Obama Effigy Hung at School With Fired Teachers

A teacher at a failing R.I. school where he and all his colleagues are being fired hung an effigy of President Barack Obama in his classroom, apparently in reaction to Obama's support of extreme measures to ensure accountability in schools.

Teacher: Student Dressed Like 'a Prostitute'

A Maryland teacher has apologized after saying a student looked like a prostitute for what she was wearing. It is unclear if the school will take any disciplinary actions against the teacher.

Interest Surges in Leaving Other Jobs to Teach

By: Libby Quaid

SILVER SPRING, Md. -- Plenty of people dream of leaving their jobs to become teachers. Today, more people are actually doing it.

Peter Vos ran an Internet startup. Now he teaches computer science to middle school kids in Maryland.

Jaime McLaughlin used to do people's taxes. Now he teaches math to sixth graders in Chicago.

Alisa Salvans was a makeup artist at Saks department store. Now she teaches high school chemistry in suburban Dallas.

These teachers, with real-life experience and often with deep knowledge of their subjects, are answering a call to service that is part of a strategy to dramatically boost the size and quality of the teaching work force.

Career switchers make up about one-third of the ranks of new teachers, and that number has jumped in the past decade. Now, as the recession deepens, even more people are deciding to become teachers.