As an editorial writer, I spent years writing about predatory lending and the resulting subprime mortgage crisis, which often earned me rebukes from readers who argued the blame for subprime loans fell on uninformed borrowers rather than unscrupulous lenders.
Credit: Maureen Downey
Credit: Maureen Downey
There was a lot of tolerance toward greedy lenders. Few were ever held accountable for abusive practices, even the Wall Street sharks and volume-hungry mortgage brokers who earned millions on easy credit policies and tempting teaser rates that targeted riskier borrowers.
Then, I began writing about education policy and found a far different level of accountability applied to Georgia teachers earning average starting salaries of $30,000 a year.
The virulence directed at teachers is striking, especially given they work in a low-paid profession that's now being asked to perform the near education equivalence of turning water into wine. (Cure poverty and other social ills, level the playing field, provide kids with a moral compass, teach them math, reading and soft skills. And motivate them to eat more veggies and exercise regularly.)
So, it shouldn't surprise us fewer Georgians are choosing to go into the classroom.
Here is an excerpt of a MyAJC.com report on the trend by AJC education reporter Eric Stirgus:
During the 2008-09 school year, more than 7,200 people completed Georgia teacher-preparation programs, according to a federal report; three years later, 6,405. Nationally, there's been a similar decline, federal data shows.
Experts interviewed blame a combination of low starting pay, fewer jobs since the Great Recession and criticism of public education. Some administrators, particularly in South Georgia, say the decline has already resulted in more substitute teachers and larger class sizes.
The biggest needs, many say, are for foreign language, special education, math and science teachers --- areas where there is already a shortage, even though state leaders have stressed the importance of math and science for years because of the high-paying jobs awaiting Georgians proficient in those subjects.
Tim Helms, who runs the RESA in southwest Georgia, said there's a big need there for teachers in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math), as well as principals and nonwhite teachers. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission, he said, gave his RESA an $88,000 grant to "attract, recruit, hire and retain" teachers.
Starting annual pay in most Georgia districts is slightly above $30,000. That's not a lot when you have to repay student loans and, in many cases, spring for classroom supplies, educators say.
Some districts, like Atlanta and Gwinnett, say they're not seeing a shortage. It's more evident in Middle and South Georgia, educators there say, because teachers leave in search of better pay and bigger-city life in metro Atlanta.
State Rep. Amy Carter, a teacher herself, said the problem is not solely about money. She said some teachers leave the profession because they're frustrated by issues like a lack of support from administrators. "It's more about the quality of life," said Carter, a Republican who teaches at Lowndes High School in Valdosta.
About the Author
