Lesson One Training Counts

Lesson One Training Counts

Lesson One -- Training Counts

California is one of the largest and wealthiest states in the nation, and so one might assume that it would provide the best possible education to its children. However, this is not the case -- nearly 15% of California teachers lack even the basic qualifications needed to educate their students. These teachers have not met the state's standards for content knowledge or teaching skills, and many of them have not even passed the state's basic skills test.

Studies show that underqualified and unprepared teachers leave their jobs at much higher rates than those who are fully qualified, many of them leaving within the first year. Also, when standing in front of a classroom, unprepared teachers are often surprised at the many things they still don't know, and even feel inadequate when it comes to meeting their students' needs. Naturally this can lead to greater feelings of stress and less success in the classroom. So, while hiring noncertified teachers might alleviate a budgetary problem within a school district, it certainly is not helping the students. And isn't that negating the entire point?

Teachers who have received the proper training are more prepared in the classroom and feel more comfortable not only standing in front of students, but in the lessons that they present. A student will benefit more when his or her teacher is confident and actually understands the information that is being taught. While I understand that certain school districts are limited in monetary ways, I believe that they should make cuts in any areas other than the teachers. Students do not come to school to learn on their own; rather, they need their teachers to gain the full benefits of an education. If children receive the best possible classroom instruction, then this will only serve them better in the remainder of their lives. We owe it to California students, and to students everywhere, to give them the most qualified teachers out there.