COMMUNITY This is a continuation of my commitment to placing a limited focus on the primary, secondary, and postsecondary education of African-American students across the country. The first article focused on the East Coast (Washington, D.C. and the state of Maryland). This article focuses on the Midwest, and the state of Ohio. I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Robert Harden for this article. Mr. Harden has a comprehensive record of experience inclusive of education, business, and community service. He has earned a M.A. in Management from Antioch University McGregor, Yellow Springs, Ohio; a B.S. in Business Management from Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio; a Certification for Credit Union Management from the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Business and the Credit Union National Association; and a Certification for Implementing Computerized Material and Production Control Systems from the College of Business Administration at the University of Cincinnati. Mr. Harden’s research experience includes serving as the New Futures Project Coordinator for Dayton Public Schools (Ohio), working with the University of Dayton, Sinclair Community College, Montgomery County, and the City of Dayton to gather and analyze data for the purpose of addressing K-12 curriculum, attendance, academics, pregnancy, and legal issues. A summary of the findings was published. He also served as the project leader for the development of the Requirements Determination System, United States Military, which was a collaborative effort consisting of the Computer Science Corporation, Anderson Consulting, and Metters Industries for the purpose of gathering/analyzing data for use in producing a functional specification to design a Requirements Determination System. Mr. Harden has presented before various organizations to include the: 1) Black Man Think Tank, Sinclair Community College, on ‘Strategic Relationships’; 2) Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education, on ‘University Community Economic Engagement’; 3) National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, on ‘Working with Federal Examiners’ (national webinar); and 4) Central State University, Office of the President’s Middle-Management Team on Interdepartmental Communication. He is also a graduate of the Community Reinvestment Institute. Another one of his notable accomplishments was achieved while working for Dayton Public Schools as a Student System Coordinator/Senior Analyst. He worked on developing an in-house Education Management Information System. Mr. Harden has been recognized for his many accomplishments by receiving various awards, such as the Metters Industries Presidential Award and the Urban League Black Leadership Award. He is presently an Adjunct Professor at Central State University, an HBCU (Historically Black College/ University) located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Professor Harden has taught courses in management, marketing, statistics, real estate, and international business. Lawson: Do you believe the average African-American high school student is adequately prepared for either a 2-year or 4-year college? Harden: It is my opinion that students entering college after attending urban public schools are not adequately prepared for 2-year or 4-year colleges. I am not saying African-American high school students lack initiative, ability to learn or intelligence. I think the urban education system has created false impressions and expectations in African-American high school students entering college. Getting ‘accepted’ by colleges is the end-game. I also maintain that the education process has created a false impression within students that just attending college will provide the student with the ability to achieve their goals in life. Thus, the system teaches to test, which excludes May 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 25
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