Black male teachers are paying an ‘invisible tax,’ report says
Black male educators, who are in short supply, often take on extra work in schools to close the achievement and opportunity gaps for students of color, study finds
Black male teachers spend more time with students outside of class than other demographics, a reality that helps contribute to an “invisible tax” they pay because of their race.
Those are the findings of a survey from DonorsChoose, the crowdfunding nonprofit for public school teachers. DonorsChoose announced the findings in its report, “Unique Impacts, Unique Burdens: Insights into the Black Male Educator Experience.”
“Having more diverse teachers helps close both the achievement and opportunity gaps for students of color, and over the past two years teachers of color went through the most challenging time by having navigated through the pandemic and the racial reckoning in the country,” Sharif El-Mekki, CEO of Center of Black Educator Development, said in a news release announcing the findings.
“These findings will help draw attention to some of the urgent needs Black male teachers of color have in our public schools system.”
The survey found:
- Black male teachers spend more than five hours each week mentoring or counseling students, more than any other demographic group;
- Black male teachers report paying an “invisible tax” in which they perform more duties with Black students. These teachers report they’re often asked to discipline Black students and serve as school liaisons with families of color;
- Black male teachers entered the profession to affirm the “racial and ethnic identities of students of color.”
Former U.S. Secretary of Education John King, who served under the Obama administration, has written an op-ed in the Washington Post discussing how the “invisible tax” impacts teachers of color. But there is an acute impact on Black male teachers who make up a disproportionate share of teachers in the country.
While Black students comprise 15% of the total public school population, Black male teachers make up just 2% of educators, the report said.
“When a student sees a teacher who looks like them standing at the front of their classroom it is a powerful, life-changing experience,” David Banks, New York City Schools chancellor, said in the release.
“A diverse workforce of educators supports both the academic and social growth of our students and educators who are deeply rooted in the communities they serve often go above and beyond to support young people,” he added. “This survey confirms what we already know to be true about educators of color and we look forward to working with Donors Choose to increase diversity in our workforce.”
Travis J. Bristol, a University of California, Berkeley professor, lauded the report.
“Understanding Black men teachers’ school-based experiences will allow policymakers and practitioners to (re)design schools that allow these teachers to teach as well as allow their students to learn,” Bristol, a researcher on Black men in the teaching profession, said.
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