As the fall semester begins, Grambling has already started on a rocky road, due to the shortage in teachers the Foreign Language Department.
The department lost two instructors this past semester, losing a Spanish teacher to illness and a Spanish instructor to retirement, for a second time.
The Foreign Language Department has been working hard to fix the problem by going out and searching for new instructors, with the plan being to hire someone as soon as possible.
“If students have already signed up for a foreign language class but have not had class yet due to the shortage they will not be penalized in any manner what so ever,” said Dr. Beatrice McKinsey, head of the Department of English and Foreign Languages.
While the shortage is in effect, the head coordinator of the Foreign Language Department has stated that the instructors that are still in the department are teaching a double overload, which means that they are teaching more classes then expected and this is making it harder for students to adjust.
“I feel like there needs to be an instructor increase,” Tandon Moy said. “Because they are surely needed.
“Grambling needs to get more instructors,” Shalandra Patterson said.
As stated by many other students and instructors, the teacher shortage — which exists not only in the Foreign Language Department — has to stop because it is making things more difficult for students and faculty.
“There should be more professors,” Cameron Mcglathen said.
Dr. McKinsey said the search plan is to advertise the positions on the Grambling State website and also utilize the Modern Language Association.
“The department will look for three teachers, but we’ll probably one be able to hire two,” she said.
Dr. KcKinsey said the process should not take long. Everyone understands the need, she said, because each of the two teachers in the department is currently teaching six classes.
While the shortage in the Foreign Language Department is going on, some of students have been complaining about the teaching habits of the current instructors in the department.
Some students have been suggesting that the department should start from scratch and rebuild a new staff in the department due to the teaching methods of recent instructors.
“Dr. Defeo goes over the information too fast. Get rid of him,” Sheila Pittman said.
“The teacher shortage is saddening,” said Edwin Thomas. “There needs to be more teachers.”
With all this being said, the teacher shortage is an ongoing problem that should be taken care of sooner rather than later.