July 27, 1983

A newly completed Teacher Availability Study projects that an average of 660 new science and mathematics teachers--510 of them in math--will be needed each year in the near future, according to Wesley Robinson, one of the state officials who drafted the study.

The $50,000 loan program was passed in May by the legislature and signed by Gov. Richard A. Snelling. It is being administered by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation. Under the program, according to Mary Ann Luciano, legislative liaison for the state department of education, teacher candidates could receive up to $2,000 each year.

The major reason, says Susan Sears, assistant professor of human resources education at the university, is that students worry about pleasing both the teacher and their classmates when giving oral presentations. "What may make a good impression on the teacher may not impress their peers," Ms. Sears explains. "The other kids may say the student is 'apple-polishing."'

That bill was tabled in favor of another bill--which had been approved by the legislature but was still unsigned by Gov. Joseph E. Brennan as of late last month--authorizing the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate to establish a 21-member state commission on excellence in education. Members of the committe would be selected from all levels of the education community, according to Greg Scott, legislative liaison for the state department of education.