RE: Question 1: Attracting and Retaining Teachers

I appreciate the many ideas Arthurlene has presented. How do we lure college students into the profession of teaching? I would ask is this not being done? Commercials on TV, recruitment drives, and other incentives are already in place. We realize we have a shortage, but we are trying to attract young college grads with the ideal that teachers are "heroes". While noble in theory, this strategy probably works best on those who have already made the decision. I am not sure getting new teachers is the issue. 
Consider that roughly 50% of teachers leave the field within five years. Maybe the attention should be focused on keeping those who have chosen teaching in the profession. As I pointed out in my many responses of June 6, we need to rethink the standard that a teaching career is spent in the same classroom at the same school. Mobility is the key. Get rid of the ludricous salary restraint that a transferring teacher from one district to the other can only claim seven to ten years on the salary scale. That's a start. For more, please refer to my many comments of June 6 (D-Day for you history buffs). Brian Miller