The Associated Press published a story about Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bet of using experienced scientists and engineers nearing the end of the professional careers to help ease the shortage of math and science teachers in California.
The $12 million initiative, part of his 2007-08 budget proposal, would be a small step toward addressing the state’s acute teacher shortage.
Better trained math and science students will strengthen the California labor pool and businesses that rely on sophisticated math and science employees.
He wants to encourage retirees to contribute their experience to their replacements. IBM and six other companies already have signed on to the venture, dubbed EnCorps. Its goal is to recruit 2,000 would-be teachers during the first two years after the program is funded. Their companies will provide up to $15,000 per teacher candidate, with no limit on the number of participants. Candidates will collect their retirement benefits along with their teachers’ salaries.
Participants in the new program must have a bachelor’s degree, allowing them to earn a teaching credential in one year. They would be required to pass the same tests as other teachers.
Now, let’s support them with infrastructurre so they will bring their Tablet PCs, UMPCs, and other mobile PCs into classrooms.