buckley invited NAACP members and the general public to attend the next meeting of the Washington Parish NAACP, to be held Thursday, Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. at the YMCA, located at 700 Avenue U in Bogalusa.
