INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A top Republican Indiana legislator on education policy has apologized for comments suggesting Black students don’t perform better academically because they lack “respect for learning.”
House Education Committee Chairman Bob Behning of Indianapolis made the remark last week while pointing out that just 30 out of 1,000 Black students in the Indianapolis Public Schools system passed both the English and math portions of the state’s ILEARN standardized exam last year.
He said many factors could be involved, saying “poverty impacts that for sure, having a respect for learning." Behning apologized Monday in a statement to The Indianapolis Star. A leader of the Indianapolis Urban League called the remark “offensive.”
Latest Stories
-
Pacers stun Cavs 121-112 in Game 1 of East semis
All five Indiana starters scored in double figures. Aaron Nesmith and Pascal Siakam had 17 points apiece.Thousands travel to Indy for College Rugby Association of America Championship
Dozens of games were played at Kuntz Memorial Stadium, in partnership with Riverside Sports Properties.Indiana Fever shine in preseason victory over Brazil
The Indiana Fever won their preseason game against the Brazil National Team, securing a 108-44 victory, which featured Caitlin Clark's return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena at the University of Iowa.Woman fatally shot on Indy's west side; 40-year-old man in custody
A woman was fatally shot on the west side of Indianapolis Saturday night. IMPD said a 40-year-old man was arrested as the alleged suspect.