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IBM to train staff as math, science teachers
Rediff ^ | September 17, 2005 16:13 IST | Rediff

Posted on 09/17/2005 6:20:52 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick

Concerned over the critical shortage of math and science faculty in the United States, global IT major IBM has announced a programme that encourages employees to take up the teaching profession.

The world's largest Information Technology company said on Friday that it would reimburse participants in its new transition to teaching programme up to $15,000 for tuition and stipends.

Participants will also be able to remain at IBM while they conduct course work and training, the company said.

"Many of our experienced employees have math and science backgrounds and have made it clear that when they are ready to leave IBM, they aren't ready to stop contributing," Stanley Litow, vice president of IBM Corporate Community Relations, said in a statement.

"Transferring their skills from IBM to the classroom is a natural for many--especially in the areas of math and science."

The IBM transition to teaching programme will begin as a pilot with as many as 100 United States employees in various geographic areas participating across the country and, if successful, will be expanded significantly and engage other companies, too.

Employees will need management approval and to fulfill general requirements such as 10 years of service with IBM, a bachelor's degree in math or science or a higher degree in a related field, and some experience in teaching, tutoring or volunteering in a school or other children's programme.

The move comes as technology executives voice concern about the US losing ground to China, India and other countries in math and science education.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ibm; india; internet; it; jobloss; jobs; matheducation; offshoring; pc; scienceeducation; teachers; tech
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1 posted on 09/17/2005 6:20:53 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick
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To: CarrotAndStick

IBM to train students in math and science because teacher unions are only concerned with their own pocketbooks.


2 posted on 09/17/2005 6:24:03 AM PDT by Erik Latranyi (9-11 is your Peace Dividend)
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To: CarrotAndStick

Someone very close to me has been working for IBM for several years. He/She says that everybody there knows that IBM is on it's way out.


3 posted on 09/17/2005 6:24:30 AM PDT by DogBarkTree
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To: CarrotAndStick
The move comes as technology executives voice concern about the US losing ground to China, India and other countries in math and science education.

The problem we're losing ground starts in the home. Parents don't discipline children at home. Parents don't want discipline at school. Everyone fails.

4 posted on 09/17/2005 6:29:51 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn (Legality does not dictate morality... Lavin)
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To: CarrotAndStick
IBM can "train" all they wish---the problem is that the individuals so trained will be kept out of the teaching profession because "they aren't education professionals" (i.e. their degrees are in actual math and science instead of having "majored in education").
5 posted on 09/17/2005 6:30:31 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel)
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To: CarrotAndStick
Bump for school choice.

Think about this teachers:

1. Put all public education funding into $5,000 per school year vouchers.

2. Cut the school year to 120 days.

3. Increase the number of school years from 12 to 18

Conclusion: Teachers teaching classes of 20 kids per year would winding up making $200,000 for 240 days of work with overhead of probably less than $30,000.

6 posted on 09/17/2005 6:41:18 AM PDT by Tribune7
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To: Wonder Warthog
"majored in education"

The elitist LEFT who control the "education system", have vomited for years that its vital to have public teachers versed in indoctrination education and polisci ... vital to teacher's goonions, that is.

An Educrat these days learns little if anything about pedagogy and must be able to recite from Marx and Mao before turning her loose to infect your children. That's why teacher's goonions have for years, railed against distance education and stunted its growth.
7 posted on 09/17/2005 6:45:18 AM PDT by pyx (Rule #1. The LEFT lies. Rule #2. See Rule #1.)
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To: DogBarkTree

only an idiot with an anti IBM biass would say that the company is on the way out. take a look at it's size and numbers. now go back and play with your xbox.


8 posted on 09/17/2005 6:48:18 AM PDT by slickdain
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To: DogBarkTree
Someone very close to me has been working for IBM for several years. He/She says that everybody there knows that IBM is on it's way out.

WOW !
I heard from my grocer's friend, who has a barber, who's daughter went to school with a boy, who's friend's brother, once met the sister of a limo driver, who once drove a VP at IBM. And they told me that The VP might have had on odd colored socks one day and therefore that was a signal that all the bluechip stocks would be worthless paper in six months !

