Desperately Seeking Teachers

by David Safier

(TASL) The Vail School District needs teachers — 34, to be exact — and they’re asking the community, please, help us find them.

“I am writing to ask you to help us fill those positions with high quality people,” [Superintendent Calvin] Baker said. “Most of the best teachers we hire do not come to us because they read an advertisement. Rather, they apply for a position in Vail because someone encouraged them to apply here.”

Finding teachers is tough all over, and not just in Arizona. It’s tough in rural areas and in impoverished urban areas all over the country.

So what should we do? Hmm. According to our Econ 101 courses, what needs to happen to increase the Supply of workers when we’re not meeting the Demand? We make the job more attractive, to bring in more applicants. How about . . . oh, I don’t know . . . how about . . .?

WE RAISE TEACHERS’ SALARIES!
WE LOWER CLASS SIZES!
WE PROVIDE THE BOOKS AND SUPPLIES TEACHERS NEED TO TEACH!

Was I yelling again? Sorry. It’s just that it’s so obvious, but somehow we seem to be going in the opposite direction.