Numbers obscure USC’s work training teachers

There are many challenges that face education at all levels in South Carolina, including higher education and the preparation of future teachers.

At the University of South Carolina’s College of Education, we take seriously our charge to transform the lives of children, adults, families, schools and communities. Through our innovative programs and faculty dedicated to their work in research, teaching and outreach, we are making a difference across the state in substantive ways.

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More USC students focusing on majors that promise lucrative futures

Don’t know much about history? It could cost you

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A recent article in The State pointed out that freshman enrollment in the College of Education has declined by about 39 percent since 2005 (“More USC students focusing on majors that promise lucrative futures,” Aug. 18). Fewer first-year students choosing education early on in their academic career is certainly a concern, especially given the state’s profound educational needs, but there is much good news to share about our efforts to improve the lives of South Carolinians.

Perhaps most significantly, we are producing more than twice as many graduates eligible to teach as a decade ago: 266 students in 2014-15 with degrees that make them eligible to teach, compared to only 104 in 2005-2006. That’s because more students are transferring from other majors and from technical and community colleges. We are also seeing more non-traditional and mid-career students coming into our programs because they want to serve the community as teachers. When you add graduate students, the college’s enrollment grows to more than 1,300 in 2015.

There are a host of reasons more students are drawn to our college. We have a network of 16 professional development schools that allow students to engage in real-world classroom experiences; our Child Development Research Center is finding better ways to prepare young learners for success in school; and the STEP into Science Teaching Program prepares teachers with strategies to help students develop a passion for science.

Our online graduate program is ranked in the top 20 nationally, and — at 140 students — we are home to the state’s largest Teaching Fellows program, which provides fellowships for high school seniors who have exhibited high academic achievement, a history of service to their school and community and a desire to teach in South Carolina.

We are proud of our successes, but also know that more can and must be done. Schools nationwide face teacher shortages in special education, science and mathematics. Today’s teachers are asked to do more with less, with some confronting on a daily basis complex societal issues that impact many urban and rural schools and families. Our task is to continue to provide opportunities for talented people to enter the profession while developing innovative programs that give them the tools they need to be successful in the classroom.

We understand the proverb, “To do something fast, go alone; to go far, we must travel together,” and we are committed to traveling together as faculty, staff and students, working with collaborators and seeking new partners who will assist us in transforming lives in our state. Together, we will make a difference.