Social and Cultural Foundations of American Education/Second Edition/20.1.27 Wildcard
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THE EFFECTS OF MINORITY TEACHERS BY: Margaret Thompson Edited by: Sabrina Lee
Karen Stockburger edits this page
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
| "According to U.S. Department of Commerce data, more than one-third of today's public school students are people of color. There is an estimation that by the year 2025 more than half the students will be people of color. However with this increasing rate of minority students only about 13 percent of their teachers will be people of color." (1) |
There is a steady decreasing rate of minorities seeking teaching as a profession. Minorities now have a wide range of other professions that teaching now has to compete with. Despite the competiveness, it is imperative that the gap between minority students and minority teachers be filled. The public schools are filled with many diverse (different)people from all backgrounds. Therefore, it is important for the students to see authoritative figures who not only look like them, but are also in a position that delegates authority. Showing the result of what the students future could entail when education is taking seriously. The NEA(National Educators Association) is taking diversity very seriously. They have established several programs that not only assist minority teachers but is also devoted to helping the majority (white) teachers to understand and relate to the students of color better.
[edit] Why is the issue of diversity so important to educators?
Diversity is not something that American society can choose to avoid. America has become a melting pot for different nationalities and cultures. Many say this is what makes America so great. We get to experience a little bit of everyone! So why is this not the case in schools? If in the future most of the children being taught are of color then why are the teachers still majority all white? Educators should be based on their teaching abilities not of their color. Students are taught to not judge one another based on race. Teachers should set the example as well. The important thing about having a diverse educated staff is for the children. Because no one can opt out of being in this diverse world, they need to prepare for it. In the future these kids will have bosses that are not just white. There bosses may be black, Asian, Indian, etc. To successfully thrive in today’s society these children need to learn how to thrive in a multicultural environment.
| In reality it is not even just about having different cultures in the school. It is about exposing these kids to as much as possible before they enter the “real world.” |
The more different backgrounds and cultures, and perspectives these kids are exposed to, the better off they will be. It is so important for kids to hear all sides of a story and then have then decide which they want to go with. Having many different diverse teachers in a school can help these kids in more ways than one.
[edit] Diversity
The NEA belives that all teachers need to be taught diversity.
| Children need to be exposed to diversity, not only among their peers, but in the teaching and administration staff as well. |
Having someone that looks like them and that can relate to them culturally instills in the child that education is important to everyone, and regardless of your background you can be respected and accomplish many things. Teachers of color are not only advantageous to minority students but to white students as well, "For white students, having teacher from a different culture or a different race allows them the opportunity to learn about others and experience the cultural and social diversity that makes up our democracy(2)." Although training and experience are the actual make-up of a good teacher, research shows that teachers of color tend to have a higher
expectation of children of color which can greatly influence a child's academic potential. Many minority children end up in some type of special education class as a result of the teacher not knowing how to relate to her minority students or the the students are not able to relate to the teacher. This is devasting to our minority student population. However, if we can get more qualified minorites to step up and get involved as educators, this gives our students of color many opportunities. The students would get more involved in school activities and the absentee rate would decrease. Minority teachers are not just beneficial to students they help close the gap between white teachers and minority students. An excerpt from NEA supports this " A few years ago, a white teacher who was just starting out told me there was no one to whom she could turn to help her relate to her minority students.(3)" This shows that no matter how qualified you are if you can not relate to a child you are fighting a losing battle. There are several barriers that the average teacher is not prepared for, the great shortage of minority teacher greatly impacts the ratio of more minority students vs minority teachers, most teachers are not prepared to deal with diversity, and sadly many teachers have their own ideas about diversity and until they are willing to "think outside the box", nothing will change. Parents of minority children need to get more involved in their children's academic future as well. However, failure to get involved is not due to lack of concern, mainly teachers and parents are having problems communicating. While they both want what is best for the students, they usually do not know how to relay the point clearly to one another. Teachers from different backgrounds and of a seperate race can normally speak to the minority student or parent of the same background or a race in a manner that is understood better. Studies show that about one in five students have a parent that was born outside the United States. Therefore, a minority teacher may be asked to sit in on conferences with either the student or parent,or even speak to the child about a specific issue. "Jooneiu Kim, a teacher of English as a Second Language in NJ, says that she is often asked to sit in on conferences and even speak to the other Asian students about touchy issues like skipping, being the only Asian teacher in a district where there is a high population of Asian students, she also speaks to sixth-graders about immigration and she helps the Korean students understand American culture (4)." In order for all our students to be prepared to survive in this very diverse world they have to be prepared now, but in order to prepare them, we need to start with the educators "How can we do that if teachers aren' representative of their own students?"(5)
[edit] Role Models
All teachers can serve as role models for both white students and students of color. However, it is detrimential that minorities see someone looking like them in an authoritative postion other than their parents. Seeing someone of the same race that is respected, educated, really values education can have a everlasting impact on students of minority goups. This also eliminates the sterotype that all minorities are only good at sports or they are all in gangs. Teachers of color are showing that color does not matter, doing your best and striving are the end result of a positive future. White students need to see more minorities as educators,they can be exposed to different cultures and experience another style of teaching. As mentioned previously, minority teachers can also spark parents involvement in the future of the students. While the lack of male teachers is not drawing a lot of attention, they are needed. Some reasons given for this shortage are, there is more staus in being a college professor, teaching is considered a woman's job, men are encouraged to seek administration jobs within the school system and the fear of a lawsuit. The fear of accusation of abuse is another barrier to men entering the teaching profession,(6)" Despite this, it is critical for our young male students to have positive figure if not at home then at school. The majority of the minority students are coming from homes where there is no father or father figure. The male teachers play an important role. Seeing a educated, respected, male teacher shows that men too take education seriously. Students can also experience the different styles of male and female teachers.
