What should come first a diverse school faculty or a diverse student population?

Anonymous
If there's a choice, which one should be a priority for a high-school? Considering that many of our high-schools are largely AA, what would be the outreach to change the percentages? Does, the diversity of the faculty change the culture of the school?
Anonymous
Nearly all thew recent hires of DCTF and TFA are white, it hasn't changed the population of students they are after all reflective of the population that actually live here.
Anonymous
So, is it assumed that since there's no AAs applying for teaching positions then all is well.
Anonymous
Idiots!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:If there's a choice, which one should be a priority for a high-school? Considering that many of our high-schools are largely AA, what would be the outreach to change the percentages? Does, the diversity of the faculty change the culture of the school?
What's your real question, OP?
Anonymous
Diversity, whether of faculty or student body is secondary to the primary mission of a safe and appropriate environment and high quality education. Most schools in DC don't even meet the first objectives yet.
Anonymous
Recent discussions have been about not sending children to a certain high school until it becomes more diverse. In turn some parents at this high school has seen an increase of white faculty.

The answer about more whites are in the TFA programs, is acceptable. Also, the answer about it being DCPS lest worries as there's other pressing issues, is acceptable too.

It just been a wonder when the DCUM talk morphs into diversity. I guess, it is not all that serious?
Anonymous
which certain high school? Eastern? if so, please say so. What's the secret?

Regarding faculty, I'd guess that many white parents care mainly that teacher quality is high and that the principal is welcoming to all racial/ethnic groups - i.e. that there is not a specific "culture"based on the majority racial/ethnic group that their different kid will be entering into.
Anonymous
I wouldn't think about racial diversity as much as I would the percentage of students living in poverty (where I grew up students living in poverty in my high school were white - and I mean extreme poverty - but they were a minority). Poverty greatly impacts a myriad of factors that can lead to poor school performance. With that comes teachers struggling with classroom management and teaching, as many students are reading on a 4th to 5th grade level in high school. If your child is not, then s/he is often not challenged and can fall behind his or her peers nationally. These are complex social issues that know no color, so the racial identity of the kids and teachers becomes null.
Anonymous
10:24 - No, this time it is not about Eastern. Why must you be the Doreen Gentzler/Jim Vance of DCUM, the question still remains the same? Sheesh!!!

Let's get back to the issue, hasn't data been given and supported that students of color are better off learning from teachers of color?

11:04 - That leads to another question. As for the poverty issue, is it a primary need to find more affluent parents to make schools more productive.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Let's get back to the issue, hasn't data been given and supported that students of color are better off learning from teachers of color?


That's rubbish! And if there is any grain of truth to this, then we should all immediately request at last half of those be men!
Students of any color learn better from better teachers of any color. (This is not to say that a lot of the better teachers, certainly the more experienced ones, in this fine city may be black.)
Anonymous
13:18 - Ok, it is your opinion that it is rubbish. I do agree that more male teachers are definitely in order.
Anonymous
it's not a matter of opinion -- it the data is "given" then let's see it.
Anonymous
Academics
Anonymous
Just google it and you'll find all the data needed.
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