Black men, you're needed in the classroom" (Interview)

[⠝⠕⠏⠑]

I feel you but Black men are the holy grail of urban and progressive school districts. They are highly sought after. So much so that once they get in the classroom within a few years they are tapped into leadership and taken out of the classroom

This too. I’ve even been guilty of it myself on hiring boards. When blk men display excellence in leadership in the classroom, they are immediately pressured into principal and admin. roles. Because there is such a huge amount of need in the system and a huge vacuum in leadership.

There are blk dudes who just WANT to teach and I used to be one of the main ones on the NOPE!
Getcho ass in the principal pool.

 

[⠝⠕⠏⠑]

I had a bm teacher in sixth grade, it was a magnet program. He was just the teensiest amount zesty (he had came up in the boys choir of Harlem ), but i only recognized it bc i was volunteering at gmhc at the time. I don't think the other kids noticed, or if they did, nobody cared.

He was a great teacher. Iirc, this was the year malcolm x came out, and i remember we took a class trip to go see it (paid for by the city). Parts of out were filmed in Harlem (including on my god sister's stoop, her nana kept that on the low ), so it was kinda a big deal.

Shouts out to you, Mr [name redacted].

I went to all blk schools so majority of my teachers were blk. So I didn’t even realize this was an issue until a decade later when I entered the profession. We were surrounded by blk male and female teachers growing up.
I remember Mr. Logan was a fine ass biology teacher. When I tell you all our fast asses was in AP Biology...we ain’t give a damn about no mitochondria.
He was 6’1, built, dreadlocked, dark skin Omega. Dude coached softball. Chicks that flunked gym were lined up for try outs. We passed that AP exam just b/c we were geeking over that dude.

I remember chicks singing Ginuwine “so anxious” to him in the hallway on the way to class.

Him

 

[CrimsonTider]

I’m sorry but you can’t provide for a family on a teachers salary. Even in NYC where the starting salary is 63k it’s tough out here.

 

[Thurgood Thurston III]

We should take some of that money the police get and give it to teachers.

Better paid teachers = more kids learning = less need for police.

I went to a practically 98% black high school in a majority black neighborhood.

Somehow most of the teachers were white women.

I had a white female trigonometry teacher and I got sent to summer school for it.

The summer school trig teacher was a black man

and even though he had an accent I was able to actually learn it and eventually pass the trig regents.

 

[Rocket Scientist]

I taught for 5 years problem isn't the kids.Its the bs material and politics Principals and district play.

 

[5thbornpowerseed]

We should take some of that money the police get and give it to teachers.

Better paid teachers = more kids learning = less need for police.

I went to a practically 98% black high school in a majority black neighborhood.

Somehow most of the teachers were white women.

I had a white female trigonometry teacher and I got sent to summer school for it.

The summer school trig teacher was a black man

and even though he had an accent I was able to actually learn it and eventually pass the trig regents.

This is a good idea. The problem is exactly what you stated afterward... Better teachers some how = white women. And not the old hardened vet whos seen it all, but the 24 yr old who thinks she is in the damn peace corp and is on a mission to save black children from being black, because you know, that's bad...
All the black district schools ive worked in are heavily integrated as far as teachers are concerned... but go to any district with a non black majority and the only black faces you will see are special ed and gym teachers.
Thats why it is important to have black men and women in leadership positions, so that we can oversee appropriation of funds.

 

[Rawtid]

Horrible pay

This is why I feel more black men should open childcare centers or even before/after school programs. Perhaps they could evolve into small "home school". This way they have more control over income as well as curriculum.

 

[MajesticLion]

I feel you but Black men are the holy grail of urban and progressive school districts. They are highly sought after. So much so that once they get in the classroom within a few years they are tapped into leadership and taken out of the classroom

If you're yanking out men to go play those games, however much they're needed, they're not in the classrooms to be the examples they need to be. Policy is an important part of the whole setup...but the politics part where racism is endemic isn't. You can only make that switch if you're running your own schools.

I have to disagree with you. It depends on where you live.

In the South...Black male teachers are respected and sought after. From coaches to trades etc.

The pay is just wack, and the stress is high due to the kids having too much familiarity with you and try to cross the line...plus the parents don't train their kids at home.

