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Washington - National education leaders say we are heading toward a serious shortage of teachers in technical fields. It has employers and teachers worried.
The workforce of the future is sitting in classrooms today. But in subjects like math and science, qualified teachers are getting harder to find. The reason, some say, is a simple matter of arithmetic: the pay just doesn't add up.
"If you look at the different pay between industry choices and teaching choices, it's mind-boggling. We've gotta correct that, that's the 900-pound gorilla," said Gerald Wheeler, National Science Teachers Association.
Corporate executives and college-level educators have joined in, urging that math and science teachers be given scholarships, signing bonuses, extra pay to keep them from leaving for bigger money outside the classroom. But that isn't the only issue. They say people with technical degrees, or people already working in technical fields, may face barriers in getting certified to teach.
The president of one of the nation's biggest tech firms looked forward to teaching in retirement.
"My intent was to teach math in high school. I found out I wasn't qualified. I had two offers from two universities, but not in high school," said Carl Kohrt, CEO of Battelle Labs.
If something isn't done, business leaders say the country is going to be hit by the double impact of a shrinking number of college graduates in math and science, plus a wave of teacher retirements as baby boomers age.
Paying more for math and science teachers is controversial among teacher groups that oppose favoring some over others, but corporations say they have to pay more for people with special skills, schools should be no different.
The Business-Higher Education Forum estimates the US will need 280,000 new teachers in science and math within the next eight years.
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