Herbert L. Foster

Herbert L. Foster is a Professor Emeritus, Graduate School of Education, State University of New York at Buffalo. Prior to his 28-½ years at SUNY/Buffalo, he was a teacher and administrator for 17 years in the NYC Public Schools. Sixteen years were with the "600" Schools and Junior Guidance Classes Program for emotionally disturbed and socially maladjusted children.

Born in the Bronx, he grew up in Brooklyn, NY. Herb graduated from the New York School of Printing, a NYC vocational HS. Just after his 18th birthday, he attended NYU for one week, took a leave, and enlisted in the Regular U.S. Army in WW II. He ended his enlistment serving with HQ Company, 34th Inf. Regt, 24th infantry Division in the occupation of Japan. Upon his discharge, he returned to NYU taking his BS and MA from New York University, School of Education, thanks to the GI Bill. With the help of a Federal Fellowship, Herb took his Ed. D. from Columbia University, Teachers College.

Herb’s latest book Ghetto to Ghetto: Yiddish and Jive in Everyday Life was published in 2018, with a 2nd edition in 2019, and is available from Amazon.com. He also authored a second edition of the best-selling Ribbin', Jivin', and Playin' the Dozens: The persistent Dilemma in Our Schools (See Phi Delta Kappan, November 1974 for an interview about the first edition). In 2014, Herb and two other authors wrote Martha’s Vineyard in WWII.

He has been published in innumerable journals. The November 1995 issue of the Journal of African American Men published his research, "Educators' and Non-Educators' Perceptions of Black Males: A Survey." In this study, there were 3,130 respondents asked about people's stereotypical beliefs, feelings, expectations, and fantasies about black males. The study was related to the disproportionate referral of black males to special education.

Herb has consulted and led workshops for districts under court desegregation orders. A much in demand speaker and workshop leader for topics such as educating black children, teacher conscious and unconscious racism, classroom management and school discipline, and experiential education. During the school desegregation riots at South Boston High School, Herb and George Singfield presented a workshop on Thompson's Island in Boston Harbor for some of the staff from South Boston High School.

In Buffalo, NY, for 3 ½ years, Herb hosted Inside Education a half hour weekly radio educational interview program on WBFO FM, an NPR affiliate. On Martha’s Vineyard, Herb is hosting Inside Education on Martha’s Vineyard Television. Additionally, Herb has been interviewed on radio and television shows throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Herb is an elected 4 term Trustee of the Edgartown Free Public Library and President Emeritus of the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center. He is also a former Trustee of the MV NAACP and a former member of the MA State Advisory Council on Libraries. He participated on the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 27, 1963. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the MV Social Justice Leadership Foundation for racial and social justice. When at SUNY/Buffalo he served on the Task Force on Institutionalized Racism.

Herb was also a member of the Dukes County Search and Rescue Team until dissolved. In 2018, he celebrated his 80th year in Scouting. Herb intends to become, if he is not already, the oldest continually registered Boy Scout in the United States. On August of 2018, Herb at age 90, once again, won a medal as the oldest contestant to finish the 2 ½ mile Martha’s Vineyard Canoe-Kayak Regatta.