Educators scarcity critical
by Michele Whitehead, reporter

    In the next 10 years, the United States will need over two million new teachers.

   As a result, a large number of college students need to pursue a career in education.

   Reportedly, several factors contribute to this shortage, including the number of educators reaching retirement age, increased student enrollment and declining student/teacher ratios based on class-size reduction efforts.

   By 2008, public school enrollment is expected to exceed 54 million students, according to the National Education Association.

   The greatest need in public education is predicted to be in high-poverty urban and rural districts, with the requirement of 700,000 new teachers.

   Another major factor that contributes to the shortage of educators is the salary gap between teachers and other college educated-adults of the same age.

   Education Week found that teachers ages 22-28 earn about $8,000 less a year than others possessing bachelor’s degrees.

   The gap is almost three times greater for teachers ages 44-50, who earn about $24,000 less than people of the same age in other occupations.

   In an effort to make teaching a more appealing career choice, schools across the nation have given some special incentives to help individuals make the choice to teach.

   Programs include signing bonuses.

   Some states also recruit teachers from other countries and offer repayment of student loans for teachers who agree to work in high need areas.

   Some public schools provide on-site day care for teachers’ children.

   Emergency certifications are given to those who hold degrees and make a career change to teaching.

   Currently, 42 states give emergency certifications to people who have never taken any education courses and have never taught.

   Low-cost housing for employees of a district has worked to lure many new teachers for many schools.

   Still, in a typical year, an estimated 6 percent of the United States teaching force will leave the profession.

   During the first three years of teaching, 20 percent of new hires will quit.

   The number-one reason given by teachers who leave at the beginning of their teaching career is job dissatisfaction or a complete career change.

   The worst problems in most districts are the hard-to-fill areas of special education, mathematics and science.

   As school systems put more emphasis on standardized test scores and covering a certain amount of curriculum, some teachers believe they have no time to be creative.

   The field loses some of its appeal when teachers feel that they are more like technicians administering someone else’s creativity instead of developing and growing their own.