Teaching is a profession that is in short supply, at least according to the latest reports from the National Education Association.

However, this claim has become the subject of some debate between the NEA and another national education group in recent days.

Studies conducted by the National Center for Education Information and released earlier this week conclude that there is more employment available for teachers. It also suggests a growing interest in teaching as a career choice among graduating college seniors.

Alfonzo Thurman, associate dean of NIU’s College of Education, agrees with reports that teaching is attracting greater interest among college bound seniors, but is skeptical about reports that these increases will supply enough teachers to meet the expected shortage.

“There seems to be conflicting information,” Thurman said. “I give more credence to the NEA reports about teacher shortages. The National Center for Education Information is a government agency, but the NEA represents several million educators nationwide.”

Thurman believes the survey challenging prospective teacher shortages is “too small scale” to affect what he has read.