[Apple Pan Dowdy]

”Teachers should not have to have an ‘Ed’ degree. A retired specialist, in any field (math, science, engineering, physics, mechanics, woodcraft, etc, etc) should be able to pass on their skills…”

With all due respect, you are correct for High School teachers, to some degree. However what then would you suggest elementary school teachers major in? I taught 1st and second grade for 15 years before switching to a tech career when my children were through school. I don’t think I would have understood how to teach reading to a 5 or 6 year old or to teach math to them on a level that they could grasp, or know how to organize a classroom for sometimes 40 little ones so that it ran smoothly, if I had not had the classes we called “method classes” which were mostly taught in my junior and senior year. And of course the semester of practice-teaching in a nearby school while my advisor helped me past the many “hurdles” that came along.

[Magnum44]

I will concede that if one didn’t grow up familiar with such teaching methodology that it would be helpful to provide that training, but requiring someone to get a college degree in phonics or class room organization is still rediculous in my opinion. These skills and nurturing youngsters are what every young mother and/or father used to do in the pre-kindergarten age anyway. Babysitters learn such skills OJT at early teen age. For those that still don’t get it, a six week night class with some OJT assisting or being mentored by elementary teachers should be more than enough. This is equivalent to a trade, as opposed to a traditional ‘profession’, and please don’t take offense to that.

The same can be said of many trades, like auto mechanics, computer repair or programming, wood crafting, welding, plumbing, etc. these are all respected trades that pay well and do not require a college degree.

[Reily]

My maternal grandfather had a career in education from one room schoolhouse teacher to school principal and was a “teaching product” of a “Normal School”. For those who have never heard of one.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_school

It seems at least at the K-to-6\middle school level they produced graduates who do a better job then the product of the university college of education. They concentrated on the ‘basics” particularly at the K-to-6 level. They didn’t have educational training where they were convinced they were also a sociologist\psychiatrist.

To be fair I would have to say the biggest difference between then & now is there is no enforcement of discipline in the schools. Bad actions almost never have consequences. This almost entirely due to federal intervention not allowing it and fear of the race card.