Are your kids' teachers almost all white women?

[Anonymous]

Yes, in ES. More men in MS, but also mostly white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. That is strange. And that was not my experience growing up going to DC schools either. Where do you live and what kind of school does your kid go to? I think a lot of times teachers are black.

What is strange about it?

It’s strange because that seems very unlikely in DC. Where do you live?

[Anonymous]

Not even close.

[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?

No, it's not the same in every school. You're in a bubble.

[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

Hey angry lady. One of those studies has major flaws. You would know that if you actually read the study. Both you and I know the one way to change this huge problem. Get your angry self off of social media and do something constructive like TEACH.

[Anonymous]

Most of my kids' female teachers have been white, but when they've had male teachers, they've had a racial mix (white, black, and Asian).

[Anonymous]

This is one of those threads that highlights how many people are posting from outside of DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Hey angry lady. One of those studies has major flaws. You would know that if you actually read the study. Both you and I know the one way to change this huge problem. Get your angry self off of social media and do something constructive like TEACH.

Np here- always goes to the default of the "angry black woman"

Well said previous pp

~ signed a black woman with a daughter who wants her hair to look like Larlas straight blond ponytail everyday. Would love to have any AA representation at her school!

[Anonymous]

No. And for DD third grade (this is private) both homeroom teacher male (one black, other white) and men for math, Spanish, PE. Pretty diverse staffing in support areas but as friend said-as a black woman-teaching at a mostly white public or private school goes against every belief she holds in her whys of teaching. She'd rather be paid somewhat less (pay isn't her top motivator) and be around kids who most need her critical understanding of their lives than 'broaden' the experience of those already having so many advantages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Hey angry lady. One of those studies has major flaws. You would know that if you actually read the study. Both you and I know the one way to change this huge problem. Get your angry self off of social media and do something constructive like TEACH.

Hey Unoriginal Ignoramus, I do TEACH and have done so for the past 17 years, first at the elementary and then the graduate level. Try again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is one of those threads that highlights how many people are posting from outside of DC.

Yes, grow up in Columbia, MD in the 70s. 50% of my teachers were black. People who complain about this choose to live in a bubble.

[Anonymous]

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?

Seriously. The majority of people who go into teaching are white women. Are you saying that schools should go out of their way to favor non white females?

[Anonymous]

Earthly white elem school. My oldest has had a Latino female teacher, a Latino male teacher and two white women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope. None of the have been/are. It’s one of the perks of being in DC.

Why is it a “perk” to not have a white female for a teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nope. None of the have been/are. It’s one of the perks of being in DC.

Why is it a “perk” to not have a white female for a teacher.

Well if nice white parents are a major problem with American education surely nice white teachers must also be a factor in the flawed system.