Stifling Reform

This is how newspapers stifle reforms needed in the classroom.

Nov 16, 2007 - The headline, "Tougher road for future teachers" Subhead: Controversial new standards worry local schools, warns you upfront that it's a gripe piece against new certification standards approved by the state Board of Education last May.

The new standards won't go into effect until 2013. It's already time to carp about money.

RECRUITMENT COMPLAINT
It will hurt recruitment efforts - an assistant superintendent of one school district claimed.
We already have a hard time "acquiring" special education teachers.

HIGHER SALARIES
The former 12-year president of a local teachers union, agrees with the assistant superintendent on the revisions' effect on recruiting efforts. And both say requiring more credentials will mean paying higher salaries.

THAT DARN NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT
In addition, under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, every teacher must attain "highly qualified" status.

First off, the new certification requires a special education teacher to be certified in either pre-K-8 or grades 7-12. They do this by passing Praxis exams, demonstrating knowledge in their teaching subjects. Isn't that what you thought teachers were supposed to do anyway? Be competent in the classroom? How much more do you need to pay a teacher to pass an exam that college should have prepared them for and they should easily pass?

Secondly, that "Highly Qualified status" under No Child Left Behind requires a teacher to have only three things:
1. A bachelors degree;
2. A state credential or license within three years of employment;
3. Demonstrated competence in their core subject.
See U.S. Department of Education Terms to Know Link
See TT - Highly Qualified Teachers Link

Many teachers can't be certified because they can't pass qualifying exams. They can't demonstrate basic competency and they can't pass exams in the subject they want to teach.
See TT - Teacher Competency Link

THE SHELL GAME
The current game is to rollover teachers before the three-year interim certificate can no longer be renewed. You can see this in Board minutes in every state where they act on licenses in public session. The result is that children are taught by unqualified teachers for three years unil the districts begin a search for another "interim" teacher.

NEW STANDARDS
The reasons for the new standards in Pennsylvania are bluntly stated, but appear only 3/4ths of the way down the article.

One-third of students across the state in grades 3, 5 and 8, are not proficient in reading on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment.

And, one-third of students in grades 5 and 8 are not proficient on the state test in math, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Proficient means at grade level. Not highly accomplished. Not superstar status. Proficient = at grade level. One-third of students in grades 3, 5 and 8 can't read at grade level. One-third of students in grades 5 and 8 are unable to perform basic math requirements that would qualify them to move onto the next grade.

Cheating children out of an adequate education by undermining reform efforts is despicable. Extorting money from taxpayers for higher salaries that are neither warranted or even, at present, earned, is a typical union tactic.

And it's sad that newspapers that depend upon readers who can actually read aren't the first ones complaining about the inadequacy of education.