teachers

[RHOyal-Silence]

i am from a very small place in South Carolina called Jasper County. this morning on the radio i heard some very disturbing news. the local schools are short of 34 teachers. to make up for this they will hire retired professionals who may not have any type of teaching certificate.

how would u feel if u had any children in this school system?
do you think that this action can damage the students' educationl needs?

[CodeBlue_R3]

Girl you haven't heard anything yet. In Hoke County, NC right outside of Fayetteville they were so desperate they were/are hiring high school graduates to teach. I would definately not approve of that whenever I have kids I prefer to homeschool them until maybe the 9th or 10 grade level and allow them to if they choose do public or private high school.

[blu_theatrics]

Yeah I heard that here in Gary, Indiana they were hiring the subs (basically us college students with 60 hours) for full-time jobs.
I mean truthfully I would like to have more than a sophomore in colleg teaching me my high schol trigometry, if you know what I mean

[CodeBlue_R3]

I feel you on that completely blu. It's bad enough I went through a high school finding out many of the things they'd taught us that were in the books were wrong, false, or bent truths. It's a shame to be around the 18-20 years of your age to find out. I know my high school geometry and algebra II was being taught but a college student who was kicked out for partying too much, and was taking classes at a local community college. Back then I wasn't quite smart enough to figure that maybe she didn't know the work that she was teaching us cause her major was english. How is it that you can major in like us history but teach me chemistry? Do you feel that should be allowed?

[blu_theatrics]

I feel like that is really a disgrace for us to send in these unqualified people, plus it only hurts the students. It's one thing to tutor or to supplement, but to teach? and at the highschool level too.

I remember an old Cosby Show were one of the kids was in like third grad and he asked what kind of job they thought they could get if they dropped out of school (I think it was Rudy, but that's not the point, anyhow).

Well she said I could always teach second grade, I've already down everything they are gonna do in there, it was funny back then, but in reality that is almost what they are doing.

Think about it, alot of people decide to not take calculus or advanced chemistry senior year of high schol, so that they will have an easy class load. They go to college and their major only reqiures one math class, so they take basic colleg algebra, and they then turn around and try to teach what they learned two years ago while they were taking that same class.....ridiculous!

We have to do something to support our teachers. there are many people who love to teach and would love to do it for life, but in reality they know that they can't raise a family on the mere 22-24,000 dollars teachers start off at.

The children they are teaching are our future leaders, we can't let them down like this.

[BlueReign]

Well being of the profession I must respond to this. I live in a state that has very high standards and will not hire me as a full-time teacher because I am not certified. I came to this profession 3 years ago for personal reasons but since then have felt that it was my calling. I have prepared myself to take the necessary classes to be certified regardless of the pay because "it's my calling". Someone "WHETHER QUALIFIED ON PAPER OR NOT" has to teach our children.

To those who have responded to this post if you feel as you do I would suggest that you please write to the head of your local school board expressing how you feel and follow up on it even if you have to go over their heads. Our children are our future. Even though I may not be qualified "on paper" to teach I am more than qualified to "reach" some of our most disadvantaged children. One of my students called me tonight to let me know of her situation. She is 17 years old and had a baby last year right after her mother died. She has been in foster care and abused. I was glad that she called me and will do anything to help her.

So keep in mind what our 7 Founders had when they started this great sisterhood. We need to be about helping our children in everyway we can. Whether we are teachers, subs, unqualifed, uncertified or whatever. Our children need us and we can influence them in very positive ways. So contact your local officials to raise the salaries and benefits so more qualified people will be attracted to the profession of our Beloved Founders.


GREATER SERVICE, GREATER PROGRESS


[This message has been edited by BlueReign (edited July 30, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by BlueReign (edited July 30, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by BlueReign (edited July 30, 2000).]

