Official: New law may scare teachers away

PIERRE (AP) — A school superintendent expressed worry that a new federal law that requires "highly qualified" teachers in every classroom might reduce the number of students entering the profession in South Dakota.

Jim Holbeck of Clark raised that concern Tuesday during a meeting between Gov. Mike Rounds and most of the state's school superintendents.

The meeting centered on the No Child Left Behind Act, a federal law that focuses on student achievement and improvement. The law requires that all students be taught by highly qualified teachers.

Holbeck said South Dakota has a teacher shortage that limits the number and the quality of applicants for teaching positions. Adding to the requirements to be a teacher might discourage young people from entering education programs.

"You try to pick the best candidate, but there are fewer numbers of candidates," Holbeck said. "What's going to happen with the number of people getting into education?"

Rounds had opened the discussion with an observation that people don't go into teaching for the money but for the opportunity to make a difference in children's lives.

Even so, he agreed that young people consider the cost of college and the income they will need to make a living. But he said it isn't the state's place to set salaries.

"I'm not going to get into the battle of trying to tell every school district what they should pay," Rounds said.

He said he will urge schools to emphasize salary policy in their budget decision.

"Are we going to be finding we have to make a decision on a teacher because (the applicant) meets the letter of the law but might not be the best one to put in front of the kids?" Holbeck asked.

Melody Schopp of the state Education Department said the agency is working with the universities to make sure course work is available for teachers to achieve the highly qualified standard.

Howzabout the Federal gubmint getting out of the Edewkashun bidness completely?

I voted for Ronald Reagan because that was a major plank in his platform, delete the Federal Department of Education, that and kill the "double nickle" speed limit.

Most everyone praises Reagan for his income tax cuts, truth is Jack Kemp had to fight him tooth and tong to get the 30 % income tax cut, which really turned out to be a 10, 10, 10 which equals 27.1%. Even worse most deductions were removed. Little things like tax on interest, gasoline tax, cigarette tax...........You get the idea.

Reagan was the best president in my memory, and I remember how revered FDR was.

That may be true where you live, but I wouldn't paint all teachers with that wide a brush.

Mrs. Farmguy has taught mathematics in Texas for 29 years. Masters degree as compared to a mere bachelors for me. I have always made at least twice her salary. In Texas there are something like 20 pay grades. Once you reach level 20, thats all she wrote, and I assure you it's not anywhere near 65K, at least not in any district that she has ever taught. She puts in six or seven hours a day at school then goes home and grades papers another couple of hours. True, they do have a good part of the summer off. But when everything is considered, its not substantially more time off than what I get for vacation each year (Normally, during that time off, she has to work on special projects that someone dreamed up). I get to take mine when I want it, not just when school is out.

As for benefits...there aren't any other than being able to retire after teaching 30 years for a pension that is about the same that I could receive if I retired at the same time.

By the way, she says that they occasionally have to prove their competence. She says that everyone knows that you have to be political when they answer the questions.

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