Hip-Hop Program Cut from School Budget
By Lora Neng
WWW.STREETGANGS.COM STAFF WRITER
February 28, 2011
The Global Awareness through Hip Hop Culture program is one of the only hip hop programs in the nation offered to middle and high school students, and its last class will close in June 2011. The program based at a South Los Angeles charter school is yet another to be cut from the tightening of school budgets.
Founder Sebastien Elkouby told PRNewsire, “For a variety of reasons, many students feel completely disconnected from the traditional educational process. This class uses the positive elements of Hip Hop culture that aren’t usually promoted in mainstream media as a medium to develop critical thinking skills while teaching them language arts, social studies, and life skills.”
The program has been life-changing for many of its participants, hosting such guests as MC Lyte and KRS-ONE, and sending kids to DJ retreats since its inception in 2006. Elkouby advised educators on how to use hip hop as a tool to educate with the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles and remains open to the notion that funding will somehow find itself to supporting creative programs.
Posted by Lora
on Feb 28 2011. Filed under Entertainment.
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