Today, schools of all levels Pre K-12, colleges and not forgetting the universities have done a poor job at recruiting and retaining black male educators.
Currently, the population of the black male educators in public schools has dropped below two percent by U.
S. Education Department. It represents a fraction of about six percent of professors working full-time at colleges and universities, according to the National Center for Education.
Experts argue that there is a big difference in the rate of graduation among black males which I’m a bit skeptical of but could very well be a contributing factor.
When I think about the movie “Waiting on Superman” I think about the dire need for black male educators. Prisons are built based upon the success or lack of success of black male third grade students. If there were more black male teachers, especially in low income communities, it would increase our youth’s rate of success.
A black man can empathize with a black male student in ways that a white teacher or a black female teacher cannot. They can set the stage for being a positive role model for that demographic as well.
We also need more black men in the teaching field because it will break down barriers and stereotypes. As I stated I believe they will be very effective in teaching black male students but unfortunately that is a stereotype that plagues black men. Yes they will effective in that area but that should not limit them. They are too often viewed as a disciplinarians when, just like anyone else, they are capable of so much more.
Due to low percentage of black male educators there should be incentives put in place to increase this number. Their presence is important and necessary.
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