Teacher Education and Youngsters with Learning Problems, Part II: Major Issues Related to Recruiting, Admitting, and Maintaining Education Professionals

Abstract

The second article in this series “Teacher Education and Youngsters with Learning Problems,” explores problems related to luring, selecting, and keeping high-quality personnel. The focus is on three overlapping topics: (1) the public image of the educational system, (2) the criteria for admission into teacher education programs and into the profession, and (3) the working conditions experienced by those professionals who work in public schools. Within the context of these three topics, the presentation explores (1) the vicious cycle that perpetuates education's negative image, (2) the deficiencies of current approaches to delineating the characteristics of effective teachers, (3) the deficiencies of current admission criteria, (4) the lack of professional recognition, (5) the nature of in-service programs and on the job support (including differentiated staffing), and (6) current salary policies.