THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 24, 1994 TAG: 9408240005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
The recent commentaries on minorities in education by Lee A. Daniels, a contributing editor of Emerge magazine, and Elaine P. Witty of Norfolk State University, were in essence a tearful smile to me. The titles ``Destined for Trouble?'' by Daniels and ``Minority teachers lacking in schools'' by Witty when connected with my life give birth to the oxymoron ``tearful smile.''
It is extremely tearful to see a black boy called a slow learner, inferior or a troublemaker. It is tearful to use such terms to describe any human being. We need to recognize the invisible child and handle that child with extreme care as if he or she were the finest of crystal.
I am an African-American male educator at the Early Childhood Center at Stuart in Norfolk. Last year I was one of four male teachers in early childhood education in the city. It is an honor for me to be involved in the education of young children. My reward is the satisfaction of giving back to the community what the community has given me - a thirst for knowledge.
I am grateful to Dr. Witty for her thoughtful article. I can smile now that I'm preparing children for the future, as the future belongs to them. The children will be visible.
JOAQUIN C. RICHARDSON
Chesapeake, Aug. 16, 1994 by CNB