Another controversial cause of the misplacement of Blacks is low self-esteem. Lisa Clark Evans, a fifth grade teacher in a multiethnic classroom in San Diego, California, expresses a view held by many elementary school teachers. Although there is not a current solution in place, several proposed answers are emerging. This testing instrument is non-biased toward all ethnic groups. The use of Black psychologist in the evaluation of Black students for special education would help alleviate the problem of cultural misunderstanding.
Researchers state that the education of current and future teachers also needs to be revamped.
A third step in helping to solve the problem under discussion involves both public schools and college and university teacher training programs. If a Black student is to be identified only when there is merely a display of cultural difference, the educators working with a child must understand and be sensitive to those cultural differences. Likewise, if classrooms in both regular and special education are to meet the needs of Black students in the best manner possible, classroom teachers and the designers of the instructional curricula, must be familiar with the culture of this group of students. Parents also should be made aware of their right to accept or reject the findings of such testing and that they can and should participate in planning the educational program for this child, if special education placement is deemed appropriate. She has an M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Governors State University and a B.A. in Public Relations from Roosevelt University in Chicago.