WTF? I thought there was this massive teacher shortage in our schools?

[aandd]

[vent]

So, I'm looking at alternative certification to start teaching next year when my son goes back to school. I have a bachelor's degree, so all I need is the certificate. Here is what I found:

It costs roughly FIFTY THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS to get certified to teach in Texas.

They DISCONTINUED the grant program that provided funds to offset that 5K cost.

Now they only offer a REIMBURSEMENT... AFTER you've taught for a year. So you have the ONE YEAR to get certified, then you teach for ANOTHER YEAR before you qualify to get $1700 of your FIVE THOUSAND back.

That doesn't really sound like they are encouraging career changers and new college graduates to move into the teaching field which is supposedly in such dire need of qualified teachers. You'd think if they needed people so badly, they would be making it easier, not pricing people out of acquiring the certification.

[/vent]

 

[Lestat]

certain states are more impacted then others, usually places with high population density (e.g. California)

 

[aandd]

certain states are more impacted then others, usually places with high population density (e.g. California)

I would think Texas would have been highly impacted. Of course, I would obviously be wrong. LOL.

 

[Razorguns]

I see you really value "teaching" as a career, fi you're more concerned about the cost.

Choose another career. Where money is not of such importance.

 

[H_T_]

detroit needs some.

 

[aandd]

I see you really value "teaching" as a career, fi you're more concerned about the cost.

Choose another career. Where money is not of such importance.

You completely missed the point of my post. Or should I ASSume that you did that on purpose so that you could make your brilliant observations about what I value?

For the record, and because I deeply, *deeply* care about what you think of my value system:

My post was a vent on the obvious lack of forethought that went into discontinuing the grant program in a midst of a "critical teacher shortage" (their words not mine) and therefore pricing many people OUT of getting certified since new graduates and many people who are looking for a new career after being downsized will not have an extra 5K laying around.

Oh, and it is absolutely LUDICROUS to assume that because someone is concerned about the cost of entry into a certain field they don't "really value" that field. AND, in case you hadn't realized it, teaching is not exactly a highly paid field, so it's safe to ASSume that, indeed, "money is not of such importance".

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

aandd

You're overlooking the nature of public education.

If you are a current teacher or administrator, you only make yourself more valuable by raising the barriers to entry to the profession. The $5300 is a barrier that will reduce the number of candidates.

This gives exisitng teachers more leverage to negotiate better contracts, because they are more "in need".

The last thing an entrenched governmental bureaucracy wants is competition.

That's what's going on here.

 

[Lestat]

aandd

You're overlooking the nature of public education.

If you are a current teacher or administrator, you only make yourself more valuable by raising the barriers to entry to the profession. The $5300 is a barrier that will reduce the number of candidates.

This gives exisitng teachers more leverage to negotiate better contracts, because they are more "in need".

The last thing an entrenched governmental bureaucracy wants is competition.

That's what's going on here.

good explanation.

basically they are giving a big FU to the kids

 

[Razorguns]

You completely missed the point of my post. Or should I ASSume that you did that on purpose so that you could make your brilliant observations about what I value?

For the record, and because I deeply, *deeply* care about what you think of my value system:

My post was a vent on the obvious lack of forethought that went into discontinuing the grant program in a midst of a "critical teacher shortage" (their words not mine) and therefore pricing many people OUT of getting certified since new graduates and many people who are looking for a new career after being downsized will not have an extra 5K laying around.

Oh, and it is absolutely LUDICROUS to assume that because someone is concerned about the cost of entry into a certain field they don't "really value" that field. AND, in case you hadn't realized it, teaching is not exactly a highly paid field, so it's safe to ASSume that, indeed, "money is not of such importance".

I'll ignore your silly insults. Like it makes your points any more valid.

$5,000 is peanuts when it comes to gaining the education required to perform a life-long career. And for people who REALLY value their profession -- it's just a necessary expense. I've probably spent way more than that on books in my career. And that's not even taking into accordance formal education.

Just because there's a *NEED* or a *SHORTAGE* -- doesn't mean one should drop standards and requirements. What kind of great new talent do you think you'll get teachign children? Why not making teaching a $50 permit you can get online? Maybe print it out on your printer to make it REAL easy.

My rant is -- instead of bieng excited that you'll get to fulfill a desire to teach and perform a service that you should be proud of -- you seem more concerned about this trivial amount.

When choosing a career that fits what you want out of life -- costs (as long as they're reasonable) are irrelevant. I'd work 3 jobs if that's what it took to pay for the get the job I truly desire.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

good explanation.

basically they are giving a big FU to the kids

Thanks.

Welcomd to the reality of public education, aandd.

 

[aandd]

I'll ignore your silly insults. Like it makes your points any more valid.

$5,000 is peanuts when it comes to gaining the education required to perform a life-long career. And for people who REALLY value their profession -- it's just a necessary expense. I've probably spent way more than that on books in my career. And that's not even taking into accordance formal education.

