Come and teach us...in Georgia, we're waiting for you [1968]

us...
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IN GEORGIA

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program

Georgia's educational program is not only moving forward rapidly, it is moving up on any measuring scale one wishes to use on it! A statewide network for educational television is the largest in the nation; a network of 25 area vocational-technical schools is the most comprehensive in the nation; the school transportation system leads in the Southeast; the state's base pay for teachers continues to rise annually putting Georgia ahead in the Southeast; Georgia's vocational education program is among the leading programs in the country; the vocational rehabilitation program is always rated among the top three; Georgia is one of the first states in the nation to establish minimum Standards for all schools; it is the 12th largest school system in the nation; and it is a leader in the Southeast in distribution of surplus foods for school lunch programs. Make no mistake about it ... Georgia education is on the move UPWARD!
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Dear Teacher:
If you will read this book carefully, I believe you will realize without a doubt that Georgia is determined to move forward in education-that we are moving beyond the minimum and making a bid for the best educational program in the nation.
We are always looking for good teachers, because we are well aware that no amount of educational organization and planning pays off unless qualified, enthusiastic teachers are in the classrooms-not merely teachers who hold the required certification, but teachers INTERESTED in what they are doing with a DESIRE to teach and a FAITH in themselves and in the teaching PROFESSION.
If you are one of these teachers, we want you in Georgia. And we are willing to pay for your services!
Georgia children are waiting for you. Come and help us prepare them for the future.
JACK P. NIX State Superintendent of Schools

we have a progressiJIe program

In 1964, Georgia's progressive General Assembly passed a completely revised and streamlined Minimum Foundation Program of Education setting a minimal line below which no school system in the state can operate.
The program provides for a minimum base pay for teachers, ample funds for maintenance and operation of schools and sick leave for teachers; it provides for certified professional personnel such as superintendents, principals,

librarians, guidance counselors, etc.; it sets

regulations for allotment of teachers to local

systems, authorizes funds for free textbooks,

library books, standards for pupil transportation

costs, vocational education, school lunch and

other important educational items.

The MFPE Law sets forth the plan of orga-

nization for appointment and ijl>t19E-

e

State Board of Education a rO~f~?,;~

election of the State Superi erld!di3.fxd\ :sHiiS>l

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Enrollment in Georgia's schools is increasing current basis-that is, providing funds for new

at an average rate of 23,000 students a year. construction in the year in which the need is

This represents a need annually for an average indicated by school systems over the state.

772 new classrooms and related facilities for

Every school now being built is air condi-

student increases. In addition, there are school tioned, state architect-approved with the latest

consolidations in many areas of the state which equipment and facilities. We are building circu-

call for new, centrally located schools of ade- lar, triangular and towering schools and experi-

quate size to handle combined enrollments.

menting with new methods of construction

In the past five years, Georgia has constructed which will allow a school to be erected in four

4,737 classrooms over the state at a total cost months. New York and California are among

of about $371,151,000. For the first year in the states requesting copies of the state plan

Georgia's history, we are now operating on a set up by Georgia's School Plant Unit.

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Beginning Salary
1940

BEGINNING SALARY

1980

(Teacher Holding the T-4 Certificate)

1954-55 . 1959.60. 1964-65 . 1967-68 . 1968-69. 1970-71 .

$2,400 $3,000 $3,824 $4,800 $5,200 $6,000*

*Estimated

BEGINNING SALARY

Georgia realizes that qualified teachers deserve a fair pay scale, and the State Board of Education and General Assembly have taken steps to help teachers' salaries advance rapidly. State law requires a minimum salary schedule set up each year with the schedule developed on an index basis.

AVERAGE SALARY (For All Teachers)

1954-55 . 1959-60 . 196465 . 1967-68 . 1968-69 . 1970-71 .
*Estimated

$2,889 $3,802 $5,095 $6,600* $7,002* $8,053*

Average Salary
1940

AVERAGE SALARY

---~-~ -~-
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ore going up, up, up
Experience and education count in Georgia! Salaries increase according to years of education and teaching experience. Certificates range from a T-4 for teachers with a bachelor's degree paying a state base salary of 5,200 for the first year to a T-7 for teachers with the doctor's degree paying a base salary of $8,268 in the sixth year of teaching. Every professionally certified teacher receives an increment every year for 15 years (1968-69 figures).
In addition to the state base salary, many school systems supplement teacher pay to bring salaries within competitive range of most other states. In 1968-69, the average salary of a Georgia teacher will be $7,153!
Georgia ranks sixth nationally in the amount of funds the state puts into teacher's salariesa guarantee that a teacher anywhere in Georgia receives a high state base salary.
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were trying

