math teacher shortage

Wow. Judge orders halt to algebra. Only in California could you have a court case that results in this type of headline.

I am a huge advocate of STEM and lament the loss of our competitive edge in the world marketplace. But I support the judge in this case. It is wrong in so many ways to force all students to take algebra in the 8th grade.

Always nice to get the word out about ways to solve the math and science teacher shortage in the Fairmont Sentinel.

Let’s review what is going on right now in America:

Schools continue to use long term substitutes as a way to mask the critical issue of a shortage of highly qualified teachers - especially in math and science. The latest is from Michigan which hired 20 long term subs even as they close schools and teachers graduating from schools of ed are leaving to find jobs in other states.

This quote from Dominque, the student representative on the school board in Flint Michigan, highlights the issue:

I have been in 4 different states meeting with 4 different state education chiefs and all of them expressed the same concern - there is a serious lack of subject matter knowledge in their math teachers. Therefore, it was with great pleasure that I read the Title II draft and saw the emphasis on STEM professional development for teachers. It is with great sadness that I read that all the money had to go to institutions of higher ed (hopefully this will change).