Illinois trying to grow, keep agriculture teachers
April 21, 2009 01:36 PM MDT
SPRINGFIELD (WREX) - The state of Illinois needs agricultural teachers and now schools are getting the money to develop them.
Several universities and community colleges in the state will share nearly $350,000 from the Illinois State Board of Education to help recruit and retain future high school agriculture teachers.
"Agriculture is the backbone of industry in Illinois. Having qualified instructors specialize in this field is essential to our standing in the world marketplace," said Christopher A. Koch, State Superintendent of Education.
One of the things the money will be used for is to help students gain experience through paid internships or other career-related activities to become agriculture science teachers.
The University of Illinois, Illinois State University, Western Illinois University and Southern Illinois University as well as Black Hawk College in Kewanee, Land Lake College in Mattoon and Joliet Junior College will all get money from the grant. Link
It’s encouraging to see that the state of Illinois recognizes the importance of ag education in the schools. Never has it been more important for people to learn where their food comes from. We have an uneducated electorate that is making decisions about how their food will be produced without any regard to the consequences of their vote. If everyone had to take some ag classes, maybe we wouldn’t have the problems we do today.
1 comment:
I am proud to be a student that is receiving some of those dollars for doing an Ag Edu internship... as a Freshman in College... LOVING it!!
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