Don’t spend on failed program

Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat: Education has a record of throwing money at problems even when they don’t work, and Illinois’ Grow Your Own Teachers program for adults is a current example.

The program has produced just 70 teachers in six years — dismal results considering that $19 million of your tax dollars have been spent on it. That’s $271,000 per teacher.

Part of the problem is that 43 percent of the participants dropped out before graduating.

Even a more successful program couldn’t meet the need for minority teachers in Illinois, however. About 46 percent of the state’s students are non-white; just 11 percent of teachers are. That’s the third worse gap in the nation.

Here’s a grow-your-own strategy we think holds greater promise: Ensure that schools in minority communities provide good educations and career guidance to students — an effort underway in East St. Louis School District 189. With better schools and better results, students would have many career opportunities open up to them.