Joseph Foster

Dear Students, Parents, and Staff,

“The education of Afrikan people us an urgent necessity. It is a matter of life and death. We cannot abide another generation of children who have no identity and who are ignorant about Afrika. Trusting our own cultural heritage, ancient and modern, we are in the best position to solve our own problems. Self acceptance and self-determination is the only possibility for our development and enhancement” (“SBA-The Reawakening of the Afrikan Mind” Hillard, 1997, p.32)

Imhotep Charter High School welcomes you and your family to explore the unique features of our website. Our goal for the upcoming years is for our administrators, facilitators, students, parents and concerned community members to concentrate on closing the “Cultural Gap-From Ignorance to Illumination”. Dr. Asa Hilliard III, Fulbright professor at Ga. State University has declared war on the statement “Closing the Achievement Gap” He states that the minimum competencies of comparing Afrikan children performance or the lack thereof to European or Asian children in America is an misnomer. He postulates that if we want to emulate anyone academic performance we should choose the students of Cuba. Cuba boasts a proficiency rate of 98% in both mathematics and reading. Asa demanded that we Sankofa which means go back and fetch that which was lost in order to go forward. Our ancestors taught that the purpose of education was to become more like the creator that breathes the Nommo of life into us. The most educated among us should spend the rest of our lives bringing good into the world, so that no good is lost. This is to be done by using the standards of Maat (truth, reciprocity, justice, harmony, balance, order and righteousness and Tehuti (wisdom). The final chapter of our lives will be when the Self-Existent One weighs our heart and finds it lighter than the feather of Maat. What we at Imhotep Insitute Charter High School desire are improved student performance that duplicates the institutions of Waset, Sankore and Timbuktu.

In order to facilitate “Closing of the Cultural Gap” The Imhotep Charter High School family has instituted the greeting “What are you reading Afrikan?” This asks all of our family members to be constantly reading in order to acquire wisdom. We believe that wisdom is power because it is knowledge that is applied. The application of this knowledge is what will produce identity, purpose and direction. These are the essential components for self-reliance and freedom.

The Imhotep Institute is named after a great Afrikan multi-genius from the 3rd dynasty. Imhotep was born about 3000 B.C.E. He was an accomplished architect, astronomer, philosopher, poet, sage, scribe, and kings’ physician. Imhotep was also the architect of the first pyramid built for the Pharaoh Djoser at Saqqara. The name Imhotep means “He who comes in peace” Since our namesake came in peace we come in that same spirit. We wish the peace that passes all understanding to you and your family. We hope the information on our website will bring good to all of humanity. Be a shelter and safe harbor for our elders, young people, and the vulnerable.
 
Joseph T. Foster
Principal/Imhotep Charter High School
Phone: (215) 438-4140