SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS: NEW PARAGIHMS

At one time or another, almost everyone misses a day of work. The problem often becomes: Who will do the work when an employee is absent?

School districts face the same kind of challenge when teachers are away from the classroom. A shortage of qualified substitute teachers has made the task all the more difficult.

Districts across the nation are grappling with this shortage. The answer in some districts is to lower standards as a way to increase the substitute pool. At the same time some professional standards actually prevent the hiring of highly qualified individuals who could do a good job as substitutes or even as full-time classroom teachers.

Missouri and other states have placed a lot of emphasis on teacher standards. Clearly, classroom teachers ought to be able to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of what they are teaching, as well as the fundamentals of writing and basic math skills. Substitutes should be held to similar standards.

But there are many individuals in most every community who have, over a lifetime of work and successful careers, developed practical knowledge that would serve many classrooms well. Unfortunately, standards adopted by schools over the years tend to make teaching an exclusive, rather than inclusive, profession.

Just think how many classes could be taught by those with real-life experience in their fields. Certainly not everyone who has done well in a career would make a good teacher, just as everyone with a teaching certificate -- indicating they have completed certain academic requirements -- doesn't turn out to be a good teacher.

Salaries for full-time teachers has increased substantially over the past two decades. Many districts should examine the issue of substitute pay. The current job market boon means many service industries and businesses have been forced to offer a more competitive wage to attract qualified workers. Education may have to follow suit. In many school districts, the pay for substitutes has not kept pace with increases for regular faculty members.

Missouri generally limits the substitute applicant pool to retired teachers, current or former college students or holders of teacher certificate. Substitutes must pass a background screening by the state, and then a 45- or 90-day certificate is issued. It can be renewed, but retired teachers are limited to 550 teaching hours a year.

Substitute teaching should not be allowed to settle into a baby-sitting service. Parents expect more from schools, even when emergencies keep regular teachers out of the classroom.