Dear
(name of company CEO),
As you may be aware, ISR
recently asked international teachers to share their
thoughts on the
current international teaching-candidate shortage. We asked
teachers to tell us what they perceived to be causing the shortage
and how they would solve
the situation. You can read
teachers'
comments by clicking the following link which will take you
to the "index"
to teachers'
comments.
http://www.internationalschoolsreview.com/nonmembers/teacher-shortage-index.htm
As you review teachers'
comments, you will find that many
international teachers feel part of the problem is due to international
schools
offering outdated salary
and benefits packages. Teachers report it's
just no longer financially feasible to work for wages
that would have been attractive ten years ago. Teachers also
explain that the advent of "for profit" schools
and the possibility of ethical foul play, in conjunction with
poor employment packages, makes teaching at
some
international schools completely
out
of the
question.
By contrast, "double
dippers" (retired
public school teachers) suggested
they are uniquely qualified for the current realities
surrounding overseas teaching.
Essentially,
the "Gray Ones" report they comprise a teaching
force ready for adventure, but without the need to realize
strong
financial
compensation or extensive health care benefits. These requirements
are met by their retirement plans. Some
countries
do have age limitations on visas, but for countries without
such regulations, hiring retired teachers can be a partial
solution to the shortage of international teaching candidates.
Another suggestion
brought to light appeared on the pages of TIE and focused
on the formation of a task force to address the candidate
shortage problem. It
was
asserted that
educating the American public about international
schools was one solution. The underlying thought being
if only 1% of the 3.5 million American teachers were drawn
to
work
in
International
schools,
this would add 35,000 teachers to the availably pool. Getting
out the word to these 3.5 million teachers would be accomplished
by visiting universities,
advertising
in newspapers,
TV, and even appearing
on Oprah. We now understand that this task force has been formed
and is comprised of Jane Larsson (former head of recruiting
at ISS), various school heads and leaders of an assortment
of organizations involved in teacher training and recruiting.
The question is,
will the plan
be to bring on a new crew for a new era
in international teaching, or will it be to initiate an attempt
to create more stringent standards for schools wishing to use
Recruiter's venues
for teacher recruiting?
A sample solution to the current
shortage, which reflects comments displayed on the
ISR web site,
would be to require schools to offer a set level of salary
and health benefits, in order
to be invited to recruit at "Tier One" recruiting
fairs. Schools recruiting at "Tier Two" fairs would
have less rigorous standards
to
meet as would the "Tier Three" schools. Such a structure
would attract the top candidates to the "Tier One" conferences
while those newer to the field may also want to recruit for
the
"Tier Two" and even "Tier Three" positions.
Being closer to the problem
than we, it was hoped you could shed some light on anything
that may be in the works to solve the problem. We invite
your comments and look forward to posting them for the international
teaching community to view. internationalschoolsreview@yahoo.com
We look forward to your
comments,
Ben @ ISR
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