Posts Tagged: Teacher Shortage

Surprise! If You Live Under a Rock.

As the war against our public schools and the profession of teaching drags on it amazes me that some people still act surprised when politicians attempt to enact policy that pushes us closer and closer towards total privatization and the siphoning of tax dollars directed towards operations that only stand to profit from the collapse…. Read more »

My testimony to Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Good afternoon.  My name is Tim Slekar and I am the Dean of the School of Education at Edgewood College.   Let me be clear from the outset. Our teacher shortage is a manufactured crisis that has resulted in an Exodus from the profession and has routed potential teachers away from teacher education.   Loosening, tinkering, and doing… Read more »

Today in Wisconsin’s War on Teachers.

Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction is toying around with this statement.   “School districts throughout the state are experiencing difficulties obtaining and retaining licensed personnel. These difficulties can impact children’s educational experience. An emergency rule is needed to create additional flexibility in the teacher licensing process for individuals who are seeking a license for the… Read more »

Wisconsin: “They” Did It!

How long has it been?  How long have I been writing about Wisconsin’s war on the teaching profession and the ridiculous notion that we have a “teacher shortage?”  Rhetorical I know. Well today “they” did it.  “They” opened the door to deprofesssionalization and authorized the use of emergency licenses to address the “shortage” and placed… Read more »

BustED Pencils Trending News: Teacher Licenses Under Attack.

Let’s be very clear. There is NO teacher shortage. There is a teacher Exodus. Loosening, tinkering, and doing away with teacher licenses will do NOTHING except kill the profession of teaching and dramatically increase systemic inequity. It is happening all across the country. Policy makers, pundits and idiots keep screaming teacher shortage.  And, in the… Read more »

Teacher Shortage as “Shock Doctrine” Part II

Since writing a letter to my teacher education colleagues and then posting it to my blog some things have happened.  I shared it with some legislators.  One remarked, “he’s right but….” Great. I’m right. But that’s not enough to stop the crazy train? That tells me that this issue will only get legs when public school… Read more »

Teacher Shortage as “Shock Doctrine”

Below is a letter that has been revised.  However, the message is appropriate for any supporter of public schools, professional teachers, and equity for all children. The original letter was sent to the state wide leaders of teacher education in Wisconsin.  The letter was written because of my adamant disapproval of toying with teacher licenses even… Read more »

BustED Pencils Trending News: Where Have All the Teachers Gone?

It’s not a shortage! It’s not a human capital issue! It’s a mass EXODUS! Change the narrative. 30 years of war against teachers and the casualties are now insurmountable. THAT IS NOT A SHORTAGE! It’s a warning that public schools are close to being privatized and our most vulnerable children will be thrown to a… Read more »

Let’s Change Teacher Licensure to Address the Teacher Shortage: FAILURE!

“Teachers are leaving the classrooms in droves all across the state and enrollment in teacher education programs is plummeting. We have a teacher exodus problem. Our elected officials will use this as evidence of a “teacher shortage” and then lower standards and allow a warm body approach to classroom staffing. There is no “shortage.” Those… Read more »

Teacher Shortage My Arse!

Yesterday I was interviewed on the Rick Smith show.  Rick asked me to explain the national “teacher shortage.”  And I said. … LISTEN!