> The program I am in, for example, requires >>either a thesis or an internship of at least 6 months. Six months >>is a long time to go without money. But isn't that what has been expected of Student Teachers for at least as far back as my mother student-taught (in the 50's) and there seems to be no shortage of minorities willing to go into that field. In my city over 75% of the tachers and school administrators are Arican-American. (my numbers could be off, these were the numbers when Istudent taught in 1993. I think I'm in the ballpark.) I am not saying making anyone work so long and so hard for no money is a good way to run your professional training. I think it keeps a lot of talented people from entering both professions. Nor am I saying that certain groups do not have a difficult time joining the education profession, but it is one of the most culturally diverse (judging only from my impressionistic data, and based upon no scientific studies) fields I have ever seen. How do they do it, and what can we learn from the experience? Matthew A. White Director of Education Baltimore Museum of Industry 1415 Key Highway Baltimore, MD 21230 (410)727-4808 [log in to unmask]