ATLANTIC CITY The school district advertised three times for a certified chemistry teacher last summer and fall, and three times they failed to get a candidate to accept the job.

So they turned to Edmentum, a provider of online courses, to fill the gap. This year, four classes at the high school are being taught via the online course, with backup support from a teacher.

This is the way of the future, said Assistant Superintendent Sherry Yahn, who said they are looking at other online programs.

Not everyone is happy with the shift. Students in the chemistry classes didnt mind being able to work at their own pace, but almost all interviewed said they would prefer a live teacher.

Raymond Berger, left, 17, of Atlantic City and Citlalli Madden, right, 17, of Ventnor, juniors at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class, get help from a proctor, Diana Arndt, middle, Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Image Brown, 17, of Atlantic City, is a junior at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Diana Arndt is a proctor at Atlantic City High School for an online chemistry class where beakers and other chemistry equipments is rarely used and there is no teacher. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Zabirul Rafee, 16, of Ventnor, is a sophomore at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Melanie Jupin, special education inclusion teacher oversees students in online chemistry class at Atlantic City High School. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Citlalli Madden, 17, of Ventnor, junior at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Students in online chemistry class at Atlantic City High School are taking the course online without a chemistry teacher. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Raymond Berger, 17,of Atlantic City, is a junior at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Angelica Anthony, 15, of Brigantine is a sophomore at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Robert Lamoreux, chemistry teacher oversees students in online chemistry class at Atlantic City High School. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Basically its like youre teaching yourself, junior Citlalli Madden, 17, of Ventnor, says of the online chemistry class she takes at Atlantic City High School. Madden says she is getting an A but would prefer a live teacher.

Robert Lamoreux, chemistry teacher oversees students in online chemistry class at Atlantic City High School. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Chemistry beakers are used as storage in an online chemistry class at Atlantic City High School. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Zabirul Rafee, 16, of Ventnor, is a sophomore at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Sophomore Angelica Anthony, 15, of Brigantine, says its boring to just sit at a screen for 45 minutes during the class.

Atlantic City High School Junior Raymond Berger, left, 17, gets help from proctor Diana Arndt while taking an online chemistry class at the school. Arndt is certified in Earth science but not chemistry.

Robert Lamoreux, chemistry teacher oversees students in online chemistry class at Atlantic City High School. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Jordan Faustino, 16, of Margate, a sophomore at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class where beakers and other chemistry equipments is rarely used. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Raymond Berger, left, 17, of Atlantic City and Citlalli Madden, right, 17, of Ventnor, juniors at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class, get help from a proctor, Diana Arndt, middle, Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Image Brown, 17, of Atlantic City, is a junior at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Diana Arndt is a proctor at Atlantic City High School for an online chemistry class where beakers and other chemistry equipments is rarely used and there is no teacher. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Zabirul Rafee, 16, of Ventnor, is a sophomore at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Melanie Jupin, special education inclusion teacher oversees students in online chemistry class at Atlantic City High School. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Citlalli Madden, 17, of Ventnor, junior at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Students in online chemistry class at Atlantic City High School are taking the course online without a chemistry teacher. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Raymond Berger, 17,of Atlantic City, is a junior at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Angelica Anthony, 15, of Brigantine is a sophomore at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Robert Lamoreux, chemistry teacher oversees students in online chemistry class at Atlantic City High School. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Basically its like youre teaching yourself, junior Citlalli Madden, 17, of Ventnor, says of the online chemistry class she takes at Atlantic City High School. Madden says she is getting an A but would prefer a live teacher.

Robert Lamoreux, chemistry teacher oversees students in online chemistry class at Atlantic City High School. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Chemistry beakers are used as storage in an online chemistry class at Atlantic City High School. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Zabirul Rafee, 16, of Ventnor, is a sophomore at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Sophomore Angelica Anthony, 15, of Brigantine, says its boring to just sit at a screen for 45 minutes during the class.

Atlantic City High School Junior Raymond Berger, left, 17, gets help from proctor Diana Arndt while taking an online chemistry class at the school. Arndt is certified in Earth science but not chemistry.

Robert Lamoreux, chemistry teacher oversees students in online chemistry class at Atlantic City High School. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Jordan Faustino, 16, of Margate, a sophomore at Atlantic City High School in an online chemistry class where beakers and other chemistry equipments is rarely used. Thursday April 6, 2017. (Viviana Pernot / Staff Photographer)

Basically its like youre teaching yourself, said junior Citlalli Madden, 17, of Ventnor, who said she is getting an A.

The online chemistry classes at Atlantic City High School represent the intersection of several critical education issues: a shortage of science teachers, school funding cuts and growth in online courses.

Just 80 new teachers were certified in chemistry in 2016, according to state Department of Education data. Just 41 new teachers were certified in physics.

While the online co
urses may seem to provide a solution to budget and teacher-shortage issues, educators are leery of turning their schools into online academies.

ATLANTIC CITY A tiny coffee shop next to the Atlantic City Rescue Mission offers a welcomi

Atlantic City is at ground zero in the shift. Yahn said they are still looking for a chemistry teacher. But they are also considering using Edmentum courses for an Alternative High School program next year.

The Atlantic City school board approved spending $35,400 for as many as five Edmentum EdOptions Academy chemistry classes at its January meeting. But board members peppered Yahn with questions about why it was necessary. Yahn said applicants took the job, then backed out.

The district had a substitute in the class, Diana Arndt, who is certified in Earth science but not chemistry, so she could not teach the entire year. She remains in the class to assist.

The statewide shortage makes the position competitive. At least three area school districts are looking for chemistry teachers next year.

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP Tammy DeFranco hears it all the time.

Ralph Aiello, principal at Cumberland Regional High School, said hes looking for a combined chemistry/physics teacher for next year. So far, he has had just two applications.

Linda Smith, president of the New Jersey Science Teachers Association, said she is working with colleges to develop programs that recruit former or retired scientists into teaching as a second career.

People can just make more money as scientists than they can as science teachers, she said. Some do want to teach. But they need training and mentoring. People who are good at science are not always good at explaining it.

Claudine Keenan, dean of education at Stockton University, said school districts contact her constantly looking for math and science teachers. Stockton has made an effort to encourage science majors to also get their teaching certificates and has had some success.

MANTUA TOWNSHIP A multinational veterinary pharmaceutical company thats building its Nort

Some Atlantic City students were OK with the online courses. Others just dont like it.

Angelica Anthony, 15, of Brigantine, said its boring to just sit at a screen for 45 minutes.

Sarah Rehill, 16, of Brigantine, said she hates it because the labs are online, too.

Youre supposed to do fun labs in chemistry, she said. We only did one.

Go here to read the rest:
Lacking a teacher, Atlantic City High School offers chemistry on ... - Press of Atlantic City