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Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 | TheFranklinNews.com
College, nation see decline in education students
MATTHEW BROWN
matthew.brown@franklincollege.edu
Franklin College is seeing a drop in the number of students wanting to become teachers. But the decrease is not unusual — it’s following the national trend. According to a study by the U.S Department of Education, there’s been a drastic decrease in the enrollment of students in teacher preparation programs. It showed that — between 2008 and 2010 — there was a small increase in enrollment in education programs by less than one percent of students. But after 2010, the United States has seen a big drop. In 2009, there was a record high number of students in teacher preparation programs, sitting at 725,518 students. In 2014, it was down to 465,536 students — a 35 percent decrease. Although that study is national, a rough analysis completed by Kirk Bixler, assistant dean of students, shows the same downward slope is also present at Franklin College. In 2002, the number of education graduates at Franklin College was 40 students and made up about 21 percent of the graduating class. In 2014, the number of education graduates was down to 22 students— just 10 percent of the graduating class. Although these are rough numbers because graduation class sizes change,
education field herself. She said the tests necessary for students to get teaching licenses are one of the big problems. When Klene was asked what some of the challenges were with going into the education field, she laughed. “There are so many challenges,” she said. Klene said her biggest challenge is passing the license tests. Education students have to pass math, social studies, language arts and science tests. “They are extremely difficult, and are expensive, as well,” she said. “I have to pass these tests in order to be a licensed teacher in Indiana.” The decrease of students wanting to become teachers means there are multiple teaching positions open for students who do want to go into the field. According to the same analysis by Bixler, at the 2002 Education Job Fair at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds, teacher job fair, 83 school corporations were in attendance. This year, 103 school corporations are planning to attend and offer job and internship opportunities to those entering the education field.
Bixler said the decrease of students Schilawski said the concept of getwanting to become teachers is still ting rid of bad teachers wasn’t bad. there. The problem came when the laws Education professor Linda Airey said were having the 95 percent of teachers, the reason behind the decrease varies who were highly effective, be persefrom person to person. cuted because of the other 5 percent, For her, it’s job strain. he said. “There is a lot of stress put on teach“But even after the laws were passed, ers today,” Airey said. “Often, teachers the statistics were still the same,” he do not feel that what they do is valued.” said. John Schilawski is the assistant Senior Justice Klene is going into the superintendent for 2008 nearby Clark-Pleasant Community Schools 2003 2005 2007 in Whiteland, a school many Franklin College education graduates are 2012 placed at. 2004 Schilawski said he 2010 thinks the education enrollment is down because of a negative 2002 public perspective. “In a political perspec2006 tive, to a degree, it is like a 2013 witch hunt for bad teachers,” Schilawski said. 2011 He said that, years ago, 2009 Education majors politicians across the made up more country started to assume than a fifth of the that 5 percent of teachers 2002 graduating class. In 2016, were bad teachers. the college is AT FRANKLIN COLLEGE So, he said, state laws only expecting to graduate 23 were passed to evaluate PERCENTAGE OF education majors EDUCATION MAJORS IN which teachers were bad — 12 percent of EACH GRADUATING CLASS teachers. the class.
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