More Black Men Needed in Prince George's County Education
Teacher pay should increase, educator says.
Lockers line the hallway of a school. Used under Creative Commons License.
Flickr User wired_gr
Photos (1)
Photos
It’s no secret that the field of education has been historically dominated by women. While they have always excelled at the profession, there has been a major shift in the paradigm.
Lately, education experts have been calling for the presence of men. And with respect to Prince George's County, that means many more black men.
Usually, I’m only one of a handful of black men inside of a school building. I currently teach at Possibility Prep, an all boys’ charter school in Upper Marlboro with a 98 percent African-American male population. However, there are only five Black male educators there.
While qualified black men in the classroom are not the sole answer to the problems in our schools, they can definitely help close the achievement gap, provide a positive perception for youth and help create a sense of balance in the school building. But how can the county school system recruit and retain more black men?
First, teacher pay must increase. Service is extremely important, but black men need to support their families. Most men I know in education have obtained advanced degrees, but still make much less than men with entry level positions in business or technology.
In order to get and keep men in the building, there has to be a financial push for men to want to take jobs in the classroom. If pay increases are impossible, men can be given academic scholarships, reduced-price housing or loan forgiveness. If these incentives are offered to black men, then many will begin to accept and assume the responsibility to care for and lead a new generation of children.
Education programs and nonprofits can begin to train teachers at a younger age. There are plenty of vocational programs in high schools such as barbering, plumbing, and mechanics. Why not begin vocational programs that train black men to become educators? From an early age, they can value the field and consider a teaching career. This can help drive substantial educational reform and usher young people into the education debate.
Many people believe that Barack Obama has increased the vision and expectations of youth around the globe. Our local black men can do the same thing. The major difference, however, is that our youth will be able to reach out and study the lives of our local leaders. With the proper training and proper mission, black men can help to revolutionize the educational arena.
laylow2025
6:01 pm on Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Peace, I enjoyed the article it was thought provoking, and I think the need for the male presence in school is because of the same need for that same presence in the neighborhoods of the students. We definitely need black male teachers but at this point male teachers in general can be a minute solution to a much bigger problem....pay.
Victorious Hall
9:16 am on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
I totally agree with your thoughts! We need to take our communities back and Black males, i believe should be leading the pack!
Juliusgross
7:32 pm on Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Peace vic, I enjoyed the article man u make a good point. No mainly the money, because the live for a career should always out weigh the money income, not saying that more money wouldnt be appreciated. Teaching is a very important career, they should be payed more than what they make. But having thw presence of a black male teacher in class rooms could have a majof impact. Black men point blank period influence other black men, there is a relationship there even if they have never met before. I speak from personal experience, when I say that the determination, the connection between a young black man willing to learn and a positive black man willing to teach, and just the presence of a man will give a young man endless ways of thinking. Most young men these days dont have thers fathers in there homes, so going to school should be the next place they should be able to have a positive black male not BET
Victorious Hall
9:44 am on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Your words speak volumes brother! It means even more because I have watched you grow into a young man! Powerful statements. Now only if we can get you to change that major to education!
Gillian
11:24 pm on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
I know the article is regarding education reform, but what do we have to do to instill some discipline, honesty and self respect into our children. I am from Brooklyn and the behavior of many youths, male and female is just outrageous. Then I realize that many household have parents that are just as uneducated and behave in the same outrageous manner. When great parents try with their child, the continuity of that discipline is lost when they are exposed to students who defy rules and regulation and glorify badness or ghetto image. I live next to a family where the mother never goes to work. She dresses and hangs out on the street. I watched her son grow from a cute baby to a young man who finally dropped out of school. He eventually got arrested by the police, (don't know why). I wondered many times how can they live like that. I told my husband, maybe they are thinkng we are the fools for having to work daily while they are receiving subsidize housing and food stamps and earnings by other means which to them may be more profitable. Maybe they see themselves as living the good life. This I believe emphasizes the need for early intervention or positive role models in our children's lives. However, without reinforcement and support from home, it would be challenging. I applaude the great teachers who work diligently to make a difference in our childrens lives. You guys should be given a much greater reward for training our future leaders. Wishing you much success!