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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1990-10-10, Page 19PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1990. Teacher shortage possible in next decade The Ontario Public School Tea chers’ Federation predicts a short age of available teachers in the province by the next decade, due to the projected increase of 100,000 students, which is in excess of eight per cent and the reduction in class size and improvements in preparation time provisions. Statistics show that while these 'projections indicate a need for more than 6,000 new teachers each year in Ontario, there are currently only 5200 training per year. “It is important that we get the government to recognize there is going to be a shortfall,’’ said Howard Morton, President of OPSTF. Another issue is the imbalance of male and female teachers in the elementary schools. In a presenta tion to the Executive Committee of the Huron County Board of Educa tion past OPSTF president Phil Parsons outlined to the trustees the changing pattern. His report show ed that while the number of female teachers in the county increased from 203 in 1985 to 243 in 1989, the number of male teachers declined from 128 to 123 over the same course of time. In the first year of this decade four males and five females were hired for teaching positions. Last year, of the 39 hired in the County, 33 were women. In addition he predicts a mass retire ment of male teachers in the future years. Mr. Morton said that though the Federation does not expect the ratio to ever be 50-50 they do feel that an appropriate balance is essential at all levels to facilitate the development of well-adjusted students. The lack of male role models should be a shared concern of the boards, the Ministry and the Federation, the representatives suggested. Mr. Morton noted that though he could not speak for the women teachers both the past and present president of the Women Teachers’ Federation attended the committee meeting to “show solidarity” about this concern, he said. “The situation at this time has not had an enormous effect on Huron County, but indications show the numbers are indeed dropping,” Mr. Morton said. “While people may not see this as a primary concern I personally think it’s bad. We are seeing an increase in the number of single parent families, where the children tend to live with the mother. They grow up with virtually no male role model.” HCBE Chair Joan Van den Broeck said that the trustees have been made aware of the situation and the board is monitoring it. “It is serious and everyone’s aware of the concern,” she said. “The board will be keeping a close eye but in the end you quite simply just hire the best people.” In its report to the committee the Federation outlined two courses of action to the trustees. It suggested the board petition the Minister of Education to develop programs to address the imbalance of male and female teacher role models in the province’s elementary schools and increase the number of teacher training positions at the Faculties of Education to ensure an adequate supply of appropriately trained teachers. Ms. Van den Broeck explained, however, that the board doesn’t petition the Ministry directly. “Any petition goes through the Trustee Association which has to be collaborated with the other boards. It’s really a provincial issue.” Mr. Parsons and Mr. Morton stressed how imperative it was that graduates be attracted to the field of education. “We are going to see the same type of situation that we had in the 50’s,” said Mr. Morton. “Then we may have to take them like they did then, without the education or without having been given the proper training.” “With the academic standards set by the Faculties a lot of graduates are tempted to go into higher profile jobs than teaching. When we hear the income of teachers it is usually the highest paid ones. But, when they start they are only paid $27,000-530,000. Many with the marks it takes to be accepted begin to look at law or medicine as a better opportunity,” he explained. Mr. Morton also said there is only a handful of universities who look at the background as well as the mark. “To teach it is important to be a people person. Whether you’ve worked with children in a co-op situation, taught Sunday School, those are important. Unfor tunately these things are not as easy to monitor as academic stand ings. Those are far more subjec tive.” “These reports were given to all boards by representatives from OPSTF”. Mr. Parsons added, “There have been several respons es from others with varied courses of action. What we want to accom plish is long-term planning to first keep enough teachers, then add ress the fact that by the year 2000 there may only be female teach ers” County seeks info on women ’s prison Huron County Council voted Thursday to seek information about the possibility of the new Federal prison for women being located in Huron County. Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle moved the resolution to seek information as to whether the prison is avail able and what would be involved in getting the prison. Asked what the benefits of the prison would be to the county, Reeve Mickle said spin-offs from the staff required to run the prison to the money spent by families coming to visit prisoners to the grant in lieu of taxes would help the economy. But, he admitted, there were concerns from residents on who wouldn’t want a prison in the county and it “would not be wise for Huron County to turn a deaf ear to the concerns of the population. We’re not asking for the prison now, just asking for information,” he said. “I think the board is in an excellent position to sell education as a career to both boys and girls,” Mr. Morton added. Two-thirds of the jobs should go to our county’s children because they best exem plify our thinking. Some boards work through guidance counsellors or hold job fairs to promote teaching as a profession. At least it’s a place to start.” Grant Stirling, Reeve of God erich township where the Blue water Centre for juvenile offenders is located had the final word. There is plenty of room for the prison, he said and “they mightn’t be as keen to escape from it as the ones we’ve got.” The short of it Continued from page 4 little to do with Phys-Ed, because it is. There are a lot of very important realities out there that our children need to be aware of and a lot of competent people willing to help us teach them. While we would like to be the ones to answer their questions, we can’t do it if they don’t ask. They need to be educat- ed and aware. Though ignorance may be a terrible thing a little knowledge can be dangerous too. Business and_______ Professional Directory Henry F. 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