Florida schools short on teachers.

If you were to ask young people what type of career they wanted to have when they get older, probably very few would say teaching. The reason is often a notion that teachers are underpaid and overworked. In addition, the stress of having to prepare students for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test(FCAT), instead of preparing them for life, seems to be a big issue.

Not so. According to reports carried in The Palm Beach Post, those are not the reasons given by teachers who have left the system. While these are contributing factors, the article stresses the fact that students are afraid to get into teaching because of the negative image that the media presents.

The article speaks to the fact that many universities have openings in their college of education. These openings according to the Presidents are not easily filled.

Suggestions have been made to employ media campaigns aimed at presenting the positive side of teaching. This, in order to stimulate an interest among the young, to join the profession.

While this may be a partial answer to the problem, one still needs to note that the society is filled with people who have a desire to live comfortably. Image enhancement would be a step in the right direction but, a handsome salary package would definitely make a difference.