Newton & Highsmith Call For More Minority Teachers

by Melissa Bailey | July 18, 2007 5:37 PM | | Comments (12)

IMG_9366.JPGBringing aboard a longtime New Haven activist and current Hamden principal as his new education consultant, mayoral hopeful Jim Newton called for more recruitment of minority teachers, saying they are better suited to teaching minority students.

Gary Highsmith (pictured at right with Newton at left), who left his post as Beecher School principal in New Haven last year to take the helm of Hamden High School, stood by Newton at a new campaign field office on Dixwell Avenue Wednesday as the pair released a 10-point education platform.

Highsmith grew up in New Haven public schools, attended Southern Connecticut State University, then worked in the city school system for 16 years before leaving to work for the Hamden school system. The campaign announced Wednesday he will be shaping Newton’s education platform as the candidate seeks to oust seven-term incumbent Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. in a September primary.

After 14 years, “I felt it’s definitely time for a change in leadership,” Highsmith said. Highsmith was an active member of the campaign that elected John Daniels New Haven’s first black mayor in 1989.

(Separately, Newton told the New Haven Advocate this week he opposes gay marriage. Click here to read that story.)

Highsmith and Newton Thursday advocated an aggressive recruitment drive for teachers, particularly African-Americans and Latinos, who they said are underrepresented within teaching staff.

“The one thing that’ll close the achievement gap is high-quality teachers,” said Highsmith. More minority teachers need to be brought in to teach the student body, which is majority black and Latino, he said. Students need to be able to look up at the blackboard and see someone who understands them and sets high expectations for them, Highsmith argued. Minority teachers familiar with students’ culture are better at communicating to minority students, he argued. “Things don’t happen in a cultural vacuum.”

The Newton campaign also accused the school system for valuing patronage over quality: “The New Haven Public School system must move from being a bastion of political patronage used to reward political and other loyalties, to a system where only the best and brightest are hired.”

DeStefano’s campaign manager, Adriana Arreola, brushed off the patronage allegation, for which Newton provided no specific evidence: “They’re hired based on their qualifications as good educators,” not on political connections. “We’re very proud of our teachers and what they’re doing in the school system right now,” she added. “Over 80 percent of graduates this year are going on to two and four-year colleges. That’s something that the school system should be proud of.”

Is the school system doing its job in aggressively recruiting teachers? “The city is actively recruiting new teachers right now,” responded Arreola. Teacher Visitation Day had about 100 prospective teachers visit the schools, and Teach for America brought over 60 teachers into the area, she said.

Stressing parental involvement, Highsmith also called for a revival of the city-wide parent teacher association, which was once active but has fizzled, he said. He hoped a revived group would include voices from outside the system. While he acknowledged administrators’ impulse is to “close ranks” and get defensive when criticized, Highsmith said a Newton administration would be “open to hearing oppositional voices.”

Does the preparation for Connecticut Mastery Tests dominate the classroom? Would the city benefit from having more schools like Amistad Academy, which has done wonders for helping minority students achieve on tests? Click on the play arrow to watch Newton’s response.

Highsmith also called for expansion of pre-K services, a focus Arreola contended has long been a priority for the mayor. The Newton plan calls for an independent audit of all “major educational programs” in the city. The audit, which would be conducted through focus groups of students, parents and school staff, would determine whether the schools are “spending wisely,” and which programs need be expanded or cut.







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Posted by: darnell | July 18, 2007 7:05 PM

When I considered running for state rep in New Haven several years ago, I did a little research and found that in New Haven:
• At James Hillhouse High School, which is located in the 93rd District, 35.1% of the students do not graduate, compared to 89.9 % statewide.
• Annually in New Haven, 6.1% of the high school students drop out, compared to 1.8% throughout the state.
• CAPT testing in 2005, 52.3% tested below proficiency in math, 44.9% in science, 46.5% in reading, and 41% in writing.

Ms. Adriana Arreola, stated that over 80 percent of graduates this year are going on to two and four-year colleges. 80% of what number, once the dropouts and non-grads are factored in, how many are we really talking about? And how successful will they be with the education they are receiving?

Posted by: K [TypeKey Profile Page] | July 19, 2007 1:13 AM

Things may not happen in a cultural vacuum, but just because a teacher is black or Latino does not mean that he/she will be more culturally sensitive. This is thinly veiled racism at best.

A good teacher is a good teacher regardless of his/her race. Any good teacher will be adept at communicating with all students, will understand them, and will hold up high expectations for them. I think it is insulting to our kids to assume that they can only be talked to and inspired by someone who looks like them.

What New Haven needs is well-qualified and experienced educators, regardless of their race.

Posted by: Ned | July 19, 2007 7:54 AM

A lot of White suburban parents apparently feel that their children are best taught by White teachers in an all White setting (see: Plessy v. Ferguson, or Sheff vs. Oneil); of course all people, who share the same skin pigmentation think and act alike - just ask David Duke... Why no call for more Asian teachers for Asian students, or are all of the honors classes full? Do these guys really think that New Haven will be a better city if it is more racist and homophobic? or are they just pandering to their base (as in morally low; without estimable personal qualities; dishonorable; meanspirited; selfish; cowardly.) "base." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 19 Jul. 2007. .">http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/base>.

Posted by: on whalley | July 19, 2007 8:01 AM

K, of course having a Latino teacher for Latino kids would be better than a black or white teacher for latino kids. Even if the latino teacher is under-qualified. Years of affirmative action taught me that. As long as you match the colors everything will be great!

