Dive Brief:

• Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White says schools of education and teacher prep programs need to allocate "more time for teachers in classrooms before they become full-time teachers."  
• His statement comes after a statewide survey from the Louisiana Department of Education found that most new teachers don't feel adequately prepared for the realities of the classroom and that they should have spent more time in the classroom during their studies.  
• The survey also found that ed schools don't adequately prepare for teacher shortages — for example, making sure there will be enough math and science teachers as more baby boomer teachers retire.  

Dive Insight:

College faculty agree with White. Of those surveyed, over 50% said they believed students didn't spend enough time in the classroom. Despite knowing that education majors should spend more time in the classroom, many schools of education struggle to find placement opportunities for future teachers. A lack of leadership and mentors is an issue. According to the state Department of Education's survey, 38% of college faculty said they couldn't find current teachers to serve as mentors for the education majors.

There is probably a bigger issue if these faculty members are struggling so much to find mentors in the classroom already. Where are all the good teachers willing to help out? Could stipends be given to classroom teachers who agree to be mentors? Or, specifically, shouldn't those teachers appreciate the extra help in the classroom?

Regardless, White made a great point when he said, "A lawyer would never conduct a trial without being under an apprenticeship and a doctor would never perform surgery without being fully trained on the job by a professional. So newly-minted teachers shouldn't be expected to immediately walk into a classroom and be able to perform."