Teacher program pressed

Colleges' effort attempting to draw black males into field in which they are scarcely represented

Web posted June 29, 1998

Associated Press

SUMTER, S.C. -- Charles Davis Jr. was flattered and alarmed when he walked into an elementary school.

The 20-year-old Morris College junior was to start his teaching practicum when a group of youngsters pointed and smiled at his slim build and his neat, well-dressed appearance.

``Are you an NBA star?,'' one little girl asked Mr. Davis.

He laughed at the time, but then grew worried.

``The comment told me that a lot of black children have limited images of what black men do for a living.''

Five South Carolina colleges are combining to change that with a program designed to put more black, male teachers in state public schools.

Through ``Call Me Mister,'' a project between Clemson University and four historically black colleges -- Benedict, Claflin, Voorhees and Sumter's Morris -- officials want to certify at least 200 black, male teachers during the next five years.

The program's name comes from Sidney Poitier's line ``They call me Mr. Tibbs'' in the 1967 film In the Heat of the Night. Mr. Poitier will narrate a video used to recruit young, black men while they're still in high school.

Educators from the five colleges will meet during the next few weeks to plan for scholarships and financial incentives to offer. The project will cost about $1 million a year and should be off the ground by fall, officials say.

High schools don't have as much trouble attracting male teachers as elementary schools, because they can fill coaching spots at the same time.

Minority students are expected to make up 39 percent of the state's public schools in the next 10 years. Less than 1 percent of elementary schoolteachers now are black men.

``It's a unique effort and a daunting task -- one which will take all five institutions to make it work,'' said Tom Parks, an associate dean of education at Clemson.

At Morris College, 200 students are enrolled in the school's education program. Only 40 are men.

At the Sumter District 2 school where Mr. Davis was asked if he was a basketball player, there are no male employees, black or white -- other than the school janitors.

Educators predict think that by 2000, America's public schools will have to replace about 2 million teachers who will have reached retirement age.

South Carolina ranks 48th in the country in the number of male teachers, with less than 17 percent of the 41,000 or so public school teachers men. Only about 3 percent of those are black males, said Janice Poda, the director of the state's Center for Teacher Recruitment.

Bobby Brisbon, the chairman of Morris College's Division of Education, said the 40 black males in his program were ``the hottest product on the market.''

Ms. Poda says part of the problem is South Carolina loses teachers of all races and both sexes to Georgia and North Carolina, which have both raised their teacher salaries to meet the national average -- $38,611.

Teachers in South Carolina make a median salary of $32,830.

There is also the perception among black men that teaching is not for them. ``The general image is, teaching is a female profession,'' Ms. Poda said.

Not so for Mr. Davis, who said he wants to teach and be a role model for black youngsters who don't have fathers or close male relatives. He also wants to be a role model for white children whose only image of black males is based on what they see on television.

``The media has portrayed black males as gang-bangers and drug dealers,'' Mr. Davis said.

Kareem Boykin, a 23-year-old junior at Morris College, says schools with more male teachers have fewer discipline problems.

``A lot of students are more attentive and respectful because of the male presence in the classroom,'' said Mr. Boykin, who also serves as vice president and president-elect for the Student South Carolina Education Association.