"He/She" ? A transexual, per chance ?

Its odd that those of us who have worked at IBM for many years along with shareholders, are optimistic about growth.
9 posted on 09/17/2005 6:54:01 AM PDT by pyx (Rule #1. The LEFT lies. Rule #2. See Rule #1.)
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To: DogBarkTree
He/She says that everybody there knows that IBM is on it's way out.

That's interesting - my husband works for IBM and he and others know the exact opposite.

10 posted on 09/17/2005 6:57:47 AM PDT by Gabz ((Chincoteague, VA) USSG Warning: portable sewing machines cause broken ankles)
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To: Erik Latranyi

"IBM to train students in math and science because teacher unions are only concerned with their own pocketbooks."

IBM to train students in math and science because IBM needs some good PR. I'll have to say though that we've got people here that are much sharper than you're average education major.


11 posted on 09/17/2005 6:58:51 AM PDT by dljordan
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To: DogBarkTree
Someone very close to me has been working for IBM for several years. He/She says that everybody there knows that IBM is on it's way out.

Oh please. I live in IBM Country, and IBM isn't going anywhere except up. In fact, it started shipping its newest generation of main frames yesterday.

12 posted on 09/17/2005 7:00:06 AM PDT by Labyrinthos
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To: CarrotAndStick
The entire public education system should be privatized. My understanding is that those schools that are run by govt funded business concerns are doing far better then are the public schools. Does anyone have any stats on this?
13 posted on 09/17/2005 7:02:52 AM PDT by Eagles Talon IV
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To: DogBarkTree

Sounds more like he/she is on his/her way out of IBM, more like. Take a look at IBM's record and financial/market positions... they're not going anywhere.


14 posted on 09/17/2005 7:07:14 AM PDT by thoughtomator (Gentlemen may cry, "Peace! Peace!" -- but there is no peace. - Patrick Henry)
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To: slickdain

"only an idiot with an anti IBM biass "

Some of us come about this honestly, through experience. I don't know whether they are on their way out as a company, but they are with me....... In my experience, the "IBM" way would make education cost more and do less than it does today - but require large numbers of IBM servers, programmers, and software - with surly managers who insist they don't have to tell you how much it all costs.

Actually, come to think of it, having them go into the education bureaucracy won't be much of a stretch.


15 posted on 09/17/2005 7:08:30 AM PDT by RFEngineer
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To: slickdain

"only an idiot with an anti IBM biass would say that the company is on the way out."

IBM has some serious internal problems not the least of which is that it is led by executives that are more worried about their bonuses than building the company. They recently sold Lenovo to the Commies who turned right around and posted a 6% profit. A recent internal survey has the management highly alarmed and scrambling to find a solution for low morale. Their solution seems to be to increase the behaviour that caused the low morale in the first place.

They are offshoring jobs to countries that are technically proficient on paper but in reality don't do a very good job of keeping the systems running.

They are firing employees with 20 years of service and more. They are IBM's institutional memory and are invaluable but management seems to think three chinese newbies are worth one guy who knows what he's doing.

They may not be on their way out but they are in a downward spiral.


16 posted on 09/17/2005 7:09:06 AM PDT by dljordan
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To: thoughtomator

their technical staff is indeed on its way out - not out of business, just out of the united states.


17 posted on 09/17/2005 7:09:21 AM PDT by oceanview
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To: DogBarkTree

I seriesly doubt that.


18 posted on 09/17/2005 7:09:49 AM PDT by ßuddaßudd (7 days - 7 ways)
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To: dljordan

they aren't eliminating those jobs - they are offshoring them.


19 posted on 09/17/2005 7:10:34 AM PDT by oceanview
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To: dljordan

"....management seems to think three chinese newbies are worth one guy who knows what he's doing"

Chinese newbie, billable at $125/hr

Experienced Expert, billable at $300/hr

3 * $125 > 1 * $300

So, clearly their business model is sound!


20 posted on 09/17/2005 7:16:20 AM PDT by RFEngineer
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