I am often asked whether white female teachers can effectively teach black students. The question is too complex for a simple yes or no answer. A credible answer must be based on research and studies, not anecdotes, and personal opinions. That in mind, here is my answer.
Many white female teachers do a commendable job each year in the trenches teaching black children. Some of those black students bring a box load of personal issues to the classroom making it difficult for any teacher. Yet, these white teachers put their hearts and souls in educating these children. They successfully teach black students because they have the qualities that all good teachers possess, i.e., they are highly qualified, have high expectations for all students, etc. Hence, the fact that these teachers are white females is irrelevant. We salute those teachers.
On a personal note, the teacher who had the most impact on me was my sixth grade shop teacher. His name is Arnold Caison and he is white. I give Mr. Caison this distinction in my life because he told me repeatedly that I was smart and could be anything I wanted, although I was his worse behaving student. In fact, Mr. Caison spoke so highly and often of my intelligence, I believed him. I literally started thinking I was smart enough to be anything I desired. I owe him the confidence I have in my intelligence. I left his classroom believing I could be a doctor, lawyer, scientist or whatever.
On the other hand, studies show that a cultural disconnect often exists between many white teachers and black students and parents, which makes it very difficult for learning to occur. Even worse, some white female teachers exhibit indifference, hostility, or fear toward black children, especially black boys. Then finally, some white teachers are just plain racists though I believe that number is small and decreasing.
Moreover, studies across the nation show that white educators often perceive behavior unique to black youth, such as “provocative walking styles, rapping, use of slang, expressive hairstyles, excessive use of jewelry, wearing hats (and wearing hats backwards), wearing the belt unbuckled, untied sneakers, and so on, as arrogant, rude, defiant, aggressive, intimidating, threatening, and in general, behaviors not conducive to learning.” Of course, white educators reach those conclusions by comparing black youth culture to their own culture. However, they fail to realize that not every loud black male who wears sneakers and a do-rag is a thug. In fact, most are not.
The cultural disconnect, indifference or racism exhibited by many white teachers toward black students contribute significantly to the achievement gap and to the disproportionate percentage of black boys who are suspended, expelled, who are placed in special education, or who dropout. However, just placing black students in classrooms with black teachers is not necessarily the answer. In most instances, a teacher’s race is irrelevant. Good and bad teachers come in all races. It’s the love, concern, expectations, qualifications, and other qualities of a teacher that counts much more than her race. Yet, common sense tells us that it is important to find ways to recruit and retain young, highly qualified black teachers, especially black male teachers, to help reach some of the young black boys failing in public schools.
About Rev. Augustus Corbett, J.D.
i agree with rev. augustus corbett on the fact that a white female teacher may possess academic qualities to educate black children, however no matter how concerned, compassionate she is, she lacks the experience of the african culture to relate to issues and concerns of the black child’s home and community life.
I am a black educator with children who are grown now but experienced much discontent with the school system. they attended predominantly white schools and i was constantly being called, especially for my son, to attend to situations with teachers about behavior.
as an educator and mentor for black boys, i learned how intimidating many educators are with having black males in the classroom and stereotyping their size and how they respond to a white female teacher.
it takes a lot of time and effort to connect with the children, even being a black female educator. Therefore, you must know how difficult it is for the white female in the classroom.
like every other article on this topic, blame everyone but the parents. I use the term parents loosely, as it’s usually just parent (singular). This is the problem. Solve this problem and no one will ever have to write an article like this again. We can then move the conversation on how all american kids can compete with students in asia who are studying math as we speak, while we are worrying about letting our kids wear hats sidewayz in the classroom.
This is crazy!! IS this study suggesting SEGREGATION??
@ Scott. Segregation in schools already exist. If you want to contribute to this important discourse do your homework. America’s schools are in many respects more segregated today than they were 40 years ago (Jonathan Kozol, 2005). Moreover, @ Johnny, despite 40 years of reform – where 87 percent of the teacher’s are white and female (NCES, 2009) – and African American students cant seem to get off the bottom rung – blaming the parents is way to simplistic. No one can, in their right mind that is, doubt institutional complicity. Or are we all to believe that after MLK’s speech all of the white people became non-racist at once and decided to do the right thing by 40 million African AMericans. @ Rev. Corbett. Thank you for the article. I am also hopeful that more people discussing this topic of what constitutes a “good” teacher with respect to African American students would consider that what is a good education for African AMerican students is one that teaches them how to counter a social system that has historically ill-represented them. Sure, we have African AMericans who do well, but this is often despite a social and governmental system designed to privilege European Americans (Derrick Bell, 1987). Just getting good grades to go out and participate in a system that continues to struggle with recognizing the many ways in which it is counter the well-being of African AMerican students is ludicrous. For instance, a U.S. Senate that is 96 percent European American is problematic – and a “good” education should point this out. A public educational system that does not have as a part of its social studies curricula study on how students might assist in remedying the fact that more than 73 percent of America’s EuroAmerican teachers come from segregated communities where interactions with minorities are nil-to-none – is not a “good” education. ultimately, students who receive such a decontextualized education can not contribute to the change we need to see – to the America we must have.
