High School Program Helps Students Become Teachers

Smithfield-Selma High School's

Teacher Cadet Program helps students learn what the teaching profession is all about. At the end of the year, participants understand how children learn, they learn how to write and put lesson plans to use.

To participate, junior or senior students must have a 3.0 or better grade point average.

The year-long course explores the role of a teacher, how kids learn, the history of public schools and opportunities in classrooms. At the end of the year, the students spend four weeks in a Johnston County classroom.

Their responsibilities start with grading papers and working on bulletin boards. By the end of the four weeks, students take charge.

Program leaders say the Cadet course will help students make choices.

"If I teach college, it's about the subject. When you teach younger kids, it's about them behaving," says student Alicia O'Neal.

Johnston County hopes that students who go on to get a college degree will come home to begin their teaching careers. It is a home-grown answer to the ongoing job of recruiting teachers.