Sunday, February 16, 2020

The Black Teachers in Our City Dropped From 40% to 24%. We Can Change That, If We Want To - Philly's 7th Ward

The Black Teachers in Our City Dropped From 40% to 24%. We Can Change That, If We Want To - Philly's 7th Ward

THE BLACK TEACHERS IN OUR CITY DROPPED FROM 40% TO 24%. WE CAN CHANGE THAT, IF WE WANT TO


I will never forget the time I attended a teaching job expo in Valley Forge, PA.  Districts from around the state had laid out the welcome mat, eager to attract the newest and brightest teachers into their ranks.
I stood among the crowds, these hundreds of people ready to join this most important and dearest of professions, and several realities struck me at once.
The first was how long the lines were for some districts, and the lack of lines at others.
Affluent, predominantly white school districts had lines that curved through the auditorium, eager faces adorned with anxiety as they saw the physical representation of how slim their chances were of getting their sought after placement.
How long was the line for the School District of Philadelphia – a district brimming with talented Black and Brown children? 
The second thing I noticed was the demographics of the folks eager to CONTINUE READING: The Black Teachers in Our City Dropped From 40% to 24%. We Can Change That, If We Want To - Philly's 7th Ward