From Dumb-Down to THINK-UP: Raising our standards in the village.

In light of recent outrage of programming on networks, like BET, many of our villagers are taking action and want change. The villagers want to see more thought-provoking, educational, and creative programming. Our children are being highly influenced by the vocabulary of the programs, the images, the negative subliminal messaging, the lyrics, and the “reality.”Yet, the 'watering-down' of education does not only exist in television programming. Our children and young adults are using shorthand writing and speech more than ever: text messaging, e-mails, and instant messaging. As a result, our children and young adults are thinking and speaking on lower levels. It’s time to raise the standards in the village!. Taking a Continued Stand! Raising the bar in the village is necessary because our children are competing with children all over the world. And the children in other countries are training to win! VILLAGE GUESTS: Former professor,college administrator,full-time educator and burgeoning writer Dr. Barrington Edwards of Chicago, Illinois (Educator and Author in the Village) also Ms. Umi Smith - inspiration for the song "Umi Says" Entertainer, Mos Def's Mother (Activist in the Village)Along with one of our Village Residents, Mr. Ozell Davis (The Wisdom in the Village)