DISQUS

Name · 2 months ago

I've been reading a lot of the Our Views that talk about the budget cuts being bad, especially for teacher. I agree. But we are pretty broke and cut backs seem like a reasonable idea. If you guys have a better idea, I think you should write about it because every time I hear this topic in class it just ends up with a lot of complaining and not a lot of problem solving. Options would be nice!

None · 2 months ago

The whole premise of this article is FALSE.

Issue a Correction. Wake up !

"District Re-Employs Most All RIFd Certificated Employees"
http://notebook.lausd.net/pls/ptl/url/ITEM/70A8...


I addition, LAUSD has had very significant declining enrollment. But they have not cut a significant number of people, including the ones who don't do any work at all. They are way, way, way overstaffed.

Get the FACTS before you shoot off your mouth.

Smarter than You · 2 weeks ago

Nice try. What you fail to mention (and do miserably with your link) is that the rehiring of teachers occurred only because congress and the Obama Administration passed the stimulus package that included billions to support public schools. Also, a study by Valerie Edwards and Mary Ehrenthal Prichard notes that the population in LA City and County are growing with households without children. Meaning the proportion of household with children is declining only as a percentage of the population and not in actual numbers.

David Huffington · 2 months ago

Oh No, a looming teacher shortage just around the corner!!! I have heard this before a thousand times. It takes balls to bring this BS up again in the middle of what is a huge teacher surplus! Except maybe science, math and special ed, there has never been a teacher shortage and there will never be a teacher shortage.

Get some real facts, not just quotes from folks who have cried wolf one too many times. Call a local district and find out how many applicants they get for any given opening. The more young folks who are discouraged from joining the already way overcrowded talent pool the better.

Smarter than You. · 2 weeks ago

If there is a teacher surplus as you say, then we could simply redistribute teachers to make smaller class size. Right! Yet, what we see is that slow erosion of the 20 to 1 class size, despite federal and state incentives.

mortygwhiz · 2 months ago

This comment has little to do with the opinion article but much to do about choosing an occupation in which to earn a living. There are teacher shortages in the U.S. The locations where these shortages are seem to be very unattractive to most graduates who plan to enter teaching. If you are passionate about teaching and are willing to move where you are needed there are jobs for you. If not, maybe another occupational field would be in your best interest.

David Huffington · 2 months ago

Ok Mortygwhiz, where are the shortages located for elementary or social studies teachers? Name me one single spot in the country which doesn't have more than their fair share. I'll save you some time regarding the local big guys: neither LAUSD or LBUSD (neither of which could be classified as 'Desirable Districts' have accepted applications in those disciplines for several years now.

Leaving aside that some of us who have families can't just up and move to some ghetto somewhere, there just aren't any openings there now in any case. Go ahead do your worst, check out the Chicago, Philly, DC, NYC district openings and come back to me. If you're lucky you might see one or two in science, math or special ed. Get some facts before you start demeaning my passion.

paulsexauer · 2 weeks ago

While the shortage of teachers may not be physical, the creative, enthusiasm needed for inspiring young minds has been discouraged by escalating demands for higher test scores. Schools have become so test driven they are discouraging students and teachers. Student teachers are also discouraged by the amount of tests they must take and pass and pay for. Students teachers are also requred to pony up thousands of dollars to work for 16 weeks with no pay while the master teachers evaluate their daily performance. This reqirement called student teaching is required before student teachers can even earn their credenntial. Very few people can afford to work a full time job for four months without any pay.

I have been an elementary teacher for 26 years and a college professor in the teacher education program for 16 years. This year there has been a dramatic decrease in students going into education. I used to teach a college class every term but now I am lucky if I get a class to fly every other term. My current class has only ten students.

I do believe that the shortage of teachers will become a reality in as little as five years. Many teachers feel like retiring but they can't beause they will not get much of a retirement in they don't put in a minimum of thirty years.

So David, your point is well taken, I do not see the teacher shortages now but I do think it will happen in California soon.