Richmond, local schools face similar issue

Guess what? Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro’s public schools have a problem similar to one Richmond is facing. It’s a problem according to one of Richmond’s mayoral candidates. The problem is that the city has too many African American teachers. In addition, most of them are female.
Note that I wrote similar. All four entities need to change the ethnic make-up of their teachers.
For several years, according to reports in The News Virginian, depending on the municipality, Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro have been unable to increase the number of their minority teachers regardless of gender.
The Sept. 19 Richmond Times Dispatch reported that mayoral candidate Lawrence E. Williams feels “the predominance of black female teachers is one reason the system isn’t appealing to white parents.” He knew he’d be criticized for saying it but said, “I won’t hide from it because it’s the truth.”
I think Williams speaks the truth. Richmond, like many predominantly minority-populated cities, have more minority teachers. Why? Because as they become more affluent, many middle- and upper-class whites move to the suburbs. And when the district’s parents relocate out of cities, white teachers go with them.
Though most suburban taxpayers want their teachers to look like them, it does a disservice to their children. To completely prepare their children for life in the real world, discovering diversity on one’s first job is too late.
To keep more white teachers in Richmond’s city limits, more money could be paid to them. But can you imagine the uproar that would cause? There’d be charges of discrimination from African American teachers, parents and the teachers union.
So what can be done? Not much. Most white teachers, and believe it or not, many minorities too, don’t want the stereotypical problems associated with city schools.
Perception – rightly or wrongly – keeps most teachers regardless of color away from city school systems. The perceptions are that parents of city students are neither as involved nor as interested in the education of their children as are parents elsewhere. They’re not as supportive of teachers or administrators and are more confrontational and combative if they feel their children are being “picked on.”
The Valley’s problem is opposite of the perceived one in Richmond. The Valley can’t attract minority teachers. With the downturn in the economy, locally and nationally, you’d think that the Valley would be attractive to minority teachers.
There’s an abundance of homes for sale at reasonable prices, rental units that are available or under construction and, best of all, a quality of life beyond compare.
Even though I can’t foresee it occurring, perhaps all three local school boards could contact Richmond’s and at least let current and potential minority teachers know of our need. Minority teachers, I suspect, in and around Richmond aren’t aware of opportunities here.
It’s an outside the box idea but all that’s been tried previously hasn’t worked.
Nelson Graves, Western Virginia director of the Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council, writes a weekly column for The News Virginian. E-mail him at .