Colored Educators

Good evening, everyone.

Today’s blog is another doozy compared to my usual posts. The subject of today’s topic is very different from my previous posts, for it will be centered around black educators in today’s time. (For those of you who are unaware of my previous posts, I usually write about movies and how they incorporate the different elements of the Black Power era). So, for those of you who are used to the filmography blogs, please bear with me.

A couple months ago I was required to attend a professional development conference. Unfortunately for me, the conference was geared towards the betterment of college students in the education program (I am going for a secondary education minor). However, there were elements of the conference that I did find interesting, things in which I think are useful to know, both as a future educator as well as a human being.

One of the guest speakers at the conference discussed some of the issues occurring in the educational system. The research, conducted through a series of surveys throughout the state of Indiana, reported back that many teachers of color, whether they were Black, hispanic, or of Asian decent, etc., were more likely to be given the rougher, tougher students than their white co-workers. The reason for this is due to the fact many school administrations are under the misconception that because these teachers are of color or of a different ethic/cultural background that they are more likely to connect and reach out to these more “troublesome” students.

As it turned out through further research that colored educators, newly graduated from college and just beginning to enter into the workforce, are more likely to be given the difficult students. This is totally unfair to both the educator and the students. The educator, especially for one fresh out of college, is just like his/her white counterparts who have also recently graduated from college: they are young, inexperienced, and are only just beginning to get their feet wet. It is unjust for school administrations to simply misconceive the notion that just because color educators can appeal and empathize to their troubled students because of their status as minorities. All educators should be treated fairly, despite their skin colors.

However, it is also proven fact that African-American students who have more than one African-American teacher are more likely to graduate from and do better in high school. This is not to say that administrations should give these teachers the lions share of difficult students who need more care. These troubled students need extra care and time spent with so that they succeed in their classes. It is wrong to solely place these students with colored educators, because to the misconceived notion that they may share the same background. For all you know, the educator may have grown up in a well off neighborhood with a well off family and would not have the slightest clue as to what it is like to live the downtrodden areas.

This is why it is always important to remember to never judge a book by its cover.