So what will they do if their just arent enough well qualified black and latino teachers? Settle for what they get? Will they break down and *gasp* hire a well qualified white person if given no other option? Well, the presence of whitey is bound to fuel the racial tension that is no doubt responsible for the students less than stellar performance. At least that was my excuse in school. All those cracker teachers keeping me down.

All of this time and tecnology and our educational standards are tiers below what they were four hundred years ago. I dont get it. Oh, thats right, they want us dumb. http://www.deliberatedumbingdown.com/

Posted by: Willie Williams Jr | July 19, 2007 8:08 AM

I Agree! But The Problem Is Other Black Teachers and The Head Teachers Whom Are NOT! Teachers (Dept. of Human Services) { Ms. Lloyd} Try To Extort Money From You To Help Pay For Books, Food, Entertainment and Travel For Children In The Classroom and Other Supplies That Should Be Bought Out of The School Budget. In Addition: The Head Teacher Ms. Lloyd Whom Is Also The President of The Union Is Begging You For Money $$$ To Support The Democratic Party...I'm A Republican.
Willie Williams Jr
230 Grand Avenue Suite # 576
New Haven, Connecticut 06513
http://www.rapidsellers.com/wwilliamsjr
203-469-6680
I'm A Federal Retired Employee NOW! Since 1996
Call Me! I Need A Part-Time Job

Posted by: on whalley | July 19, 2007 8:28 AM

Whoa Darnell,

89.9 % of CT's high school kids "do not graduate"??

"• At James Hillhouse High School, which is located in the 93rd District, 35.1% of the students do not graduate, compared to 89.9 % statewide."

I sincerely hope thats a typo otherwise I'm just going to write off the future right now.

Posted by: Robn | July 19, 2007 12:54 PM

Great idea to revive parent teacher organizations... for poor performance there should be accountability outside of the classroom as well as inside and a good way to do that is to get parents and teachers together to make sure everybody is fulfilling their respective roles.

As to the idea that minority teachers are better suited to teaching minority students...thats a complete load of bull and completely racist. Mr. Newton should be careful how many race cards he pulls in this election because the deck is getting low.

Posted by: darnell | July 19, 2007 2:13 PM

Opps, the numbers were for 2005, and they should have said 35.1% do not graduate from Hillhouse, compared to 8.9% statewide.

2006 numbers - Hillhouse 32.5%, statewide 7.8%.

These numbers are from the state board of ed http://www.csde.state.ct.us/public/cedar/cedar/grads/2006_Grad_Rate_by_School.xls

District wide, New haven only graduated 73.3% of its students, compared to 92.2% statewide. Out of the 130 school districts, only two were worse, Bridgeport and New Britain. Even Hartford, taken over by the state, graduated more students.

What are my tax dollars paying for? My street is not clean, and our kids are not graduating.

Posted by: Common Sense | July 19, 2007 3:20 PM

Wow....The rhetoric is getting kinda ridiculous. Newton should add "Bill Cosby" to his education advisory committee. Bill will get it right if we can only get responsible parents and leaders to listen to this great American. When students drop out of school they can't do it on their own. Parents have to consent and be in control.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | July 19, 2007 9:14 PM

Common Sense
You Are Right The Rhetoric Is Getting Ridiculous.
Look At The Rhetoric And Double Standard Of Bill Cosby He Talks About Behavior And Parenting Yet He Just Settle A Law Suit For Druging And Groping
A Woman. Also How About The Socially Conservative
And Mr. Family Values Sen.David Vitter Buy Sex At The Brothel House. Who Knows May Be He Used Tax Pays Money? And Then We Call These Man Role Models
This Is The Reason Why Are Children Are The Way They Are.The Solution to This Problem Is That We Adult Should Be For Real and Not Hypocrites As These Two Men Who Preacher About Parenting And Behavior And Have Not Look At Themselves In The Mirror Before They Open There Mouth.

Posted by: Common Sense | July 19, 2007 10:51 PM

Threefifths you are on target about double standards, however, Mr. Cosby has addressed the problems of our youth and the lack of parenting skills is behind many of the problems. He is on target in this area. His moral choices, like many others, is unacceptable. Senators and Congressmen in many cases are not role models - they are politicians waiting to get re-elected. We sometimes use the word "role model" too freely. For our youth parents, teachers and neighbors can be their best role model by setting positive examples. These are the people who set the standards.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | July 20, 2007 11:15 AM

Common Sense
This Is My Point Before We Can Talk About Others
People Like Bill Cosby Need To Get There House In
Order Before They Talk About The Failures Of Others.Senators And Congressmen May Not Be Role Models But They Represent Position Of Authority
Who People Young And Old Look Up To, Just Like Police Officers And Fireman.I Agree With You That
Parenting Skills Are Part Of This Problem. But I Have A Problem When We Just Focus On Parenting Skills By Class And What I Mean By Class Is That
There Is A Double Standard When The Rich Children
Get Out Of Hand Nothing Is Said About Parenting Skills Of There Parents, But Let It Be My Children
Or Yours Than We Are Told That We Lack Parenting
Skills.You Also Have Stated That Teachers And Neighbors can Be Their Best Role Model By Setting
Positive Examples Not All The Time , My Neighbor Is a Piece Of Work And As Far As Teachers We Just
Had A High School Coach Arrest For Talking Sex On The Internet.I Do Not Have The Answer But I Do Think That We Should Not Give Up And I Think That People Like You And Me Can Try To Keep On Working To Find A Solution To This Problem.

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