| NEA studies report that only 21 percent of the nations three million teachers are men and is steadily declining. |
[edit] Obstacles
The shortage of minority teachers is not due to lack of qualified teacher applicants. Experts say that low pay and staus competing with the recuriting of minorities by business and industries are causing many minorities to seek other professions. A major issues in this shortage is actually among the teaching candidates. "According to the Educational Testing Service, only 59 percent of Hispanic and 69 percent of African-American teaching candidates are currently passing their certification exams, as compared with 91 percent of the white teaching candidates.(7)" To try and delete this problem, the NEA along with "nationally syndicated radio personality and philanthropist Tom Joyner" are joining together to provide $70,000 in finanical assistance and providing assistance to unlicensed teacher in completing their certification. "These scholarships will enable qualified applicants and teachers who have not yet obtained their license but already teaching in large populated minority schools to participate at seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to prepare them for their licensing exams (8).) Minority teacher candidates and teachers are getting the training they need and children and schools are getting the quality teachers they deserve "for me it's a true expression of love (9)."
[edit] Summary
All teachers are truly important, for they are helping to sculpt our future. However,increasing our teachers of color is a must. In order for our children of color to take education seriously and understand that regardless of your background you can excel, it's time to lead by example. They are our future, and our leaders. Children of color can benefit by having someone that looks like them as a teacher and role model. Recuriting and retaing teachers of color is imperative and is crucial to or children of color. Diversity is important and has to be understood and respected, " Diversity is not a choice, but our responses to it certaintly are(10)." The NEA and its partners are taking this matter very seriously they are making increasing minority teachers a priority, but all states have to get involved. "Teachers of color can help instill a tolerance of others into tomorrow's leaders, all schools should reflect diversity because life is not just all white.(12)
[edit] Questions
1. Diversity is only important among
a. students b. students and teachers c. teachers and administrators d. all
2. NEA shows there are over three million teachers, what percentage are men?
a. 3% b. 31% c. 21% d. 50%
3. Lack of minority teachers can result in some minority students being placed in some form
of a special education class?
a. true b. false
4. What is the main reason for the shortage of minority teachers?
a. pay b. not licensed c. not concerned about education
5. The NEA partnered with who to provide financial assistance to minority teaching candidates
and unlicensed teachers?
a. Reg Weaver
b. Bryan Nelson
c. Donald Washington
d. Tom Joyner
6. What percentage of students are people of color?
a. 1/2
b. 1/3
c. 1/4
d. 1/10
7. By what year is the population of students of color estimated to be 50%?
a. 2015 b. 2010 c. 2025 d. never
8. What ethnic group only had a 59% pass rate on licensing exams?
a. Afrcian-Americans b. Asians c. Caucasians d. Hispanics
9. Students can opt out from being in a diverse world?
a. True b. False
10. The more differences a child is exposed to, the better off he/she will be.
a. True b. False
11. Which of the following is a reason why it would be great to have a diverse faculty/staff at a school?
a. Teachers of all colors can be role models b. It is good for a child to exposed to as much as possible c. Teachers of all different backgrounds bring all different perspectives into a child’s life d. All of the above
Answers
(1)d (2)c (3)b (4)b (5)d (6)b (7)c (8)d (9)b (10)a (11) d
Citations
Tomorrow’s teachers
