Put another way, South Carolina has lost about almost half of its black teachers since 1975. Several factors account for the trend. The average age of black teachers in the workforce is higher than the average age of white teachers. As black teachers retire, they are not being replaced at the same rate because few young black college students are choosing teaching. Competition for black college graduates is fierce among the professions.
Many people attribute the problem to teacher pay, which is certainly a factor.
Research also shows that many black parents advise their children against teaching and are a significant factor in the decline of the black teaching population. The severity of the problem is actually greater than these figures would suggest. While the number of minorities choosing teaching as a profession and becoming certified appears to be on the increase, the minority representation in the teaching force does not approach the minority representation in the student population. The Center also provides counseling to students in selecting a college and obtaining financial assistance through its College Helpline Program. Clemson University is coordinating the Call Me Mister Program designed to recruit and train 200 African-American men as elementary school teachers.