The Nation - News from June 27, 1985

The nation could lose half its minority teachers unless it takes immediate steps to steer more minority children into rigorous academic courses, the president of the National Education Assn. said. Mary Hatwood Futrell decried the high failure rates for blacks and other minorities on tests that California, Florida and many other states use to screen new teachers. But she said the tests “are a reality,” and the solution is to give minorities “a more solid academic background.” Futrell spoke at a news conference in Washington before her union’s annual convention, which opens Friday.