{"id":555,"date":"2017-08-28T21:28:52","date_gmt":"2017-08-29T01:28:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/?p=555"},"modified":"2021-03-19T14:21:37","modified_gmt":"2021-03-19T18:21:37","slug":"defend-maines-teachers-support-dime-a-dozen-fundraiser","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/defend-maines-teachers-support-dime-a-dozen-fundraiser\/","title":{"rendered":"DEFEND MAINE’S TEACHERS: Support “Dime A Dozen” Fundraiser"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text]Education Working Group<\/a> C2A<\/span>\n\nTHE BASICS\n<\/b>Gov. Paul LePage recently downplayed the importance of teachers, calling them a \u201cdime a dozen.\u201d <\/span>Voice your opposition to these comments and support efforts to assist new and existing teachers.<\/b><\/span>\n\nTHE ISSUE\n<\/b>While speaking at a dedication ceremony for a new vocational center, LePage said that <\/span>he valued vocational training more than traditional education<\/span><\/a> and that mentors are needed more than teachers: \u201cBecause teachers are a dime a dozen, mentors are what we really need in our system to prepare the next generation to take over. It\u2019s mentoring that\u2019s more valuable.\u201d His comments were carried widely in the press, including stories in the <\/span>New York Times<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Washington Post<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>Maine and the rest of the nation is in the throes of a serious teacher shortage, according to the National Education Association. A 2016 survey of college freshmen found the <\/span>lowest number of education majors in 45 years<\/span><\/a>, with many respondents citing the low starting salaries for teachers as one reason they ruled out an education degree. Maine has the <\/span>41st lowest teacher salary in the nation<\/span><\/a>, according to the Maine Education Association, and has <\/span>a serious shortage of teachers in key subjects<\/span><\/a>, including mathematics and special education.\u00a0<\/span>In response to LePage\u2019s comments, a Maine teacher has created <\/span>a fundraising campaign to support teaching scholarships at the University of Maine at Farmington<\/span><\/a>. Mainers are asked to submit the name of a teacher who had a positive impact on their education. For each name submitted, $0.10 will be donated to an education scholarship at UMF.<\/span><\/span>\n\nTHE ACTION<\/b><\/span>\n