You contradict yourself in your 2nd and 3rd sentences, but you're right in that it depends on where you live. Yes they're beloved in majority-black districts, but that's a narrow scope to use. No teacher is going to effectively enforce what isn't being taught at home, and that's doubly so where district policy is one where you're encouraged not to take a stance on basic discipline.

With a private setup that's easily enough controlled simply because of the direct-money incentive.

This too. I’ve even been guilty of it myself on hiring boards. When blk men display excellence in leadership in the classroom, they are immediately pressured into principal and admin. roles. Because there is such a huge amount of need in the system and a huge vacuum in leadership.

There are blk dudes who just WANT to teach and I used to be one of the main ones on the NOPE!
Getcho ass in the principal pool.

Seeeeeeeeeeeeee...2 chops to da thote.

 

[SwizzLake]

Is there any programs available for Black Teachers that already hold bachelor degrees?

 

[fckyoupayme]

Is there any programs available for Black Teachers that already hold bachelor degrees?

In order to do what? Get into the classroom?

 

[SwizzLake]

In order to do what? Get into the classroom?

Sorry, made a typo in writing that question. What I meant was those that are looking to go into teaching with bachelor degrees, whether a special programs geared to blacks are available

 

[Drizzy Dre]

So I'm actually in my 3rd year of teaching. I'm the one of two black male teachers at a middle school in the LA area. I work in one of the higher paying districts, but not balling by any stretch. Not sure if I should start a new thread, but I seriously recommend it for any brehs that have a degree and aren't sure about their career goals.

But I will definitely say that we are needed more than ever in the classroom. My AA students test scores were much higher than expected and I have to attribute some of that to creating an environment where minority students felt comfortable.

I guess if anyone has any questions, you can ask me here or DM me. I even have a school credential program I can recommend that is online and much cheaper than many others. I love my job.

 

[fckyoupayme]

Sorry, made a typo in writing that question. What I meant was those that are looking to go into teaching with bachelor degrees, whether a special programs geared to blacks are available

Definitely. There are city and state specific programs. Also the program might not be specifically geared towards Black men But being a Black man will set you ahead of everyone else

 

[SwizzLake]

So I'm actually in my 3rd year of teaching. I'm the one of two black male teachers at a middle school in the LA area. I work in one of the higher paying districts, but not balling by any stretch. Not sure if I should start a new thread, but I seriously recommend it for any brehs that have a degree and aren't sure about their career goals.

But I will definitely say that we are needed more than ever in the classroom. My AA students test scores were much higher than expected and I have to attribute some of that to creating an environment where minority students felt comfortable.

I guess if anyone has any questions, you can ask me here or DM me. I even have a school credential program I can recommend that is online and much cheaper than many others. I love my job.

Can you educate us on the steps one takes with a bachelor degree already to become a teacher in your district.

Please also give us the online program you recommend.

 

[Drizzy Dre]

Can you educate us on the steps one takes with a bachelor degree already to become a teacher in your district.

Sure, so once you have your bachelor degree, you need to get a teaching credential for the grade you want to teach. If you aren't sure what grade you want to teach, go ahead and be a substitute teacher for a few months. In order to sub, just contact the school district(s) you want to be in and apply to sub. All you need is a degree to sub. I subbed for two years covering preschool to middle school. Once you decide what grade you want to teach, sign up for a teaching credential program. The programs usually take 9-12 months.
I used TeacherReady Online Learning System for my credential program because it's cheap, online, and they work with school districts in every state.

While I was subbing, my current school really liked me and kept calling me to teach at their location. Once they found out I was in the credential program, the district actually called me and drafted a special contract to offer me a full year of employment to work at the middle school, DESPITE me not completing my credentialing yet.

I've been told "off the record" that male black teachers are the highest in demand because students respond better. White and minority. From my teaching experience this year having my own class, I will definitely agree. The "problem kids" white or black didn't have as many issues in my class and scored much higher. The students themselves said they liked my class because I’m "different". Which really translates that I'm culturally aware of them and can relate better, so they don't cause disruption and enjoy being in my class because I allow them to be themselves comfortably. Keep in mind, I still maintain control but I also talk to them about current music, videogames, trends, etc. My year wasn't stressful at all and I do enjoy all the holidays and breaks.

The most rewarding thing about my job is showing the black male students an example of a strong black man that is knowledgeable and cares about them.