The IZA Institute of Labor Economics released a study on last Tuesday discussing what many in the African American community have already known for some time. The IZA institute studied the long-term impact of students taught by teachers of the same race and found that students often respond positively to teachers who share the same race. In the study researcher stated,
“Having at least one black teacher in elementary school significantly increases the chances that low-income black students graduate high school and consider attending college – and, for poor black boys, it decreases the risk of dropping out by nearly 40 percent.”
Between 2001 to 2005, researchers studied an estimated 100,000 black students enrolled in the 3rd grade in North Carolina’s public schools. This study concluded that the influence that black teachers held in the lives of young black students was astounding. Here are some of the results:
- Drop out risks for black students decreased by 29 percent if they had at least one black teacher in 3rd through 5th grades.
- These risks for persistently low-income black boys, decreased by 39 percent.
- The percentage for all African American children (with or without a black teachers) who ended up dropping out of school was 13 percent
- Approximately half of the African American children (with our without black teachers) graduated but with no plans to pursue college
- Low-income black students with at least one black teacher were 18 percent more likely to express interest in college when they graduated
- Persistently low-income black boys with at least one black teacher were 29 percent more likely to say they were considering college.
- In previous research, a positive short-term impact of black students having black teachers, showed end-of-year test scores were higher than black students who didn’t have a black teacher.
- This research conducted by the IZA Institute is the first showing positive long-term causal impact.
Nicholas Papageorge, assistant professor at John Hopkins University and one of the co-authors of this research paper, has some cautions about the findings, but still is impressed by its results. He states, “the result could be reframed by saying that the impact is simply a 9 percent increase in high school graduation for black students who had a black teacher. Even so, 39 percent is massive, and we did all the things one would do to make sure the findings are robust.”
The research team sought out to do further research. They took a look at black students in Tennessee who entered Kindergarten in the ’80s, and also found that black students who had at least one black kindergarten teacher through 3rd grade were 15 percent less likely to drop out!
Papageorge goes on to explain how schools, districts, and parents should be intentional about these results: “I think we can take the teaching force we have and do some thoughtful reassignment coupled with some intentional hiring and get this going quickly,” he adds. “A lot of the stuff I work on is like, ‘Oh here is a policy you might want to implement in 10 years,’ but with this you can do it tomorrow.”
This research is vital when looking at, and planning for the success of African-American students. Statically, the Department of Education reports that only 18 percent of all teachers in the U.S. are people of color; 2 percent are black males. On the other hand, children of color represent 49 percent of all kids enrolled in public elementary and middle schools.
This research gets even more complex when we begin to look at the percent of African American women and men graduating with Bachelor’s degrees required for these teaching positions; and the low participation rate of blacks enrolled in teacher prep programs. Even the completion rate for blacks majoring in education is lower than white students who are majoring in education in American universities and colleges.
These numbers prove that the public school system is in dire need of more African American teachers, and universities and colleges have to do a better job of pushing and prepping young African American education majors.
For those of us who went on to complete high school, college and other forms of higher education, we should all take some time to thank our African American teachers who paved the way for our success. Each one of us, especially those of us who have been influenced by an African American teacher at some point in our lifetime, must in turn, figure out how to return the favor to the children within our own neighborhoods and communities.
Source: US News
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