Pastor airs concerns over lack of Black male teachers at Jennings school
A local pastor voiced his concerns about the lack of African American male teachers at Jennings Elementary School, the insufficient support from school administration for teachers, and the unethical hiring practices that replace experienced teachers with uncertified ones.
The Rev. Gerald Perkins of Jennings aired his concerns before the Jeff Davis Parish School Board during a meeting on Thursday. The school board did not publicly address Perkins’ concerns.
“I arise to address three concerns that I feel that are serious and what I feel somewhat troublesome,” Rev. Gerald Perkins said.
“First, I’m concerned about the lack of African American male teachers at Jennings Elementary where there is a large, if not a majority of population of African American students,” he continued.
In addressing the board, Perkins said he was not seeking the reinstatement of a teacher who he contends was “wrongfully and unjustly” dismissed, but aims to prevent similar unjust dismissals in the future.
Perkins also emphasized the need for core subject teachers, not just behavioral interventionists, to address the storage of male teachers.
He highlighted the importance of having teachers who can relate to and effectively teach the students in the community.
Perkins also raised concerns about the lack of support from school administration for teachers, who often feel vulnerable to student and parental attacks and accusations.
“There is a question that I ask often, who comes to the rescue of the teacher,” he said. “ Teachers are left vulnerable to the attacks of students and sometimes parental accusations. This is unjust and it is unacceptable.”
He urged school administrators to provide better support and protection for teachers.
Perkins also expressed concerns about retaining teachers and criticized the practice of replacing experienced teachers with uncertified ones, which undermines the quality of education.
“I’m concerned also about retaining teachers who live in this community and who have been encouraged to teach in other parishes,” he said. “They are sometimes replaced by uncertified teachers who do not have the background in the subject that they are teaching.”
He urged the board to review and improve the hiring and termination practices to ensure certified and qualified teachers are retained.
“As a stakeholder in this community, I’m concerned that our parish have a healthy image, not one that is biased,” he said.
Perkins said one of the teachers that he contends was wrongfully dismissed was presents with him and reiterated the goal of preventing such injustices in the future.