Education in Georgia schools puts emphasis on new ideas in teaching, school construction, curriculum, leadership services and teaching aids. Teachers have access to innovative equipment and are encouraged to experiment with new ideas to provide exciting classroom activities.
Teachers can expect to have certain teaching machines and audio visual aids in their classrooms. Many school systems offer services system-wide to help improve classroom presentations.
Departmentalization of subject matter in the upper elementary grades, allowing one period per subject, is occurring more and more with music, art and foreign language specialists joining elementary school staffs.
Teaching teams of a master teacher, an assistant and an aide, free the master teacher to provide students with individual attention so badly needed. Aides help students with tutoring, work with small groups, supervise halls and lunchrooms. A team teaching project is sometimes coupled with early education classes for three-, four- and five-year-olds.
Curriculum centers offer intensive experiences in certain areas such as reading. Reading machines and appealing, challenging story content and material are geared to each student's interests, abilities and reading needs. Nine school systems cooperated in developing such a center where participating children raised their reading level one-and-a-half years during one year of study.

Communities in Georgia are interested in education and in providing educational opportunities at the community level. Teachers attend dress rehearsal performances free at two Atlanta theaters. The symphony and art museum offer special programs for students to increase their interest in and knowledge of music and art. A special Title III program provides a cultural enrichment program that allows students to present their artistic endeavors to the community. The fine arts program served as a pilot for similar programs in mathematics and foreign languages.
With the comprehensive coverage of educational television, teachers can rely on this medium as a teaching aid. An especially outstanding foreign language program has been developed for elementary classes using television. Some schools also have their own closedcircuit television for preparing programs and filming activities within the school.
The state is moving toward establishment of a statewide kindergarten program. In the meantime, under Title I, many early childhood ex-

... in visual aids

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diHerent ways

periences are being made available by school systems over the state.
In one county, a 70-acre primeval forest with nature trails, labeled trees and plants and a large greenhouse is coupled with a building containing the largest telescope in the East, the third largest planetarium in the country, an exhibit hall containing dioramas in the natural and space sciences, research laboratories equipped with an electron microscope and a 15,000 volume science reference library to enhance the scientific learning of students.
These are but a few of the many teaching innovations coming to the Georgia classroom. There is almost no limit to the scope of ideas being accepted. The only requisite seems to be that the plan have educational value.

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Georgia is unique among states in its development of Standards for its schools.
"Standards for Public Schools in Georgia" provides a measuring stick for all schools. Since the Standards have been applied by the professional staff of the Department of Education, every school and school system in Georgia is designated "Standard" or "Unclassified."
To qualify as "Standard," a school must fulfill all the "Required" items on the criteria list plus a number of the "Essential" items. Beginning in 1968-69, additional requirements will be listed which, if met, will allow the school or system to qualify as Standard, Level II, or Standard, Level I (higher).
Schools which are listed as "Unclassified" will be required by the State Board to submit a plan, developed with the system superintendent and the local board of education, outlining the school's deficiences and its plans for overcoming them.
School standards measure general organization, administration, teaching staff, school plant, fiscal policies, curriculum, library and interscholastic activities.
About Standards, State School Superintendent Jack P. Nix says: "The Standards are our opportunity to put together a total education program. They will enable us to bring up the level in all systems-not just a few. The fact that they are far beyond the requirements of the Southern and Georgia Accrediting Associations puts us way out in front."
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TEACHER RETIREMENT
A member of the Teacher Retirement System of Georgia may retire at age 55 with 35 or more years of creditable service or at 60 or older with 10 years or more years of creditable service. The retired teacher may receive monthly or annual allowances. Years of service are counted up to a maximum of 40 years. Fractions of years of service are added together and rounded off to whole years. The average salary used in the calculation of retirement benefits is determined from the five highest consecutive years during which the teacher-member made contributions to the Retirement System. Member contribution rate is six percent of total monthly salary excluding travel expense; the system board of education pays 8.5 percent.
DISABILITY BENEFITS
A member of the Georgia Retirement System who is permanently disabled and is less than 60 years old may apply for disability retirement if he has at least 15 years of creditable service. A disabled member between 60 and 63 may apply for disability retirement if he has 10 years experience. Disabled members over 63 receive service retirement benefits.

SICK LEAVE
State Board policy allows each teacher 11 ~ days per year of sick leave. Besides his own illness, the teacher may be absent because of illness in his immediate family or because of exposure to contagious disease which would endanger others. The teacher receives full pay for the days absent and is not required to pay for the services of a substitute teacher. School system boards of education are responsible for administration of state sick leave funds and may supplement the state program at the local level.
INSURANCE AND PROFESSIONAL LEAVE
Many school systems offer professional leave and sabbaticals for professional development. Such benefits as health and life insurance programs for teachers are also offered by many school systems.

PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
Teachers in Georgia have opportunity for professional activity and assistance through various professional organizations where they can meet with others who are interested in education and curriculum improvements. In activities of these groups, teachers find enrichment for themselves and their classrooms and have a chance to share their knowledge and ideas.
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Georgia schools and school programs offer varied opportunities for teachers and school personnel in many fields.
Both the public and school library services of Georgia have often received national praise and recognition due to their outstanding librarians. Special library facilities require special libraries for the blind and physically handicapped.
Vocational educators all over the United States look to Georgia for leadership in vocational education. The state's statewide system of vocational-technical schools, comprehensive high schools and the two state-owned technical and vocational schools offer unlimited teaching opportunities for technical and skilled trades instructors. Within the high schools, vocational education teachers work in the areas of agriculture, business and office education, distributive education, trade and industrial education and home economics. Industrial arts teachers are always in demand in the junior and senior grades.
. .. in occupational education

Programs in state-operated schools for the blind and the deaf, and in special classes in regular public schools, offer dedicated teachers opportunity to serve the exceptional children of Georgia. Besides the blind and deaf, teachers for the mentally retarded, speech impaired and multi-handicapped are needed to give their special kinds of skills toward educating the exceptional. Psychologists and psychological services, guidance and counseling and special testing are conducted throughout the state by qualified personnel.
These are only a few areas in which Georgia teachers now work to educate our children. Come teach in Georgia and help fulfill our plans and hopes for the future leaders of our state.

OfP

Expansion and improvement are key words in planning the future of graduate programs for Georgia teachers. With summer grants-in-aid from the state, qualified Georgia teachers can take advantage of the advanced study offered at Georgia colleges and universities. The index salary schedule also offers incentive for a teacher to improve his certification level, for degrees and experience qualify him for higher pay.
Grants are given for summer study in units of $150 for each five-quarter-hQur course or its equivalent up to $450 per summer per teacher. In the summer of 1967, more than 1,000 Georgia teachers benefitted from the program, working on the degrees at the fifth- and sixth-year level.
we Ii
The professional teaching certificate is issued to graduates completing approved programs, the issuance requiring recommendation of a designated college official who indicates satisfactory completion of an approved program by the student.
The Department approves a teacher education program in a college for one (temporary) or a five- (full approval) year period for specific teaching fields and other leadership areas and for designated levels of preparation-graduate and undergraduate.
All colleges and universities approved for such programs are accredited by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges and some by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
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Types of Accreditation
4 Year 4-5 Year 4-5-6 Year .5-6 Year 4-5-6-7 Year

Degr.. Designation 4 YearBachelor's 5 Year-Master's 6 Year.Specialist's 7 YearDoctor's

Georgia has 31 colleges and universities with state-approved teacher education programs at the bachelor degree level. Eight colleges provide advanced education at the master's degree level. Six of the eight have programs beyond the master's. Georgia enjoys a national reputation for its well organized state plan for student

teaching. In Georgia at the present time there are 10
colleges and universities approved by the Georgia Department of Education to provide teacher education programs at the graduate level and 30 are approved for undergraduate training of teachers.

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?I

Home of Kennesaw Mountain Civil War Battlefields
Atlanta Braves, Falcons and Chiefs Roosevelt's Little White House Sea Island and Jekyll Island Masters Golf Tournament Six Flags Over Georgia Okefenokee Swamp Callaway Gardens Dogwood Festival Stone Mountain Indian Mounds Cyclorama Rock City
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We are waiting for you to come teach Georgia students-if you are interested in professional status and respect! Georgia puts educational improvement high on its list of priorities. It offers opportunities for advancement in your own education as well as in advancement in the classroom you teach.
We are waiting for you if you are willing to help us work toward the best education program possible and are eager to do your part to continue Georgia's climb toward the top in education.
We are waiting for you if you enjoy living in a progressive state which offers a real variety of places to live-metropolitan areas, suburbs, small towns, rural areas, seacoast, mountains and lakeshores and where leisure time activities are even more varied. For the sportsman there is hunting, fishing and camping; for the spectator there is collegiate and professional baseball, football and soccer; for cultural activities there is the symphony, ballet, theater, art museums and galleries; for the sightseer, there is Callaway Gardens, Stone Mountain, Jekyll Island and countless other spots you will want to visit.
In Georgia, education provides an outstanding profession with limitless opportunities. If you think education is important and want to contribute to a state's rise to the top in education ...
COME AND TEACH IN GEORGIA!
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YOUJ
COIYle and

For Additional Inf 0 rmatiOonr

rtiflcation Application

A Teacher Ce

Contact:

DUCATION & CERTIFICATIONN

TEACHER E

EDUCATIO

DIVISION OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT F;CE BUILDING

STATE 0

ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30334

JACK P. NIX, State Superintendent of Schools
DIVISION OF TEACHER EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION Office of Instructiona I Services Georgia Department of Education State Office Building Atlanta, Ga. 30334
Prepared by Publications and Information Service Georgia Department of Education, 1968