Most, if not all, school districts in the state are expecting to have to reduce the number of teachers. Also, most of those teachers who will be laid off are new teachers, just starting their careers. They may not ever return to teaching, if the reductions continue and they find other jobs (not in education).
In order to keep these talented people available, why not hire them as
classroom aides? If the class size is going to grow, the pressure on
the classroom teacher will increase and it will become more difficult
to meet all the students’ needs. Here is a chance to use fully
qualified and certified people as classroom aides until the economy
recovers. Use the stimulus money to pay them (at aide salaries) and
everyone will benefit. As teachers retire, the new teachers will be
“waiting in the wings.” Each school could have an aide for each grade
level to help with paperwork, testing, small group instruction, and
recordkeeping.
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