Bridging the Gap Between White Teachers and Black Students

Dr. Evelyn Fields says teachers can be more effective in the classroom when they understand their students’ cultural backgrounds. Fields says a $100,000 state grant will pay for a pilot program in three school districts with chronically low test scores. So far, Fields has pitched her idea to her home school district of
Denmark-Olar.

The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg reports Monday that Superintendent Secaida Howell says he’s willing to try it. South Carolina State hopes to offer a master’s degree program in multicultural teaching in 2010.