Student success depends on having highly qualified, properly trained and effective teachers in the classroom. As many of our members are aware we have held forums about Teacher Recruitment and Retention across the state.
During these discussions there was one common thread that we heard repeated over and over again which teachers believe are critical to retention. Create an excellent working condition where teachers feel they are part of a collaborative team for student success. That topped money everywhere we went. It certainly seems reasonable that we should be asking teachers what will keep them in the classroom. Afterall, they are the ones in the trenches. Now that's not to say, professional pay isn't important, because it's critical for our teachers to be able to make a decent living, and it certainly is going to be a leading factor in attracting young people into the profession.
Every school district in Kansas is feeling the pain of the teacher shortage and many districts are working at the local level to solve the problem as we wait for the state to propose and fund solutions.
Wichita School District has developed some promising solutions which were discussed in detail at our forum. You can read more about their creative solutions in a recent article in the Wichita Eagle. Go here for more information on the local programs.
If you're reading this blog - thank a teacher!
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4 comments:
Our conservative friends love to praise the workings of the free market. Now it is time for them to admit that this is a classic example of the free market in action.
When college-educated professionals can get superior working conditions and better pay in fields other than teaching, that is where they will go. If we want to attract additional highly qualified people into the teaching profession, we have to offer better pay and working conditions. And we, the owners of the enterprise, will have to pay for it. That is the free market in action.
Your "local programs" link doesn't appear to work.
I didn't know I was an owner of the public schools!
I would like to sell my shares. Can you tell me how to do this?
It's really a howler to compare the government-financed schools with anything resembling a free market.
Since when can firms operating in a free market compel people to pay for their service, even if they can't, or don't want to, use it?
What is free about that situation?
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