Solving the Teacher Shortage: Step 1
J. Renee Gordon
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When we sat down to put some numbers to the teacher shortages there were some factors that we considered. The first was that of the 3.5 million teachers 50% of them could retire today. Not at the end of the semester or the end of the year but today. The second factor was that in the last 5 years there has been a 39% decline in the number of new education graduates. Yet the statistic that was the most startling came from the US Department of Labor. A full 40% of those new education graduates (about 110,000) will never go to work in the classroom after graduation.
Using all of these factors we project that in 5 years the US will have a shortage depending on the rate that those teachers eligible to retire do so of between 650,000 to 1.5 million teachers. To put this more clearly this is a shortage of between 6 to 13 teachers for every public, private and charter school building across the United States.
Without fail upon presenting these statistics we are asked, "What is the solution?"
First we must admit that there are many, many components that have lead to this crisis. So what needs to be the first step. Let us acknowledge that you can't change what you don't acknowledge. For this reason here is our suggestion for the first step to solving the teacher shortage.
We must require that every elected official before they can vote on any education legislation spend a full week as a substitute teacher. This includes drop off and pick up duty, parent meetings, staff meetings, and lunch duty.
Good money is betting that they wouldn't make it past lunch.
Primary/Secondary Education Professional
5 年I totally agree. I have had some business people come in for a day, most never came back after lunch, and they did not have lunch duty.
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5 年I would like to see these elected officials to be in a school that begins @ 7am in a Kindergarten class with 12-14 students. Have that person teach Language Arts with group rotation and have two maybe three students with behavioral issues- one who screams @ the top of his lungs when he can do his work, and continues to scream when you offer to assist. And runs through the room throwing objects. How would they handle this??? And that’s just one issue.
B.E, M.M.M, DBA, Senior Lecturer, University, Assessor, IQA, External Examiner, TVET(NQA) Quality Assurer, RTP Approver earlier with KHDA-NIVE
5 年I feel the main concept of teacher-management is the main culprit. People who have no idea of teaching ate at decision making positions and misusing the system.
Educator and Lifelong Learner in the pursuit of mastering my craft
5 年Yes, yes, and yes!