Abstract

This article focuses on the shortage of qualified teachers in California which is likely to continue for some years, but it can be alleviated through the use of better management techniques and new teaching technologies. For practical purposes, the main demand determinants for teachers are the number of school-age youngsters, the average number of years each spends in school, the nature of the curriculum, and the general teaching procedures used in the schools. The average number of years that a youngster stays in primary and secondary schools is largely determined by state law winch stipulates mandatory school attendance up to a given age, and most of the variation results from dropouts during senior high school years. Curriculum affects the demand for teachers in that certain types of courses make greater demands on teachers than others. For example, vocational training and driver training can only be offered in small classes because of the individual attention required by each student, while social studies and business education can be taught effectively in larger classes.