Number of Black Male Teachers Belies Their Influence

[Blue_Tires]

Tynita Johnson had attended predominantly black schools in Prince George's County for 10 years when she walked into Will Thomas's AP government class last August and found something she had never seen.

"I was kind of shocked," said Tynita, 15, of Upper Marlboro. "I have never had a black male teacher before, except for P.E."

Tynita's experience is remarkably common. Only 2 percent of the nation's 4.8 million teachers are black men, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, Thomas, a social studies teacher at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School, never had a black teacher himself.

"I love teaching, and I feel like I am needed," said Thomas, 33, of Bowie. "We need black male teachers in our classrooms because that is the closest connection we are able to make to children. It is critical for all students to see black men in the classrooms involved in trying to make sure they learn and enjoy being in school."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/03/AR2009070302498.html

[Number23]

1. Black male teachers are so important

I never had very many BM teachers growing up, but I had a few.

When you read about the numbers of black boys in schools that are classified as "disruptive" or "unteachable" by female, particularly white female, teachers, it's easy to understand why it's so important to have black male teachers. They're able to identify and connect with them on a more personal level.

Plus, it's just a good idea for people to see black men in as many positive lights possible and there are few lights more positive than a man who's considered teaching people's children a calling.

[Blue_Tires]

2. i agree

i was a sub teacher to make ends meet for a couple years not long ago, and this was my first time in an elementary school since I was a kid myself, 20+ years ago...What instantly struck me was the complete lack of men ANYWHERE in the schools I subbed in (almost every school in 2 large systems)... There was a 50-50 chance the principal was male, a 40-60 chance one of the PE teachers was male, and everyone else without exception was female (except for the janitor)... and if you only could have seen the the absolute shock and disbelief from students (of all races) as I walked in...it was incredible

[Number23]

4. It's kind of heartbreaking. Don't forget most shop teachers are male too. :o)

But you bring up an interesting point; why is it that there are so few male teachers but it's always a 50/50 shot that the principal will be a man?? Come to think of it, in every school I attended up through college, the principals were men although I can count on almost one hand the number of male teachers I had.

I'm from SW Atlanta; I didn't know a white person my own age until I started college and every teacher I ever had was black until I started high school where I had THREE white teachers in four years of high school. So that means from K-12 out of almost 50 teachers I'd had, about 43 or so were black women and yet, the principals of my elementary, middle and high school were men.

[Political Tiger]

3. You know, I don't think I ever had a black male teacher when I was in school.

Now that I think about it, what a shame that is!

But the teacher I remember the best was a black female....Mrs Dukes! She was great, and she taught me a lot, not just school stuff but about life. I'd give anything to see her again just so I could thank her for the positive influence she had in my life!

[Number23]

5. lol That is so sweet.

The teacher you remember most was one that you liked. The one I remember most was one that I hated! :)

Ms. Kelly - 5th grade. She lined all of us one the first day of school and WHUPPED us. All 30 kids in her class got a swat across the back of the hand and one across the behind with a yard stick. Said she did this to every class every year because "she didn't want no trouble from any of us."

I'm actually friends with some of my old high school teachers. I never realized how weird that sounded until just this minute. :)