In some regions of the country, graduation rates are as low as 20 percent. A mere 12 percent of Black high school seniors are proficient readers.

Outside of the classroom, it is estimated that 40 to 44 percent of Black adults are functionally illiterate. With these statistics in mind, the forecast for Black education is bleak.

But as America prepared to address the struggles and ailments of a typical school year, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Muhammad University of Islam (M.U.I.) embarked on the dissemination of educational solutions for the benefit of the entire Black community.

An educational conference that took place the weekend of July 31, at the Salaam Restaurant and M.U.I., were a part of what Min. Farrakhan referred to as a “new beginning.”

M.U.I., located in Chicago, was reopened by Minister Farrakhan in 1989; since then dozens of schools under the M.U.I. banner have been established on a foundation of scripture and with the teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad at the core the curriculum.

It is a known fact that private schools—many of which have a faith-based curriculum, as does Muhammad University of Islam—have continued to show better results academically and socially than schools that function under the policy of the separation of church and state.

In a report compiled in 2006 by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, “scores indicated that the average private school mean score was higher than the average public school mean score, and the difference was statistically significant.”

The report seemed to support the effective practice of integrating faith principles with curriculum.

Purpose, guidance and a new direction

More than 100 attendees from around the country came to Chicago in response to the invitation of Min. Farrakhan and the National M.U.I. Director Bro. Dr. Larry Muhammad for a three-day educational seminar that culminated on the fourth day with a public address by the Honorable Min. Farrakhan at Christ Universal Temple. (See Vol. 27, Issue 45, “New educational solutions needed for a civilization that has ‘flatlined.’ ”)

The coordination of M.U.I. institutions was a focus of the recent conference, as well as broadening the impact of the schools. Bro. Larry stated that as national director, this is key among the goals of the conference this year, to acquire greater organization and achieve that broader presence.

“What we’re doing is trying to bring a new idea, because God has come to bring a new idea and as educators it’s our job to bring that new idea into reality,” he said.

We are “laying the blueprint or foundation for connecting the educators, the resources, to improve the communication/information flow, to strengthen the schools. Whatever we do here as a model, we (will) duplicate in other cities,” Bro. Larry said.

He continued by saying M.U.I. is scheduled to begin its GED program this fall in Chicago and M.U.I. on-line is expected to be operating in the near future. M.U.I. on-line would function as remote access to a curriculum for parents that home school and students that do not have access to an M.U.I. where they live.

During the conference, educators learned classroom strategies, participated in demonstrations and attended workshops where they earned continuing professional development units. This will assist teachers who are periodically required to obtain CPDUs/CEUs in order to maintain certification.

One of the workshop attendees said the Writing Workshop conducted by Sis. Kabasa Muhammad, Sis. Mary Muhammad and doctoral candidate Sis. Khalilah Muhammad was particularly beneficial. An attendee remarked that she learned more in the first five minutes of the Writing Workshop than she had learned in an entire semester at school.

‘Education is survival’

A consistent underlying current of every workshop and every aspect of the conference was the recognition and intent to function with the understanding that “God centered education” is the very basis for educational success.

The workshop that demonstrated the necessity of God centered education best focused on spiritual connections between academic subject matters and scriptural references.

Contributing her vast and profound body of knowledge to the further development of independently run M.U.I. institutions was Mother Tynetta Muhammad. Following the conclusion of a panel discussion, Mother Tynetta urged the educators to utilize the body of knowledge divinely given to the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad—The Supreme Wisdom as well as his groundbreaking book “Message to the Blackman.”

“The University of Islam is the school of excellence and will be the center of the new educational system … so that we will not have to depend any further upon an outdated system that we are relying upon. … We are fighting against darkness and ignorance,” she said. “Education is survival, the best survival that we have. Education is security, the best security that we have.”

Following her address it was acknowledged that the degree of study and the body of information that she has compiled and shared over time is exemplary of doctoral study and it was unanimously agreed that her works are worthy of an honorary doctorate from educators at M.U.I.

