Is there a teacher shortage?? Troops to Teachers

[spedtr90]

Reading the hubby's new Air Force Times today, I learned the Obama administration has made expanding the Troops to Teachers program a priority. This program places returning veterans in schools, and operates much like the Teach For America program.

Apparently, despite teachers losing jobs across the country, teachers are so desperately needed that the qualifications for Troops to Teachers have been changed; reducing years of military service required from 6 years to 4, relaxing eligibility policies, sending participants to charter schools, and increasing the number of schools participating by 49%.

The program will no longer be run by the Dept. of Education, but by the Dept. of Defense, in order to "simplify and streamline program management". It is part of the defense bill HR 1540.

Veterans in the program who become teachers will get stipends of $5,000 to $10,000 annually when they accept full-time teaching jobs for 27 months at regular salaries - just like Teach for America.

California Democrat Doris Matsui of California was the chief supporter in the House. Democrat Michael Bennet of Colorado will sponsor the bill in the Senate.

Just like with TFA, politicians praise the people who come through these programs for serving their country as teachers and are anxious to provide them with additional finiancial compensation. But if you are currently a teacher, or seeking a teaching job with your new teaching degree, you are a greedy, incompetent, elitist. What service? What additional compensation? We can't afford it!

I have nothing against veterans, who like my hubby are amazing people who have earned respect and gratitude for their service. But why do teachers not deserve respect? Why does the word "service" not apply to them?

Why a special program and additional money to encourage vets to become teachers? Is there a Troops to Doctors program? Troops to Bankers?

[NNN0LHI]

1. Well, it used to be Troops to Factory Workers

But we don't have hardly any factories left any more.

But we still have the Troops.

Don

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. But why do teachers not deserve respect?

They vote the wrong way. They're disproportionately female. They're unionized.

Need I go on?

They're the first person from whom my child, my precious unique snowflake heard the words 'No. That's not right. It doesn't matter how you feel. Eight is still not a prime number, and the Andes aren't in Manitoba.'

[MadHound]

3. It is another way that government can pay less and less for education

Why pay for a certified, bona-fied, professional teacher when you can plug in a returning veteran who's had a few weeks training.

No disrespect to veterans, but this is simply another way that this country shows just how little we value education.

[madfloridian]

4. Meanwhile career experienced teachers are being laid off or fired.

All of this has escalated in this administration. I never would have thought that would happen.

[TBF]

5. Because the "special program" will not involve any unions.

Pretty soon teachers won't be making any more than Wal*Mart greeters.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Angry Dragon]

7. Is that why Obama and duncan are getting rid of so many teachers??

You better rethink

[madfloridian]

9. "Any other soap boxes DU members want to get on and pontificate, go right ahead."

You said:

"This program will serve a few thousand, or few tens of thousands of teachers, out of the MILLIONS we need in any year in the USA.

I think most people in the Obama administration are smart enough to figure out if these programs are needed, and where, and how to best implement them.

Any other soap boxes DU members want to get on and pontificate, go right ahead. Encouraging people into the teaching profession is NOT one strategy I will criticize Obama about.

So carry on with your selective provincial hysterias."

Really? If they need MILLIONS of teachers, why are they laying the already working teachers off and recruiting them from special programs?

Your post is rather disturbing.

[tblue37]

8. They have laid off or "force-retired" hundreds of teachers here in Kansas over

the past couple of years. (By force-retired, I mean pressured them into retiring by threatening their pensions, so that a lot of excellent, experienced teachers retired to make sure they wouldn't have their pensions drastically reduced.)

The whole point is to get rid of exprienced teachers who have a right to certain benefits, so they can hire inexperienced, untrained teachers at a ridiculously low salary, with few if any benefits.

Basically, instead of paying teachers the sort of money and giving them the sort of working conditions that a highly educated, highly trained professional has a right to expect, TPTB have decided instead to deprofessionalize the job, on the ridiculous assumption that it can be done by just anyone--like 22-year-old untrained TFA kids and soldiers, any of whom who might be wonderful and talented in their own way, but who will not have a clue about what to do in the classroom, especially udner the impossible conditions that today's teacehrs are expected to work under.

[spooky3]

13. In South Korea, teachers are revered -- and among the highest student achievement levels in the

world. I don't think that's simply a coincidence.

[Sirveri]

10. You couldn't pay me enough to be a teacher.

Not for the shit I see them dealing with today. Stop treating the teachers like crap, maybe I'd consider it, but not now.

[RebelOne]

12. Same here. My daughter is a teacher

in a middle school in South Florida. I give her a lot of credit because there is no way I could deal with it. Anyone who is a teacher (to coin the old adage) must have the patience of a saint.

[tinymontgomery]

11. Here are the old requirements

What will the new requirements be besides going from 6 to 4 years? These sound like a lateral conversion teacher's to me. Most of these requirements take longer then 5 to 6 weeks. But I do agree teachers need to be treated like the professional's they are.

Education Requirements
• Elementary or Secondary Education: Baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited institution at the time of registration for academic teacher referral; or
• Vocational/Technical Education: Equivalent of one year of college with six years of work experience in a vocational or technical field or meet state requirements for vocational/technical referral

[The Midway Rebel]

14. In a word, no, there is not a teacher shortage.

Certain areas need, special education, behavior disorder specialists, math and some science, overall though, few districts are hiring.

[Sabriel]

15. I keep suggesting Murderers to Math Teachers

Also Arsonists to Art Teachers. And let's not totally disregard Pedophile to P.E. Teachers as an option.

My point is, as a teacher educator and former teacher, there's a lot more to sticking a willing person into a classroom and expecting stellar results.

The Powers that Be can pooh-pooh teacher training programs all they want, but there are courses that are necessary to develop the mindset and dispositions necessary for teaching well.

It's more than standing in front of a room and lecturing.