[RHOyal-Silence]

THANK U FOR YOUR ADVICE. I AM NOT LIVING IN MY HOMETOWN ANY MORE BUT I WILL DO ALL I CAN TO ENCOURAGE THE CHURCHES AND FAMILIES TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE MATTER

[SDiva22]

I am a teacher who will be approaching my fifth year. Next year, I will be a first year assistant principal in a middle school. You must understand that the teacher shortage issue is a very deep one for black professionals. Years ago, education and teaching was one of the only "acceptable" professional jobs available to us. When the sixties, seventies, eighties approached, Black people took off in many different career and professional directions which enabled them to make more money. Let us face it. Teachers get paid peanuts in comparison to engineers, lawyers, doctors, accountants, etc... This left us with very few black teachers. The same is going on for women, in general. Woman, as a whole, are more in pursuit of careers that pay.

The particular program that awarded my teacher certification was a alternative route. The program focussed on attracting people with other degrees and certifying them in one year's time with an option of pursuing a masters degree. The only way "qualified" teachers will be recruited is with more pay or opportunities like the one I had.

Which brings me to the Soror BlueReign who commented about her abilities to reach children. That is very important because there are many people who have the paperwork, but truly need to find a new profession!!! So, soror you continue to do all that you are doing. The only thing I would encourage you to do is to get your paperwork. Credentials always add credibility to your work.

I think I would be a little uncomfortable with someone without any college training teaching. But if other incentives are not going to be offered to the teaching profession, we will have to sadly result to such scenarios and pray that some training can be provided to get these people to the point where these teachers will be effective.

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To give is better than to receive.

[RHOyal-Silence]

S DIVA U ARE A TEACHER!!
I WILL BE ENTERING MY FIRST YEAR OF TEACHING.
I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED!!
PLEASE E-MAIL ME TO GIVE ME ANY, AND I MEAN ANY, ADVICE OR HELPFUL HINTS.

[A_RHOyal_Delight]

It's true that all over the country there is a shortage of teachers. I'm a mathematics major and I've thought about teaching for a while now, a step down from my engineering goals but it will be worth it. For years teachers weren't given the respect of being known as educators and a lot of people got out of that field because of that. Teachers are in demand and I am going to become one because we have to start young and teach our little ones the value of an education. I am not for hiring anyone to do that job because to teach someone you need patience, without that comes anger and dismay and in the end noting will be acomplished. Sigmas, future Sigmas, and future Educators continue to strive, things may not look good now, but hold fast we will make it right.

[SDiva22]

To A Rhoyal Delight:
I think that your goals are very commendable. Just remember, that with a background such as yours, you can always go back to become an engineer. I want my soror to clock some dollars too Teach while you can and then follow your dreams.

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To give is better than to receive.

[A_RHOyal_Delight]

Thanks SDIVA22, many think that I am crazy to stop so close to finishing to major and take up something else but my little brother is coming up and I pay attention to the way he complains when he comes home from school about not being shown how to do certain things that are crucial to his learning experience, that saddens me. You are right though engineering will be there for me. Thanks for the support,I love my sisters

Poodles,

[SDiva22]

To Rhoyal Silence..
I tried to e-mail you, but it was returned. You can reach me at SDiva22@aol.com.

A Rhoyal Delight...

I love my sisters too

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To give is better than to receive.

[ridiculous2000]

I THINK THAT YOU WOULD BE CHEATING THE STUDENTS. I AM TOO AN EDUCATOR AND I SEE DAY IN AND DAY OUT TEACHERS WHO NEED TO RETIRE BECAUSE OF LACK OF COMPASSION. I THINK THEY ARE THERE FOR THE MONEY (HA HA) AND THE 3 MONTH VACATION. I ALSO THINK THAT THEY SHOULD DO AWAY WITH TENURE. I THINK IT MAKES TEACHERS LAZY. I THINK THESE SCHOOL SYSTEMS NEED TO RECRUIT IN OTHER STATES.

[SDiva22]

To Ridiculous2000...

Why would she be cheating the students? #1, there is nothing wrong with trying any profession. If she chooses to stay and finds that this is her life's path, fine. If not she can become an engineer. #2, How are you going to recruit in other states, if all states are experiencing a teacher shortage?

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To give is better than to receive.