From the Desk of the Executive Editor: Teaching as a Profession

Three recurring items reported in Florida newspapers address conditions under which teachers work in the state. The state legislature created a system to award teacher bonuses based upon student FCAT scores. (The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or the FCAT, is the standardized test given to students in the primary and secondary public schools in the state.) The state is bemoaning its critical shortage of certified teachers. Last, due to the increase in home prices and real estate taxes, many districts cannot attract teachers because affordable housing is not available. A quick check on the Internet revealed that comparable statements could be made about almost any of the other 49 states.