The Education Wonks
I don't know if there's a crisis or not, but I do know that we heard a lot more about it before the most recent economic downturn. Now that economic indicators are looking up the story's starting to come back.
You don't think that the supply of teachers is a function of the *marketplace*, do you?
Darren said, You don't think that the supply of teachers is a function of the *marketplace*, do you?
Actually, we're on the same page on this one. But here's reality:
Have you ever noticed that when the supply of licensed teachers starts becoming tight (resulting in rising salaries) the state loosens licensure requirements? The job market is then flooded with people who don't have their licenses, (emergency credentials, pre-interns, interns, etc.) all of which tends to depress wages.
I'm supportive of the idea that only fully licensed folks should be working in the classroom without the direct supervision of an administrator or highly-skilled teacher.
To use a comparison involving other skilled occupations: When's the last time you've ever heard of a doctor, dentist, electrician, plumber, or beautician having less than full certification yet working without supervision?
Substitute teachers in Colorado are required to have A) no criminal record and B) a pulse. B) is often waived on a Friday during ski season.
So uncertified teachers are in charge of classrooms all the time, without supervision. With training, meetings and the inevitable illness from working in what has been called a “toxic environment” of sneezing kids most regular teachers are out at least once a month and some quite a bit more.
The quality of the substitute teaching varies considerably, and there is not a strong correlation with formal certification – some retired teachers are complete slugs as substitutes and some subs with no formal training are natural teachers.
Mucho teaching jobs in places like L.A. hard to find teachers in many districts in the SF Bay Area...... Low pay for teachers is gonna bite California in the butt soon, as no one will be able to afford to work as a teacher because they cannot afford a decent place to live. Who wants to teach AND live in the ghetto? Who wants to teach in a Bay Area school and share a two bedroom apt. with three other people? California is NOT the Golden State it once was....
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