About 20 yrs. ago, I looked into getting a Master in Library Science (would be called Informational Studies, nowadays) while we were living in NJ. I had a BA in Latin American Studies with a Minor in Spanish and Business, but I would have had to re-do my BA in order to get a major in a single subject, like History or English, and take all the 'Education' courses before I could even take any graduate level classes. These requirements were in place, even though at the elementary and middle school levels, there were no "History" teachers, just "Social Studies" teachers, who taught all the things I'd studied for my major!!
I think, as in this story, the unions have a lot to do with what is 'acceptable' in schools, and have made it difficult for people with degrees in a subject, but without having gone through the indoctrination of an 'Education School', to get jobs teaching. Folks are decrying the shortage of teachers in the Sciences and Math, but there are folks who have advanced degrees and could teach the subjects, but don't have the necessary 'qualifications' as set forth by the Teacher's unions.
It's their private fiefdom for the purpose of jobs and prestige (educating the children comes in a distant third, if it's even considered at all.)
Can't let somebody in who might upset the apple cart by actually teaching something and getting the children all excited about learning. The deadwood timeserving teachers might actually have to WORK . . . .
And yes, yes, I'm sure there are SOME good teachers out there in the public school system. But I haven't met any of them. All the good teachers around here take LESS pay to teach in the private schools, where they are actually allowed to teach and have students who actually want to learn.
Yes. Education courses are the worst. They are all the psychobabble jargon classes with all the touchy-feely, make a list garbage.