He also only looked a white females and how black males respond. How about how they respond to white males? To Hispanics, to black males, and black females. What a closed minded study this was!!
Nobody can effectively teach black students because the problem is the low IQ of the average black student. Bearing in mind that there are always exceptions, it is nonetheless true that the average black US-resident has an IQ of 85, and that only one in nine black US-residents has an IQ greater than 100.
In contrast, the average IQ of US-resident whites is 103, and 57% of all whites have IQs exceeding 100.
If a school’s academic standards are reasonably rigorous, a student having an IQ of 100 will pass with some effort and will earn a B or a C average grade. If students with inferior IQs are doing that well or better, it means that the school has reduced its standards to unreasonably low levels. Schools are supposed to challenge even reasonably bright students, and for that reason an grade average in the “A” range should require a student to have an IQ of 115 or higher.
What percentage of each race has an IQ of 115 or higher?
f(μ) = [σ√(2π)]⁻¹ ∫(μ,∞) exp{ −[(x−x̄)/σ]²/2 } dx
μ = 115
For US-resident whites, x̄ = 103 and σ = 16.4.
f(115), whites = 0.2322
For US-resident blacks, x̄ = 85 and σ = 12.4.
f(115), blacks = 0.007774
(The standard deviations are from a 1963 study by Kennedy, Van de Riet, and White.)
About one in about four US-resident white students should have an A average grade, but only one in 128 US-resident black students will, if both races are subject to the same academic standards. If there are equal numbers of white and black students in the same school, with the same standards applied to both, there will be 32 white “A” students for each black “A” student, on average.
I am a white male educator who agrees with most of the points of this article. White teachers need to examine their attitudes towards black youth (a well as Latino, Pacific Islander, Indians and Asians, and learn how to become allies. I also agree that the ranks of teachers of color need to be swelled, because let’s face it–there will always be a certain amount of cultural knowledge that I will never possess– no matter how hard I try. I do have to say that I have seem plenty of black and brown educators struggling equally with our black and brown kids. I don’t think it is a matter of always pairing children with teachers of same race–but obviously institutional racism has dominated and dominates public education, and we need to reexamine what it means to educate.
My question is what do we as parents do when we experience this situation. My son is eight and he is very bright, but he seems to struggle with white female teachers, which he has had since pre-k. Where are the black teachers? Anyway, he was initially in private school and now he is in public school because of a job transfer. He did well in private school, but now he is having problems with math and reading comprehension. I have been in discussion with his teacher and principal (both white females) for assistance with improving his proficiency in theses areas, to no avail. I am frustrated and I need to know what my next steps should be. I notice that they are quick to send home behavior notes for my son, but slow to provide vialble solutions on how to help him academically. Any suggestions on what I should do next? I am thinking about going to the school district or the Dept of Ed.
First, I encourage you be very proactive in his education. Specifically, keep in close contact with his teachers, help him with his homework, get him a tutor, if needed, demand the best from him, pair him with great teachers and do anything else you can to convey the message to him and his teachers that you will be very involved in his education. Your involvement is the key to academic excellence.
Thank you Rev. Corbett for that information. I will continue to be involved in my son’s education and advocate on his behalf.
So couldn’t we say the opposite also, that black teachers cannot teach white kids? Or are black teachers naturally gifted in teaching white kids? I think the problem is, the black community is so busy making excuses as to why they can’t succeed, they don’t (I know I am going to be called racist for my comment, but so what).
I am saddened by the fact that the Reverend says in the third sentence that a credible answer must be based on research and studies, not anecdotes, and personal opinions- yet his entire article was written with no reference to any type of research or credible source. It was entirely personal opinion- if you say that research and studies are the only credible way to look at this issue- then quote them, don’t just try to convince people of how you are thinking. If you think white educators do not know how to educate black youth, then you should be talking to the universities and colleges that are training our teachers, and start a campaign to require all teachers to take a course in black youth education or culture so they are better prepared when they begin teaching. Do not expect that someone who grows up in a white rural area their entire lifetime will understand how black, urban youth act due to their upbringing. Stop blaming the teachers for not knowing how to educate black youth- maybe you should put some importance on the education that our teachers are getting instead.
This piece used the word ‘white’ 11 times, and the word ‘black’ 17 times.
Any questions on why racial stereotypes/categories won’t die when those in a position to make a difference continue to use language that presupposes and reinforces the stereotypes/categories?
Start thinking and talking in terms of human beings, and addressing their needs individually, rather than as racial stereotypes/categories. Remain sufficiently disciplined to do that for a generation or two, and help others understand what a difference it could make, and see what happens.
Or (sarcasm), keep thinking and talking in terms of “whites” and “blacks”, and remain bewildered why subsequent generations do too….
I was wondering what you suggest we do to help all teachers be the best they can be for all students in their classroom. Is there a cultural competency training you can recommend that woudl help educators, students, and parents understand each other?
I am the third generation in my family to fight racism not just with words actually in the trenches with action and I am white yet lately it feels like it isn’t making a difference anymore.I have noticed what I see as growing racism in this country. Now I know why. I thought it was the fact that the US allows hate groups, but it is something much worse. I can’t fight this. Very sad.