Are your kids' teachers almost all white women?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my child's ES, which is 60% minorities, almost all the teachers are caucasian women. She's been through three grades there. All 5 K teachers were white women. 4/5 of the 1st grade teachers were white women. All 5 2nd grade teachers were white women. And I know this is the same across the country. How can we, as a nation, change this?

My child has had only 1 black teacher - she is going into 8th grade. This was in upper elementary school. Her school was very diverse, but not many black students. There are black students but mainly white, Asian, middle eastern, and some hispanic. There are more black students in MS but, again, only a couple black teachers. My child is white, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

My children have only had white teachers. How to change? Encourage more black men and women to become teachers. It’s a good career for smart people who love kids.

[Anonymous]

No.

Child 1:

Pakistani woman
2 men of African descent (1 American, I originally European)
White woman
White man



Child 2:

Black woman (1 subject)
White women (4 subjects)
Latin American (PE)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Black man here.

I lost my job years ago, and my daughter's teacher suggested I join the profession. She made the case that we needed more people willing to go back and show the next generation of young black kids how to navigate the minefield. Even if I decided to teach at an all-white school in the suburbs, I'd still be giving those kids an example that counters the stereotypes they'll see as they grow up. I ended up teaching in a variety of settings, and she was right. It didn't take long to realize that sharing the curriculum was only half of my job. It didn't matter (black, white, poor, or well-off), students came to my room throughout the day to talk to me about their problems, ask my advice, and sometimes to just sit there and say nothing in a safe space. Some needed a person they could relate to because I looked like them. Others looked nothing like me but learned that people of all shades and walks of life are relatable.

Over the last eight years, my daughter's only had one black teacher. The rest were all white women. Hopefully that'll change soon.

I'm white, from NY, and only ever had one black teacher - in 8th grade science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my child's ES, which is 60% minorities, almost all the teachers are caucasian women. She's been through three grades there. All 5 K teachers were white women. 4/5 of the 1st grade teachers were white women. All 5 2nd grade teachers were white women. And I know this is the same across the country. How can we, as a nation, change this?

Why is it a problem that your teachers are mostly white women?

Any person in any marginalized group can tell you that representation is important. Having role models that you identify with gives you a vision of success. In my own experience as an openly gay teacher I have had more LGBT students than you could imagine write me letters or communicate in some other way, telling me explicitly that they thought they had no future because that’s what their family told them. They had me and realized that being lgbt didn’t prevent them from having a future and a happy and fulfilled adult life.

Not only do my personal experiences show that representation matters, but it is supported by research. Black students who have one black teacher before 3rd grade are 13% more likely to graduate from college. Black students that have two black teachers are 32% more likely. https://www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2018-11-23/black-teachers-improve-outcomes-for-black-students?context=amp

That is hard to believe. So all we have to do is have black teachers teach black kids and that will basically solve half of the problem. Reminds me of the "studies" saying that women get paid 60% less than men. Just think of the massive profit margins if you only hired women! Cha Ching!!

Why? Because you are white and have never had to think about the importance of representation where your children are concerned? Because it makes you feel more comfortable to discredit what another person has shared so that you can remain in your ignorant bubble? Your quick and easy dismissal of the facts around race and equity are why people like you will never be true allies of people of color (although perhaps that has never been an interest of yours). Simply put, it is important for a child to 'see' themselves in those who are in a position of power or authority so that they know that they too can strive to those same respectable heights. It does a Black child no good to see the only Black staff at their school represented on the janitorial crew. It does a Hispanic child no good to see only Hispanic staff on the cleaning or lunch crew (these are real life examples from my own child's school by the way, before I am accused of stereotyping). White parents have the luxury of not having to think about these issues because they are so used to having their white kids see themselves in damn near everything. It's 2020. Try and get out of your bubble and aim a bit higher when it comes to these issues. Your children will benefit from it. Also, don't come at me with any type of foolish protestation or defense because there is none to be had. Your stance and mindset is embarrassing, shameful and pathetic.

Signed, Black Woman Who Is Over White Fragility And Willful Ignorance

[Anonymous]

My kid is going into 4th, since K she has had co-teachers each year, one white/one latina. This year the teachers are both men, one white/one latino. The principal is white, the vp is latina.

