Real role models

Joseph Harker makes some good points about the underachievement of many black youngsters in today's Guardian, following last week's report on the subject. The truth is that black pupils are doing better than they used to, and have narrowed the gap with their white counterparts. And one reason they have done so has been through supplementary schools, where the community has worked to instil a stronger educational ethic in young people. But black boys, in particular, still underachieve and Harker is right that the strong role model missing from too many families, not just black families, is a father, and no TV or business role models can fill the gap.