Have you ever wondered about who teaches Social Studies in America’s classrooms? If not, I think you’ll find the statistics interesting. Since the late eighties, the ratio of racially and ethnically diverse students has outpaced the number of educators who teach them.

According to Pew Research, teachers identifying as non-Hispanic white made up more than 75% of public school educators in the 2017-18 school year.

That same data also shows that students who identify as non-Hispanic white dropped from 71% to 47% since the late eighties. In comparison, close to fifty percent of 6-21-year-olds who identify as non-white are shaping America’s classrooms as a newer generation of young people.

But looking at statistics on who teaches Social Studies, the numbers are even more eye-opening.

How Many

Social Studies Teachers Make Up America’s Classrooms

More statistics show that more than 1.5 million Social Studies teachers are employed in the U.S. The majority of these educators work in public schools compared to a private school setting.

What are the Demographics that Represent American Social Studies Teachers?

Gender Identity

Out of the millions of Social Studies educators:

– 48% identify as male

– 47% identify as female

– 4% identity unknown

Racial Identity

Those same numbers showed those educators identifying as:

– White: 76%

– Hispanic/Latino: 10%

– Black/African America: 7.5%

– Asian: 3.3%

– Unknown: 1.7%

– American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.4%

Average Age By Gender

The average age of an American Social Studies teacher is almost 43 years old for both males and females.

– White male: 43 Female: 43

– Hispanic/Latino: Male: 41 Female: 42

– Black/African America: Male: 46 Female: 42

– Asian: Male: 41 Female: 43

– Unknown: Male: 40 Female: 36

– American Indian/Alaska Native: Male: 40 Female: 47

Education Level

Social Studies teachers in America are more likely to have a bachelor’s degree than any other type of degree.

– Bachelors: 69%

– Masters: 24%

– Associate: 3%

– Doctorate: 2%

– Other Degrees: 2%

Now that you are all caught up on who teaches Social Studies in America, let’s learn why these numbers matter.

Why Do America’s Social Studies Classrooms Need More Diverse Educators?

As a teacher, I see how my presence in the classroom makes students feel more comfortable. In addition, my racial identity, gender, and age play a huge factor in how students relate to me. But, I also have the gift of creating a welcoming classroom environment through engaging lessons. My virtual classroom as a public school teacher became a space for students to open up, ease their worries, and be curious learners.

In contrast, my first-year as a teacher was tough. I was bombarded with students telling me how much they hated the topics I taught. Some students didn’t like the outdated curriculum. Most students have been bored with learning the same topics since elementary. However, a majority felt unrepresented by the lesson plans that did not represent them. They often felt left out of discussions covering American and Global history that stripped away their existence in the classroom.

During my first year teaching Social Studies, I turned those negative views into positive outcomes. I averaged a 99% weekly engagement rate consistently. This high rate of student engagement was achieved by creating lesson plans that represented America’s classrooms. I sparked a curiosity that will always exist in young learners. I didn’t just have students showing up to class virtually, during a pandemic, I got them to participate and engage with one another.

How is Study Root Different From Traditional Lessons?

Taking a look back at the statistics from before, it’s clear the future of Social Studies education needs a makeover. Or maybe a more welcoming teaching environment that includes diverse geography, history, economics, and humanities lessons.

African American stories are more than history topics. The stories of African Americans fit well within more subjects of Social Studies. But, most stories are either hidden, forgotten, unknown, or ignored by educators.

Regardless of the racial, gender, and age demographics of Social Studies teachers in America, students deserve to learn about America as a whole. Especially the contributions of African Americans in the U.S.

Study Root Learning is an online education program that focuses on diverse Social Studies topics:

– Geography

– History

– Economics

– Humanities

Learning with Study Root encourages curious learners to re-learn and think differently to improve academic success.