Column 81 for May 6, 2001

Thank you Governor Barnes! Thanks to your new, innovative "Teach for Georgia" program, our current and projected teacher shortage worries are over!

Right… I’ve read the papers. I know that some state and even local officials are excited about the "new" program. I know on the other hand, teachers, and teacher organizations have expressed outrage that this is an insult to the teaching professionals here already.

I say, "bring them on!" And, I do this emphatically…for several reasons.

First, most of the professionals inquiring into this program will be shocked at the pay cut they would have to take to become a teacher. The financial "window of opportunity" to make this career change simply will not be open to them. Second, many of those few that do pursue this career change will be shocked at the situation in the schools they go to work in, i.e. the students lack of respect, and that the administration treats them much as they would a student. Thirdly, again to those few that reach this point, most will find that they do not have the "calling" to become and remain a teacher. Retention rates for teachers will be lower than ever.

Basically, what this program will do is to inform a greater number of professional Georgians exactly why we have, and will continue to have, a teacher shortage. This will not immediately provide the teachers we need, but it will get more of us closer to understanding the proper way to reach a solution.

Governor Barnes is trying to make political "hay" with this program, but it is not new. I know. I went through "alternative" certification back in 1987. For those of you that don’t know me, I had a business career before teaching. I was Corporate Director of Fabric Procurement for La-Z-Boy Chair Company back in the mid-seventies. Then a merchandise manager for Kroehler Furniture, and then, shortly before becoming a teacher, Vice President of Schroeder Furniture Company.

I had a "window of opportunity." I felt the calling to become a teacher. I have successfully dealt with student apathy and occasional disrespect. I’ve handled the year to year political reforms with humor. I have, thus far, also handled the change in status compared to my business career. Example: When urged to wear a necktie by administrators, I’ve responded, "If you want me to dress like an executive, you’ll have to pay me like an executive." And added, "It seems to me the greatest teacher of all-time had longer hair than I do, a beard, and wore robes too, didn’t he?"

Coming to grips with teaching will be too much for most professionals. But for those very few, I wish the best. Being an innovative (read non-traditional) teacher does wonders for the students, and (hehe) drives the administrators wild. The fact that you’ve practiced what you teach carries weight that few teachers can offer. Many "second career" teachers also have more administrative experience than the people they’re now working for.

Back to where we started. Bring them on. This publicity will help. We will get a few really good teachers out of this program. And, if we’re lucky, someone smarter than Governor Barnes will eventually lead us closer to solving the teacher shortage problem.

Peace. tomiswho@mindspring.com