[Anonymous]

Elementary ed as a college major is pretty much all white females.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:generalization here: young white women can afford to go into low-pay teaching. they will marry someone who will be the primary breadwinner, OR advance professionally (using classroom experience to move into administration or boost their application to law/grad school).

it's not just about teaching. it's about lifestyle and future prospects. people of other backgrounds might have different concerns/ pathways. again, i know i'm generalizing.

There have been several articles essentially explaining what you have said here. White, female teachers are more often economically stable due to a spouse and can afford a lower paying job like teaching. minority women often have to focus on bringing in a stronger second income into the family. And, male teachers prefer MS or HS because there's more socially accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my child's ES, which is 60% minorities, almost all the teachers are caucasian women. She's been through three grades there. All 5 K teachers were white women. 4/5 of the 1st grade teachers were white women. All 5 2nd grade teachers were white women. And I know this is the same across the country. How can we, as a nation, change this?

Why is it a problem that your teachers are mostly white women?

Any person in any marginalized group can tell you that representation is important. Having role models that you identify with gives you a vision of success. In my own experience as an openly gay teacher I have had more LGBT students than you could imagine write me letters or communicate in some other way, telling me explicitly that they thought they had no future because that’s what their family told them. They had me and realized that being lgbt didn’t prevent them from having a future and a happy and fulfilled adult life.

Not only do my personal experiences show that representation matters, but it is supported by research. Black students who have one black teacher before 3rd grade are 13% more likely to graduate from college. Black students that have two black teachers are 32% more likely. https://www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2018-11-23/black-teachers-improve-outcomes-for-black-students?context=amp

That is hard to believe. So all we have to do is have black teachers teach black kids and that will basically solve half of the problem. Reminds me of the "studies" saying that women get paid 60% less than men. Just think of the massive profit margins if you only hired women! Cha Ching!!

Why? Because you are white and have never had to think about the importance of representation where your children are concerned? Because it makes you feel more comfortable to discredit what another person has shared so that you can remain in your ignorant bubble? Your quick and easy dismissal of the facts around race and equity are why people like you will never be true allies of people of color (although perhaps that has never been an interest of yours). Simply put, it is important for a child to 'see' themselves in those who are in a position of power or authority so that they know that they too can strive to those same respectable heights. It does a Black child no good to see the only Black staff at their school represented on the janitorial crew. It does a Hispanic child no good to see only Hispanic staff on the cleaning or lunch crew (these are real life examples from my own child's school by the way, before I am accused of stereotyping). White parents have the luxury of not having to think about these issues because they are so used to having their white kids see themselves in damn near everything. It's 2020. Try and get out of your bubble and aim a bit higher when it comes to these issues. Your children will benefit from it. Also, don't come at me with any type of foolish protestation or defense because there is none to be had. Your stance and mindset is embarrassing, shameful and pathetic.

Signed, Black Woman Who Is Over White Fragility And Willful Ignorance

NP. White women are willing to pursue the low prestige, not-great-paying career of elementary school teacher, more willing than others. That's not White Fragility.

Are you encouraging your children to go into teaching?

[Anonymous]

Growing up I had mostly white teachers until high school (switched from FCPS to DCPS). To make up for it my parents got very involved in a black church. Lots of great role-models.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:generalization here: young white women can afford to go into low-pay teaching. they will marry someone who will be the primary breadwinner, OR advance professionally (using classroom experience to move into administration or boost their application to law/grad school).

it's not just about teaching. it's about lifestyle and future prospects. people of other backgrounds might have different concerns/ pathways. again, i know i'm generalizing.

+1. It is a generalization but it's true.

[Anonymous]

No, and actually that has not been the case in three different schools (two public, one private). They've had lots of male teachers and teachers of many races.

[Anonymous]

I’m old, but I recall having 4 black classroom teachers at my DCPS elementary school in the 1980’s (and the principal was black).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my child's ES, which is 60% minorities, almost all the teachers are caucasian women. She's been through three grades there. All 5 K teachers were white women. 4/5 of the 1st grade teachers were white women. All 5 2nd grade teachers were white women. And I know this is the same across the country. How can we, as a nation, change this?

Why would we?

[Anonymous]

Yes. Who else are going to take these underpaid jobs?