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Crisis in America: Lack of Black Male Teachers.

October 7, 2014 by  
Filed under Education, News, Opinion, Weekly Columns

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(ThyBlackMan.com) Think back to your K-12 educational experience…Now answer this: How many of your teachers were African American male? If you had to think about it too long you probably had few; if any. That’s because less than 2% of American teachers are Black males according to the U S Department of Education.

It is not unusual to see a group of smartly dressed, articulate African-American male professors walking across the campus of Morehouse College—the only all-male historically black college in the country—the school attended by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. One would think, “Look how far we have come.” Still, faced with the startling fact that black males represent six percent of the U.S. population, 45 percent of the prison population, and less than two percent of teachers, one cannot help but think, “How far have we yet to go?”

So many cases abound where young African-American boys want to be rappers, athletes, or entertainers, typically because that is what they are exposed to through television and social media. Study after study has proven that if more black male teachers were in our Nation’s classrooms, it would dramatically alter children’s aspirations and quite possibly, address the abhorrent connections to crime and disruptive behavior.

In light of this, there is some progress to report: The U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, at the behest of President Barack Obama, has established some initiatives to help recruit African-American men into ourStanleyBuford-2014-BookCover classrooms. The most notable of these initiatives is http://TEACH.org, and “Black Men to the Blackboard,” a public-private initiative with a mission to “help great candidates find places in today’s rapidly evolving classrooms.”

According to recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 82 percent of public school teachers in school year 2011-2012 were Caucasian. When African-American men first enter the classroom, there is a high likelihood that they may be only one of two or three black males on the staff, even in some predominantly black school districts. On a personal note;   as a teacher by day and entrepreneur by night, this writer knows all too well the disadvantages of “teaching while Black.”

Number one, the pay, which is not commensurate with most other professions requiring a degree. Two, the disrespect from a small sediment of colleagues and administrators that see Black male teachers as part of the problem because they’re…male (believe it or not). I can well remember as a new teacher starting out as a day-to-day sub; being told that I could not fulfill a position in a kindergarten classroom because it required principal approval. There seems to be an unwritten code among some well meaning, yet, misguided school personnel that says: Black men need not apply!

When a school makes hiring decisions, they largely depend on “fit.” Will this person fit in at our school, and how well? Adding an African-American man to the staff will automatically change a school’s dynamics. Parents, students, and fellow teachers may watch the black male employee more closely because of the rarity of the situation. The educator, as well as the school community, must be prepared for this. It takes a certain amount of character to accept and live up to this reality and the expectations that come with diversity.

It is of great importance that African-American students see caring, responsible, and honest Black men in positions of authority, because it helps them to recognize what is possible. Unfortunately, not enough of these positive images are visible to today’s youth. The need for black male teachers is the greatest in elementary and middle schools; for the most part grades 3,4 and 5, as noted by Black psychologist and author; Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu writer of 38 books specific to the Black experience, including: Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys.

A deficiency of black males in the classroom obviously leads directly to a lack of them in school leadership roles, such as principal and assistant principal. Educators have long said that mentoring is a key to success for many new teachers. In fact, many districts have mandatory orientation/mentoring programs for new teachers.

Part of the teacher mentoring experience, specific to Black males, needs to be revisited across urban America including the pairing of new teachers with an administrator or teacher who will observe, discuss research, and share experiences in an effort to promote the novice’s growth as an education professional. The expectation is that new educators will have mentors who have their best interests and professional growth at heart. It is a challenge for black men to find someone in their school willing to level with them and be honest about the great responsibility that comes not only with being an educator, but a black male educator at that.

This writer’s latest literary work is titled: Role Model by Default: Teaching At-Risk Kids in Urban America. It’s the story of a young Black man who decides to become a teacher; in spite of the odds and the horror stories that follow his decision. While the book is fictional; the reality is that we, as a nation, must become better acquainted with the idea of providing Black males with teachers that look like them. Every single conversation about education today must begin with the need to increase diversity in the teaching force. A conversation about standards, teacher quality, or graduation rates cannot begin without a vigorous effort and commitment to this cause.

Poor achievement among our neediest students is the result, at least in part, of a lack of strong, positive black educators in our classrooms. The United States needs to move swiftly to engage more African-American men in teaching. No longer can we simply be “okay” with black men representing less than two percent of our teacher workforce. It is simply unethical and unacceptable in this day and age. 

Staff Writer; Stanley G. Buford

Feel free to connect with this brother via Twitter; Stanley G. and also facebook http://www.facebook.com/sgbuford.


Comments

2 Responses to “Crisis in America: Lack of Black Male Teachers.”
  1. Great article. We definitely need more Black male teachers. Especially in the early years as the article pointed out. But we also need our own schools as well. This will allow us to mold our youth with the morals and values of the past, in order to prepare them for the future.

    From daycare to at least elementary, but up to high school. This can be paid for with the money we’re already spending. So can their education to be teachers. For more information, go to 3ufirst.com

    Black Unity is the solution, http:www.3ufirst.com is the plan.

  2. Michael Hicks says:

    As people (human beings), we are often pleased or intrigued by what our eyes transmit to our brain. Cars,money,clothes,attractive women or men, anything that stimulates us in some sort of way. The profession of teaching is not marketed to us a black people (I prefer black, I was born in 1967 when we went from Negro to Black)as sexy! What could be more sexy than having the ability to mold a young mind and change a path in someone’s life for good? Here in New York State the health benefits for teachers are very good, as you gain seniority on the job the money is better, the retirement is nice and to boot…SUMMERS OFF with the option to work summer school for the extra loot at 4 hours a day! I have been at my current job for 24 years and God willing when I get to 30 years I will be a healthy 53 years old looking for another profession and I have already made up my mind to become a teacher here in Buffalo.So within the next few years, I plan to finish my Master’s and be SOMEBODY’S teacher in SOMEBODY’S school here! We’ve gotta make it attractive for our young males by first making EDUCATION attractive to them! How? I don’t know but as a youth advocate, I brainstorm daily to save young black lives in my community and through prayer and wisdom. Much love and God bless, Micheal V. Hicks Jr. Buffalo, N.Y.

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