Few minority teachers drawn to city, county

“I think it has more to do with the city,” said Shelva Burt, a second-grade teacher at Hall Fletcher Elementary.“If you are 24 or 30 and come into Asheville, as far as socially and culturally, there’s not that much here to do. The school system is one thing. After hours is something else.”

WTF?!? It's not New York or Paris, but there is more to do in Asheville than plenty of cities 10 times its size.

lucky yall. look what those minorities just did to those kids when they robbed them.. count your blessings!

Better that the leaders, actually screen the folks, rather than hiring them willy-nilly based on nothing more than color.

Blue is my favorite color, however, I would never hire anyone because they look blue.

I believe the word "diversity" has just about ruined everything. I realize that we have a diverse culture but that shouldn't be what controls our society. What is wrong with advertising a position, letting all qualified people apply for it, and making a choice to hire the most qualified person, regardless of race. Our society has placed so much pressure and emphasis on this that people are being hired, because of race, color etc. regardless of their qualifications. This is reverse discrimination and the results are showing up everywhere. I'm certainly not against people of color but I do believe that you earn you way in and up the ladder by earning it. Most African American people who are qualified for many positions do not come to Asheville. They go to Atlanta and some of the larger cities.

Jim Bob wrote:

“I think it has more to do with the city,” said Shelva Burt, a second-grade teacher at Hall Fletcher Elementary.“If you are 24 or 30 and come into Asheville, as far as socially and culturally, there’s not that much here to do. The school system is one thing. After hours is something else.”
WTF?!? It's not New York or Paris, but there is more to do in Asheville than plenty of cities 10 times its size.

Whatchoo wanna bet this teacher is obese? anyone know?

Why don't they come here?

Right off the bat they can take one look and say, Wow, I don't want to raise my family here, cost too much, too many 'do good folks' running everything, city government tht can't tell up from down, and on top of it all, Asheville is a city for outsiders to visit not live in. A circus, fun to go there once in a while, but not a life style to be in all the time.

I went to Hall Fletcher and Lee Edwards. All the teachers were great then, TOO LONG AGO!!

Asheville isn't the only city having troubles.

Why would they want to work under the Superintendant Dodson?

I guess I just don't get it.

It's a free country. For those who teach, and for those who are taught alike.

The whiners and complainers could actually help to try to lure minority teachers to fill this perceived gap. If teachers are being lured on the basis of "active night life" , then we're luring the wrong kind of teachers anyway. Let them go do their "clubbing" in Atlanta, or where-ever. If they want to be a responsible citizen and much-needed role model, we welcome them "here".

Or the whiners and complainers can keep whining and complaining.

It's falling on deaf ears here, my friend.

Lower the standards far enough and you'll get your diversity.

Quote from Too Much: "What is wrong with advertising a position, letting all qualified people apply for it, and making a choice to hire the most qualified person, regardless of race."

My response: It sounds nice, but the problem with this is that the hiring process can't be objective because humans can't be objective. As the article said, people making the hiring decisions are all white. Thus, their view of "the most qualified person" is going to be someone that fits the stereotype of a good teacher from their white perspective....someone who acts, speaks, and has similar experiences as them. People can make the effort to step outside of their ethnocentrism, but usually it goes unchecked, and unconscious even, if the process is as you described.
Status quo leads to status quo.
The admin needs to do more to reach their goal, but I am happy to hear they recognize the importance of diverse teachers.
It is hugely important that we add diversity to the schools in order to prepare children (of all backgrounds) to live in a diverse world.

Keen Observer wrote:

<quoted text>
Whatchoo wanna bet this teacher is obese? anyone know?

This is why I love to read and scribe on this page.

retiredlawman wrote:

Lower the standards far enough and you'll get your diversity.

I'll try to post again - first time didn't work.

Why so few minorities in teaching? Probably for the same reason there are so few in LE and in anything else.

Keen Observer wrote:

<quoted text>
Whatchoo wanna bet this teacher is obese? anyone know?

That is both idiotic and just plain rude, Hunter. Why, I bet you are such a grand person that you will even refuse to sell a house to a "fatty" so your wallet can suffer.

Weight/political party is not a reason to discriminate against anyone, Hunter. You should be held to a higher standard than obviously you are. Shame on you.

Old Rose wrote:

I went to Hall Fletcher and Lee Edwards. All the teachers were great then, TOO LONG AGO!!
Asheville isn't the only city having troubles.

I attended David Millard and Lee Edwards (yes, long ago). Most of the teachers were home grown locals, and yes most of them were white. Same was true for Stephens Lee, however, where most of the teachers were African American. One question would be why those raised here are not interested in being teachers here? Why so much need to recruit from other states?

reply to Too much wrote:

Quote from Too Much: "What is wrong with advertising a position, letting all qualified people apply for it, and making a choice to hire the most qualified person, regardless of race."
My response: It sounds nice, but the problem with this is that the hiring process can't be objective because humans can't be objective. As the article said, people making the hiring decisions are all white. Thus, their view of "the most qualified person" is going to be someone that fits the stereotype of a good teacher from their white perspective....someone who acts, speaks, and has similar experiences as them. People can make the effort to step outside of their ethnocentrism, but usually it goes unchecked, and unconscious even, if the process is as you described.
Status quo leads to status quo.
The admin needs to do more to reach their goal, but I am happy to hear they recognize the importance of diverse teachers.
It is hugely important that we add diversity to the schools in order to prepare children (of all backgrounds) to live in a diverse world.

So you are saying we need to expose our babies to the 'diverse'-ness of our society.

Oh, my, my.

We need a few Muslim teachers-let's be sure to put one or two radicals in that group. And at least a witch or two, and a few pedophiles, a person or two with stinking dredlocks, several toothless mountaineers, a few holy-rollers and a whole bunch of illiterate Mexicans who can play good soccer.

Will we be diverse enough to hire pedophiles as teachers? After all, they're just people, too. Right? You want diversity, then lower the standards far enough and hire everyone until you get one of each.

Diversity is a code word for inferior.

as a former asheville city school teacher I have to say that the HR people should be looking for the MOST qualified teachers regardless of color or race. I also know that it is the ignorant school board that is putting this pressure on the HR folks.

Well as the article hinted at, there is a cultural element to qualification - if a black kid is misbehaving, the black teacher might say "you best sit down and shut up fore I bust you in the head," while a dweeby white guy like myself would be stuttering out, "now children" ... as the classroom spirals further into chaos.

Diversity causes nothing but trouble. If you are qualified to do the job, who cares if you are black, white, or purple? Putting someone who is absolutely unqualified for a position into a position simply because of "diversity" is both inane and unforgiveable.

People need to earn their rank. Not have it handed to them because they are "different". How hard is that to figure out?

Diversity and political correctness - the bane of the intelligent people of this country.