Shortage and Surplus
No surprise here. People have the hardest time wrapping their minds around the following two truths:
- There is a surplus of teachers
- There is a shortage of teachers
Both statements are true. There is a surplus of elementary teachers. But there are HUGE shortages of math, science and special education teachers.
Broward County, a Broad Foundation finalist, does what is right for students. They are cutting teaching positions in surplus areas and hiring teachers with math and science expertise.
Which brings us to ABCTE – this is exactly what we do. Train career changers to be math and science teachers AND/OR help elementary teachers become great math and science teachers.
Looking at all teachers versus all teaching positions masks the issue. Both statements are true and if states and districts don’t focus on number 2, it will have an adverse affect on the ability of their students to compete in the global market.
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Comments
"There is a surplus of
"There is a surplus of elementary teachers." Is this true for all nine ABCTE states?
Then why is it so hard to
Then why is it so hard to find a math job in Tucson, Arizona? I even taught Algebra during summer at Cholla Magnet High School, so I would like I have experience. It was still hard finding a job.
There is no teacher shortage
There is no teacher shortage of any kind. All this talk about teacher shortage is a ploy to increase the pool of teachers, to increase the supply way beyond the demand. Why? So hundres of applicants would fight over a position; more supply more opportunities to pay less, bust unions, etc,etc.