Although a majority of conference participants represented M.U.I. schools around the nation, other educators, administrators and community activists attended to share their insight and successes. Among them was former Chicago school board president Florence Cox, Phillip Jackson of the Chicago-based Black Star Project, a representative from Christ Universal Temple and others.

Reaching beyond M.U.I.

The presence of administrators and educators whose experience spans years of service to their community and whose experience is not limited to functioning within the M.U.I. institutions enriched the conference. It was acknowledged by many conference goers that as educators their influence has far reaching effects and introducing a new paradigm of thought can sometimes be a delicate operation in public schools that adhere heavily to separation of church and state.

Bro. Jason Muhammad of Rochester, an assistant principal in the public school system, spoke to The Final Call about his public education experience. He shared the philosophy that guides him as an educator when it comes to facing the challenge of introducing a new paradigm of thought into currently established institutions. “Right is right,” he said. “The standard (of New York ) is not a quality standard because it doesn’t deal with the foundations. These standards that they have are somewhat skewed. It’s not a conflict for me to use the standard. … The teachings are, they are just right, if we can use the language properly, people accept that.”

Regarding his observations about the conference, Bro. Jason said, “We are taking very real action steps. The making of one (uniform M.U.I. system).”

As educators and administrators were present, so were students. Offering insight was Sister Myata Muhammad, a student currently participating in the Cuban medical school program offered to the Nation of Islam by former President Fidel Castro, and Sister Faatimah Muhammad of Atlanta, who will enter the program in January. Sister Myata is entering her third year as a medical school student in the program sponsored by the Cuban government. She shared some of her experiences with conference attendees and answered questions. “When I went over, I did not know any Spanish,” she said. “The Spanish comes; you have 14 billion brain cells. You have to come into the program dedicated. You may be up studying sometimes until 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning.”

When asked whether the current sanctions imposed on Cuba by the U.S. had an impact on students in the program, Sis. Mata said that since they were students, the sanctions did little to affect their accessibility to resources.

Sister Fatimah told The Final Call she took the initiative to go to Cuba and inquire about the program and insure that she would be a beneficiary of a tremendous opportunity to study. The government pays all medical school expenses for participants. Moreover, she offered insight into the adjustment to living accommodations. “Every other room had 10-20 people in bunk beds. A lot of the sisters that were from the States were complaining about living arrangements. … The showers were kind of equivalent to military or prison. A lot of that impeded a lot of people from going to the program or living there. It really depends on you acclimating yourself. I would recommend that people go there,” she said.

Vocational education was also discussed at the conference. Bro. James Muhammad of Rochester, N.Y. is in the process of developing a CPR training program as well as a GED program, as instructed by Min. Farrakhan, for the Rochester community. As student minister in Rochester and president of the local Business Association, he is poised to accomplish his goal relatively soon.

“We want to offer CPR training for the daycare providers and we want to develop that GED program (and) other job skills. I truly believe that is a great blessing because the youth are attracted to us. ... We are a great position to implement all of that.”

Student Minister Bro. Abdul Muhammad reminded conference attendees during one of his presentations that Black educators come from a community that does not have a history of a healthy respect for education. This accentuates the challenge ahead for anyone hoping to affect the condition of Black people in the U.S. through traditional education.

Some of the teachers and guests that attended the conference said it served as a reminder of their purpose for teaching and that it revived their spirits to return to their communities and teach.

Bro. Ibrahim Muhammad, of St. Louis, remarked, “We are of like minds. We are in the trenches with our children. We actually understand that our prayer, our sacrifice, our life and our death are all for Allah. We put our lives on the line every day. We give our all to our children of our nation so that they might have a better and brighter future. We are professional educators and we know what is at stake.”

As a whole, what this conference represented was a step in the right direction to heal many ailments, academic and beyond, that plague our community.

Photos: Daniel Hassan Muhammad
Phil Jackson photo by Kenneth Muhammad

Related links:

Farrakhan: New educational solutions needed (FCN, 08-14-2008)

Webcast: Minister Farrakhan's Address on Education (FCN, 08-03-2008)