Opinion

Many Colorado school districts have a growing problem attracting qualified teachers.

A large number of teachers will be eligible to retire over the next few years, and others are leaving the profession. Fewer are graduating from teacher training programs and entering the field.

The shortage is especially acute in rural and inner-city districts (as opposed to more affluent and often less challenging suburban schools). Some specialties, including math, science and special education, are in shorter supply than other positions. The shortage affects class sizes and the ability to offer advanced courses.

State Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, a retired teacher, is sponsoring House Bill 1003 to study why fewer students are choosing to become teachers and identify ways to correct the problem. The bill, which cleared the statehouse this week, also received the support of Rep. Marc Catlin, R-Montrose. That’s a good start; every effective solution begins with accurate information and bipartisan support.

Southwest Colorado has many small school districts, and in most of them, teacher pay is not competitive with other regions of the country and other professions. No matter how motivated a person might be to teach, he or she has to find a way to pay the bills. Teaching is hard, often thankless work. Despite the complex factors that influence a student’s educational achievement, when that student fails to do well, the blame falls on teachers.

Some districts, including Mancos RE-6, are responding to the shortage by recruiting non-certified teachers, who then have three years to achieve certification. That plan, while perhaps one of the only solutions immediately available, is not ideal. First, teaching requires a specific skillset and mindset. Not everyone can do it, no matter how successful they have been at other careers. The eventual solution must not include lower standards; in fact, believing “anyone can do it” is part of the problem.

The study is likely to find that teachers need better pay and more support from their communities. No matter how poor a community is, failing to attract, compensate and keep talented teachers will render it even poorer. Reps. McLachlan and Catlin are on the right track.