Teacher Shortage Doesn't Justify Lowering Standards Editorial by Cheri James, VEA president I have often used this quote to illustrate the importance of teachers. Those of us working in public education recognize this immediately. Consider if you will the impending teacher shortage, which, in many places around the country, including Virginia, is already here.
Students learn more when their teacher knows more.
Standards need high quality teachers Virginia has set higher standards and expectations for all students. The desired outcomes, of course, are to have all students perform at higher levels in the four core academic areas, and to have all schools become high performing schools. So, it stands to reason that if we want all students achieving at higher levels and we know that it's the teachers who make the difference, then we should be taking not only steps that retain quality teachers but also steps necessary to attract persons to the teaching profession. Unfortunately, Virginia seems to be suffering from some sort of schizophrenia. On the one hand, the powers that be have enacted measures that raise teacher salaries, recognize those teachers who have attained National Board Certification, encourage localities to find other ways to recognize exemplary teachers, provide teachers with continuous high quality relevant professional development, and provide mentors for beginning teachers entering the profession.