By Donna Menona Dilks
When you start with dedicated teachers, add cultural sensitivity and high expectations of students, then take away biased assumptions, what you get is success for urban children.
At the newly launched Institute for Urban Education, this equation is fundamental to its curriculum. Students who wish to become certified teachers and practice in an urban setting such as Kansas City will be immersed in UMKC’s intensive program, designed to address the needs of students in an urban school environment. The curriculum provides rigorous math and science content, which was intentional.
“An issue that arises in urban education is watered-down curriculum,” says IUE executive committee member Don Matthews, an associate professor of communications and director of the Black Studies program. “Here we are trying to deliver strong content-based material, plus help our students develop a culturally relevant teaching style.”
What kind of student will find the IUE attractive? Matthews thinks a moment, then gives this impassioned testimony: “The ideal IUE student transcends issues of race, class, or gender,” he says. “The ideal is a student who will not lower expectations once he or she enters the classroom; a student who will be a resilient teacher, who will not let barriers be put up.”
The IUE will assist in creating strong matches between the teaching talents of future teachers and the needs of the community. Not only will future K-12 teachers follow a unique and relevant curriculum, they will have the tools to respond to the demands that come with teaching students from diverse backgrounds.
When faced with specific challenges such as language diversity, cross-cultural communication and poverty-based problems, Matthews says, many teachers in urban school classrooms tend to lower expectations for student success.
The IUE will combat that from the start by providing training in the latest theories in urban education, and allowing for field experience in urban school settings. Teachers who complete the IUE program receive a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education. They commit to working as a teacher in an urban school for four years following graduation.
The program, though administered by the School of Education, is a collaboration that also includes the College of Arts and Sciences and the Bloch School. Ed Underwood, associate professor of education, has recently been named director of the program, with Jennifer Waddell as associate director.
“A highlight of the program has been the collaboration between the School of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences faculty in designing the curriculum,” Waddell says. “This team has worked tirelessly over the past year. The faculty is passionate and well-informed about creating a curriculum and experience that will prepare exemplary teachers for urban schools.”
It’s also clear that the IUE is seen by local educators as a worthwhile venture.
The IUE has received ongoing support from its partners in education: the school districts of Kansas City, Mo., Kansas City, Kan., and Hickman Mills. They shared in the IUE planning phases and will contribute to the development of IUE students by immersing them in the teaching experience from day one. Students will complete 1,300 teaching hours.
The IUE’s first class of 12 students shares another reason to be motivated: full scholarships for each, in exchange for the commitment to teach in an urban school.
IUE students are selected from the three area school districts. In addition to regular UMKC education requirements, IUE students also undergo a strong institute admissions process.
Generous contributions from Sprint and Southwestern Bell helped finance the investment in Kansas City’s future teachers.
“As we know, teachers often earn less than some other professionals, so this incentive really helps these students start their careers without a huge debt to pay off,” says Matthews.
Matthews emphasizes that one of the most important factors for success in the program is that it will help develop teachers-to-be who will not lose hope.
That may be the best possible ingredient for success in today’s urban schools.
More about the Institute for Urban Education program can be found at http://iue.umkc.edu.
Courtesy of the Fall 2005 issue of the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Perspectives magazine.
