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Show Too feacyeA? "Oversupply instigates qU0Ja complete the sentence" and a ten-minute spelling test, with lists of words you always meant to look up. And the rest of the time and test is devoted to filling out 600 personality questions that relate to you as an individual. One thing about those tests, once having taken them, a student thinks several times before withdrawing from the program. Already, he is at the point of no return. Perhaps the next largest step on the road of becoming a teacher is finding eight people who like you well enough to write an impressive letter of recommendation, explaining ex-plaining why you would make a good teacher. And then of course you take a speech and hearing test, a tuberculin test, fill out a physical fitness sheet, formally apply in the teacher certification office, receive approval from your department counselors, find a picture of yourself, complete the statement: "I'm considering teaching as a career because..." and anxiously wait for that final approval. Private interview The final step is having a private interview with two or three professors of education, who look over your transcripts, your test results, your letters of recom- because our quota f , exhausted," Actually, there Ur' 9. Positions open in Ut?h teS ral areas and s2""(! areas. Math and C are two examples. 7is problem of iob 1 CH) ards to o4 p :, mentation, contin University role, Besides detoi necessity of htt J ' State Board of 1 assigned certain institutions in different, 1974, the Unive5n' unT9 role in ministration, including , foundations ZT higher education and J? educational psychology St! 01 areas in Utah must on t Z University. Utah State charge of the doctoral elementary and , , education. Like the quotafi however, these assignment changed if need arises. Each teaching area will have a distinct number of ,Wm allowed into the program, figures for this year rfi determined Oct. 30, by the k II 1 : hi iffl by AMY WADSWORTH Chronicle Staff Contrary to the time when the school teacher was the most sought -after person in a growing community, most schools are now turning newly graduated teachers, with outstanding qualifications, away from their doors. The reason? It's back to that old economics problem: oversupply. Last year, the Utah State Board of Higher Education, in response to a growing concern for teacher unemployment, made a survey based on 1971 figures. Their findings fin-dings indicated that Utah institutions in-stitutions were producing approximately ap-proximately 3,300 certified teachers while the job demands of the state were around 1,050. A little more than a third of all graduating teachers were finding jobs. Quota The State Committee for Education, with representatives from the University, Utah State, Weber and Snow continued the study, working out the needed supply of teachers and the number to be produced. Their solution came in the form of a very unalterable word: quota. By mandate of the State Board of Education, all state institutions are now required to enforce this policy in their departments of education, curtailing the number of students graduating in this field by 25 percent. "The University's quota is now set at 490 certified individuals in-dividuals including four-year teachers, special education, educational psychology and all other areas," stated Stephen P. Hencley, dean of the Graduate School of Eductation. Permanent policy The program goes into effect this year for all those graduating in 1974 or later. Students graduating before 1974 are not included. The intent of the state is to make this a permanent policy, though it can be changed or altered if necessary, explained Dr. Earl Harmer, chairman of the Department of Education. The University is to reach the quota by 1974 and thereafter there-after maintain it. The staff in the Department of Education, however, is not in total agreement with the new policy. Despite the urgency of the predicament, Dr. Harmer stated, "I think that it's a mistake. I believe that as long as we have the faculty and staff to teach these people, we ought to teach them. The best we can do is to inform the prospective teachers about placement situations. But the decision is up to them." Not easy But if s still not a simple matter. Before a student can be accepted into the Certification Program, he needs to apply. And that in itself is an undeniable challenge. Fortunately, For-tunately, the Department of Education has a typed list to give students with all instructions clearly explained on how to be admitted. The student is allowed to keep the list over the next two years to check it against what he has left to do. The first step on this long and varied list is to take the teacher certification battery of tests given by the Counseling Center. Grouped together in a cold, Saturday morning lecture room of the tearh688 ,BldQ-' the Prospective teachers slump over their worn and yellow tes, booklets, scratching unes 'n between smal1 dotted Tests and more The test itself is not that difficult or long, compared to the CLEP or" ACT. There is a 40-minute English section returning to the good old stand-by grammar-"Which of the following answers would best mendation and completed statement and finally decide whether or not to let you into the program. The interview takes place, however, about two years after the first step of application, so that a student may be half-way through his courses and not be accepted. "Of course the criterion is not foolproof such as GPA alone is not effective or necessarily true. But the process as a whole provides a good basis for making a decision," stated Dr. Harmer. Positive aspects There are many positive or at least understandable sides to the quota system, however, as pointed out by Dean Hencley. The state does not want to pour money into an area of over-supply. And this new program allows for a fairly extensive screening to take place so that only the best of the students pursuing a teaching career receive their certifications. Teaching and other educational areas are very attractive, Hencley continued. "The training a student receives in becoming a teacher is highly valued in other areas of community life. Many women enter the field to insure themselves of a job if difficulties arise in the future. Only about one-half of certified teachers ever get into the classroom." Touchy spot The Department of Special Education is in one of the most touchy spots. They have a smaller quota than other areas and have more people applying. "Our problem is not difficult now mission and Retention Commits of the University. No job guarantee . "It is important to make tie students realize, however," statsi Dr. Harmer, "that just because tef get into the program, they are ftf guaranteed a job. They will not be eliminated from the competiticfl. Part of the job problem sW from the in-coming number el certified teachers from neighbonng states which are not included in W quota system. Thus, Utah tea are competing against themsek and outside people for jobs. Alan Brown, a member 0 Granite School Board eg there are ten to 15 applied every job, allowing much row selectivity. Real problem According to Dean H Utah is not getting problem of the state J J question of how J should be allowed to g field of education. B decision must be made not the state should J, number of student. J, attend the highe r W There must be equ ta , of all students, no ma area. teachi(iS ' So' 35 " fmt r turning away from the realistic. As w, h tiil areas of our growing 0 Competitive field reg.;3 degree of sPfna' " proficiency. Pj, natural. After all, B teacher? |