By Kevin Palmer
John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School in Augusta, Georgia is Richmond County’s premier magnet school. The Davidson student population is 43 percent Black and 46 percent White. Yet, according to the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, Black teachers are outnumbered four to one at 9 and 36 respectively.
The Richmond County school district has a predominately Black student and teacher population. Therefore, the vast racial disparity between teachers at Davidson Magnet school gives the appearance of tokenism toward the small number of assigned Black teachers. It is an unfair and insensitive practice.
It is unimaginable why this disparity has not been addressed. Either the Black superintendent does not feel comfortable assigning more Black teachers, or the superintendent is being pressured not to assign more Black teachers. Either way it is unacceptable.