RECRUITMENT OF PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS

WHEREAS, inadequate salary schedules, enormous administrative burdens, poor supervision, low job prestige and a lack of public support are among the reasons for a serious shortage of qualified teachers; and

WHEREAS, universities report that the next decade will show a continuing shortage of qualified teachers; and

WHEREAS, many of those attracted to teaching come from the lower segment of their graduating classes:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers supports the establishment of joint governmental-business ventures to provide scholarships which will substantially fund college costs for prospective teachers who agree to commit a number of years to teaching and that these scholarships be based upon rigorous academic criteria, and, in addition, that fully funded internships be provided for these teachers as part of the scholarship program; and

RESOLVED, that entry level teacher salaries be raised to a level that is competitive with top echelon college graduates.