SC Teacher Retention Letter Raises Valid Points

Brooks P. Moore's Letter to the Editor earlier this month made a number of recommendations regarding how to get and retain South Carolina's teachers. Below are some that need highlighting.

It's not about the money any more.

• Boost teacher morale by celebrating and validating the teaching profession.
• Allow our teachers to spend more time teaching than documenting what they do daily.
• Reward experienced teachers by extending the salary scale for years of experience.
• Set realistic and obtainable expectations for all teachers. Teachers are not superhuman.
• The business community needs to provide teacher discounts, just like they do for senior citizens and military discounts. This is an advantage to teachers and commerce.
• Provide principals and district level support staff with additional training on how to support and validate teachers. “It’s not what you say but how you say it.”