Missionary Teacher Syndrome

Missionary Teacher Syndrome is when teachers come into predominantly black schools that are low achieving wanting to "save the black child". MTS causes educators to accept the low achievement of black students. Teachers who are in these schools with the mission to "save" black students allow the students' circumstances and lack of dominant cultural experiences to become reasons why it is okay for these students to fail. Although the teachers truly care about the children, this idea is detrimental to the education or our black students and it is why so many black students are "mis-educated" and are not achieving. With MTS excuses of poverty, troubled neighborhoods, and family disfunction outshines the educator's purpose of providing all students with a quality education".

Signs of a School Plagued by MTS

*Students do not have to be at grade level as long as they tried their best based on their life circumstances

*Students are not disciplined for negative behaviors

*Students are allowed to display behaviors that do not promote social success (wearing hoods, sagging pants)

*Excuses are made for the lack of student success

*Students are socially promoted

*Families are not truthfully told about their child's progress

*Students are not held to academic and/or behavior expectations

*Students' education lacks rigor

*Unsatisfactory student work is accepted and displayed

*Students spend more time gaining "experiences" and less time receiving academic instruction