"A Highly Qualified Teacher has obtained full state certification or licensure"
"A Highly Qualified Teacher has demonstrated subject area competence in each of the academic subjects in which the teacher teaches What on earth is so tough about these requirements?"
The basic problem is point 2. There are many well-educated professionals (particularly with a math/science/engineering background) who would LOVE to teach--but the state certification requirements mean jumping through so many ridiculous hoops as to render them being able to get a teaching job virtually nil.
Being able to teach is NOT rocket science, but the "education professionals" set up the requirements as though it were.
I beg to differ with you. Teaching is a skill that every "teacher" does not have. Mastering subject matter is far easier than mastering teaching skills. Designating someone "teacher" doesn't necessarily make one such.