National percentages of black male teachers and administrators are extremely low. Explore common problems and common sense solutions regarding poor performance of black boys in American schools.
A February 19, 2013 article in the Washington Post, by columnist Courtland Milloy calls for black male teachers to lead by example.
In the article, Mr. Milloy places part of the blame of the low performance of black male students on the extremely low numbers of black male schoolteachers and administrators. National issues for black males such as truancy and suspensions are connected to extremely low numbers of teachers that share students’ skin color.According to the U.S. Department of Education, black men make up 2% of the nation’s 4.8 million teachers. And black men comprise only 1% of those currently enrolled in teacher development programs.
In Washington, DC, where I work as an educator, approximately 10% of the teachers are black males. Even with a relatively high percentage of black male teachers, many of the same issues of truancy, suspension, and behavior concerns plague the public and charter school system. In nearby Montgomery County, Maryland, where black students make up 21% of the population, black students are suspended at a rate of 71%.
When you have a well-prepared African American man teaching black boys, the impact can be phenomenal,” said Brenda L. Townsend Walker, an attorney and a professor of special education at the University of South Florida in Tampa. “I have interviewed African American male students who had pretty much written school off, whose teachers had given up on them, but whose lives were turned around when they got into a class with African American men. Generally speaking, they just have a better ability to relate to the students and mediate situations that others couldn’t handle.
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It is my hope that through the Education section of the Good Men Project, we can offer common sense solutions based in experience and research in tandem with the myriad of problems impacting sections of boys in the United States. Below are 3 small suggestions of possible solutions for the poor performance of black boys—aside from the obvious, but difficult task of recruiting more black male teachers and administrators.
- Most important, and possibly the easiest solution is raising expectations and changing the culture of mediocrity placed upon black boys and “black schools”. This is the responsibility of all teachers and administrators in every public, charter, and private school in the United States. If we, as educators can’t and don’t believe that all students are capable of being exceptional, and rising beyond their circumstances, then how can they. International coach and motivator Les Brown says that “no one rises to low expectations.”
- Schools systems must invest in quality and comprehensive diversity training—not the kind of diversity training that we all love to hate—but intensive and ongoing training that delves into topics of privilege, racism, history, and oppression. It’s hard to bridge the achievement gap when there are some teachers that are scared of students because of social and cultural difference. In many of our schools, black students and parents are constantly dealing with a system that is biased and culturally insensitive. A little cultural sensitivity can go a long way to encourage and lift students to a higher level of achievement.
- Assuming that we all agree that it is extremely important for black male students to see black male teachers and administrators in the school environment, we know that the numbers are disproportionately low. School systems should partner with community based and local mentor programs run by college organizations, fraternities, non-profit organizations, and/or parents and allow men from the community to lead workshops, assist in the classroom, or simply monitor the hallways or lunchrooms.
Lastly, and it must be said, black male teachers and administrators are not only important for the development of black male students. All students (and staff) benefit from cultural and racial diversity reflected in the school. To assume that black male teachers and administrators only benefit black students is reflective of an old-school approach to old-school problems.
Photo by: James Sarmiento
Hey Mike, Here’s the problem. And I’m a teacher with 21 years experience. Why would anyone go into teaching today? Regardless of ethnicity. The profession is constantly hammered in the press and by politicans. The takeover movement pretty much guarantees a future with few if any unions. A teacher will be able to be fired at the whim of a principal. You know principals, the men and women who come into your school run things and then fly off to a new job in three years regardless of whether they succeeded or failed. There is no respect, no security, and… Read more »
Mike…I am a longtime coach at Oakland High in Oakland Ca. and am also a consultant working to change the culture of discipline at our school.I am also a 57 year old soon to be college junior,and am father of three adult college grads who are good kids too. Though I considered teaching I find my position as coach provides far more opportunity to impact black kids than what I percieve it would be as a teacher.There is so much pc behavior modification in schools that has has alienated boy’s in general that must be addressed in our schools,I wouldn’t… Read more »
Mike, I specifically love that you used a multi-pronged approach to address the very singular notion that we can just “Put Black males in classrooms” to fix a societal woe. First, I am in total agreement with suggestion (1) and the addendum (shouts to Black Yoda) of this needing to be a holistic approach with the raising of standards both at home and at school. While you have many parents that demand teachers and administration hold their child accountable, that same number is not always found having in place a system of consequences and motivations at home to have their… Read more »
You should replace “teachers and administrators” with “parents of students” in your first point. Also, replace “educators” with “parents”. That’s all you have to do. The administrations in these schools are a mess and so are the school boards who oversee them. Having more black male teachers and teachers in general who’ve had comprehensive diversity training would be nice, but until you have a case where students come in willing and ready to learn, I don’t give a damn how many Joe Clarks or Geoffrey Canadas (or whatever you see when you think of a role model) you have. It’s… Read more »
@black yoda…you’re absolutely right. If there’s an area that should be added to the article (I wrote it)…it should be accountability of parents! If parents are preaching and demanding excellence, it will trickle down to the students! You’re absolutely right!