(ThyBlackMan.com) The “Call Me Mister” program started at Clemson University 15 years ago, created from a mission and vision to inspire men of diverse cultural backgrounds to enter into education. To be the educators that children of color and culture and diverse backgrounds need to see to inspire educational success, cultural pride, civic responsibility, personal value for education and seeing that someone in the role of a male values them for who they are.
This is not to say the vast majority of women are not educating and creating successes in students, but there is a need for male teachers to model for male and female students, especially those students
of color and culture. Teaching the necessary skills to learn valuable concepts, adapt to the educational environments of schools, help students to rise to levels of realistic goals in classrooms, and for teachers to inspire students to look beyond sports and
entertainment as careers.
To fill the void that has been growing as the profession of education has seen fewer and fewer male educators, especially African American educators. Programs like “Call Me Mister” are important to youth especially in early childhood education and elementary education that need to see positive male role models. Men do make a difference in classrooms as teachers, not just as administrators and support persons.
Founded at Clemson University with only three institutions, the “Call Me Mister” program has grown to involving over 31 higher educational institutions not just from South Carolina, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and a growing interest in other states to participate.
Nationally the presence of male teachers is either not present or very few. This creates a gap for the growing number of children of color and culture. The lack of male educators of any color or culture creates a “gap in the bookshelf” of learning for students (a term borrowed from Chinua Achebe).
In too many cases children of color and culture do not have the positive role models that are needed to model the value of education. To set high expectations for academic and even behavioral success.
To teach young men how to be respectful to women, why education is important to their future, teaching male and female students that they can have professional career options outside of what they only see in their communities.
Boys and girls of color and culture are missing out on the lessons that male teachers not just African American, but Latino, white and other cultures that provide a wealth of cultural knowledge and tradition to help children learn their place is anywhere they want to go and they can achieve anything they want to achieve with education. The capacity o succeed in a world rich in technology and diversity.
The annual “Call Me Mister” Leadership Institute is designed to support the pre and post intern service teachers to assist and guide them to graduation and beyond. The leadership institute is an engaged and interactive opportunity for experienced teachers to share experiences, best practices, ideas, and networking so that there is an atmosphere of brotherhood, unity and professional solidarity to build capable and competent educators.
The young men of “Call Me Mister” are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to communicate and interact with seasoned and experienced educators and administrators. The motto:
“Teamwork Makes The Dream Work!!” is a clarion call for those in attendance to assist each other to be the best educators they can be. Not to feel they are alone, they are part of something bigger than they are to help grow and develop to be the best educational professionals they can be.
This year’s theme is: “Building on the Foundation” headed by Roy I. Jones, Ed.D, and Director and workshops provided by educational professional’s national and international success. Each year young men attending colleges like Edward Waters and universities like the host and home of “Call Me Mister,” Clemson University work tirelessly to make sure the young men that have decided to become educators have the necessary tools to meet the challenges that educators face. South Carolina is growing stronger as it adds men teachers and as these Mister’s learn and grow their positive and supportive efforts show that men do and are making positive contributions in education.
“Teamwork Makes The Dream Work!!” is truly embraced because no one can be a successful educator without support, guidance, and a passion to work with children.
Photos can be seen at:
Video of “Call Me Mister” Leadership Institute:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZAcDAcS-pg
“Call Me Mister” resources can be found at:
Twitter #CMMLI16 @CallMeMister
Email: mister@clemson.edu
Staff Writer; William D. Jackson
Find out more about this talented writer over at; OCS For Education.