School Hazard Zone-Beyond the Silence: Finding a Voice,
explores the dynamics that help to perpetuate minority academic
underachievement. Through five years of journal entries, epiphanies,
and inspirations, Pamela Althea Joyce presents an honest glimpse of
undemocratic practices at an urban/suburban high school. She
identifies variables associated with minority achievement, examines
experiences of the individuals involved, ultimately reframes the
“achievement gap” problem, and invites the reader to take a stand on
the matter. From the perspective of a teacher preoccupied with the
daily challenges of minority students, Joyce identifies positive and
negative influences originating from self, school, and society, which
play a role in tilting the academic playing field to the disadvantage
of the underachieving students. She provides alternatives, offering
“do now,” low-cost suggestions and feasible long-term ideas for
closing the “achievement gap.” The book will be enlightening for the
general public, administrators, teachers, student teachers, parents
and all individuals concerned about the future of the American
educational system. It is also available on Amazon.com and Borders.
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