In order to teach in Texas you have to have a bachelors degree. So it's a good bet that most people (especially the State Board of Education's target group of recent college graduates) already have a hefty amount of debt.

$5,000 MAY be peanuts to many careers, especially those in business. But theaching is a field that starts at around $30,000 in Texas and a field that has not had a pay increase in years. I would ASSume (and the capital ASS is not saying you are an ass, it is saying that assumptions often make asses of people... LOL) that those entering the teaching profession are conscious of the fact that they will have to make financial sacrifices to pursue a teaching career.

Just because there's a *NEED* or a *SHORTAGE* -- doesn't mean one should drop standards and requirements. What kind of great new talent do you think you'll get teachign children? Why not making teaching a $50 permit you can get online? Maybe print it out on your printer to make it REAL easy.

Who is talking about dropping standards and requirements? Are you just inventing parts of my arguement as you see fit? LOL. The requirements to teach in Texas are the same as they were the year before. The DIFFERENCE (and point of my post) was that they have REMOVED access to certification for a sizeable number of the population segment they are targeting.

My rant is -- instead of bieng excited that you'll get to fulfill a desire to teach and perform a service that you should be proud of -- you seem more concerned about this trivial amount.

When choosing a career that fits what you want out of life -- costs (as long as they're reasonable) are irrelevant. I'd work 3 jobs if that's what it took to pay for the get the job I truly desire.

*sigh* you still don't get that I am not bitching about this relative to *ME*. I am fortunate to have a husband with a decent income and the good sense to have NO DEBT for anything other than our house. The money will be an inconvenience sine we are in the middle of 10K worth of home improvements, but we are far enough out that it can be incorporated into the budget. I am venting about the DISCONNECT between a PLEA for any qualified individual to come teach and the LACK of funding to assist those interested.

I am venting because this concerns my kids and my city and the idiocy of the entire thing frustrates me.

And thank you MatttheSkywalker. I agree with you completely.

 

[Razorguns]

$5,000 MAY be peanuts to many careers, especially those in business. But theaching is a field that starts at around $30,000 in Texas and a field that has not had a pay increase in years. I would ASSume (and the capital ASS is not saying you are an ass, it is saying that assumptions often make asses of people... LOL) that those entering the teaching profession are conscious of the fact that they will have to make financial sacrifices to pursue a teaching career.

You know the facts better than I do. But that doesn't change the details. The details are still the same -- you gotta pay that to get in.

Is it right? Probably not. Probably external forces here (as Matt explaind) at work here. But that's the reality right now.

*sigh* you still don't get that I am not bitching about this relative to *ME*. I am fortunate to have a husband with a decent income and the good sense to have NO DEBT for anything other than our house. The money will be an inconvenience sine we are in the middle of 10K worth of home improvements, but we are far enough out that it can be incorporated into the budget. I am venting about the DISCONNECT between a PLEA for any qualified individual to come teach and the LACK of funding to assist those interested.

Why are you telling me all that?

I am venting because this concerns my kids and my city and the idiocy of the entire thing frustrates me.

Idiocy? Look on the bright side. There's no 10,000 applicants as a result applying for that job -- so you have a BETTER chance of getting it.

Wouldn't you consider that a GOOD thing? If you *truly* value wanting to be a teacher there -- you would want less competition for that job. Better chance for you to get hired.

Dwell on that for a sec before bouncin' up and down, huffin' and puffin' again.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

I entered a similar program - I have a BA in another field. I went back to a university in a special program that allows you to get your teacher certificate plus a masters. But the teaching certificate takes 2 years to get, then your masters is another year. It will take me an additional year to finish, since i worked full time throughout the entire program (while still taking a full load each semester). I also spent almost a full year in the classroom before I got my license.

And I took out loans for this - all in all, about $40k.

I don't regret a penny.

 

[PICK3]

detroit needs some.

They pay for your certification and give you a bullet proof vest

 

[Raina]

It must depend on where you live. In Minnesota teaching is a flooded market. A lot of my sister's friends (she was 3.5 years into her teaching BA before stopping because she couldn't take the politics) are moving out of state to find jobs.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

It must depend on where you live. In Minnesota teaching is a flooded market. A lot of my sister's friends (she was 3.5 years into her teaching BA before stopping because she couldn't take the politics) are moving out of state to find jobs.

Minnesota is a special situation though. The market is flooded with teachers because the state gov'mt in MN is out of $$ to fund schools. So there are MANY school that do not have money to open - no money for heat, air, salaries, etc.

So there are more teachers than positions - because of the closed schools. The schools that are open are still overcrowded because the students are still there - there are just not enough schools open. It is NOT because there are too many teachers - there just aren't enough schools because of the lack of funding.

One of the teachers at my school is from there - she had to move because she was laid off from one of such schools. I always get lessons in the education system in MN from her, lol.

 

[Ulcasterdropout]

Don't matter. Those little bastards aren't learning anything anyways.
Can't even find New Jersey on a fucking map. Send 'em to the flour mills....