The Sky Is Not Falling!
People are painting the picture of a looming nationwide teacher shortage with tones reminiscent of Chicken Little: classes without teachers; incompetents hired in desperation; standards lowered to the "warm body" level; and possible chaos. As a former state commissioner of education, I know how they feel. But I also know that a simple strategy can avert catastrophe.
In 1982, the sky was falling in New Jersey. Our shortage of teachers was so severe that a majority of new math and science teachers in the state had their certification in other subjects. They were pressed into service in these critical fields because "bodies" were needed to fill the classrooms.
Yet, since 1984, New Jersey has had no new teachers teaching out of their fields of certification. Only mathematics majors are teaching math, and only science majors teach science. Moreover, since 1984, New Jersey has not hired one uncertified teacher in the subjects of math, science, English, social studies,...
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