Boston.com / News / Education / K-12 / Black parents tackle a gap
Unorthodox measures to teach the tenacious habits of the affluent to African-American mothers and fathers in Harlem have been taken by the Institute for Urban and Minority Education at Columbia University's Teachers College, which Gordon directs, as well as by Harlem Children's Zone, a large social service organization, and The College Board, sponsor of the SAT.
''A lot of our parents are tired. They are worn-out and they need almost a pep rally, so we say, 'Hey, I know you are tired, but this is important,' " said Geoffrey Canada, CEO of Harlem Children's Zone, which runs Promise Academy Charter School, an extended day school that Tomlinson's daughters attend. ''We have begun to say, ''You have to do this, or there just is no way your child is going to make it.' "
