SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WHBL) - The state budget has a provision that would allow people with “real-life” experiences to earn a license to teach the subject in grades six-through-12. It also allows anyone with a bachelor’s degree to earn a license to teach English, math, social studies, and science.
WHBL News reached out to several school superintendents and administrators to ask them their opinion on the proposal. All were in agreement that they do not support the changes.
Howards Grove Superintendent Chris Peterson says being a great teacher is more than just knowing the curriculum. "Students come with a lot of social issues. There’s a lot of child psychology issues. There are issues regarding how to provide instruction."
Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah Superintendent Ann Buechel Haack says there are other ways to make earning a teaching license easier without compromising quality. "How much the scope of licenses people need - if you’re only going to teach, let's say, ninth grade science, do you really need to have the whole general four years of science."
Supporters of the budget provision say it will help rural districts in general, and all districts find teachers for hard-to-fill positions.
Random Lake Superintendent Tom Malmstadt said if the goal is to increase the number of teachers, then there should be more effort made to make teaching a profession people want to take up.