Medford School District To Start Charging Its Student Teachers

MEDFORD, N.J. (AP) -- A cash-strapped southern New Jersey school district has decided to start charging student teachers to work there.

Medford appears to be the first school district in the state to take such a policy.

It's being criticized by the dean of the education school at nearby Rowan University.

Dean Carol Sharp says it would put too heavy a burden on students and it runs afoul of a traditional teacher-training partnership.

The charge is to be $1,200 for in-state student teachers and $1,500 for out-of-staters.

School officials tell the Courier-Post that there seems to be a backlash.

The district had 30 student teachers this year. It might not have any next year.

Information from: Courier-Post, http://www.courierpostonline.com/