Public School Teachers Face Federal Test

WASHINGTON - After more than 25 years giving science tests to her middle-school students, Rebecca Pringle may have to pass one herself to prove she's qualified to teach the subject.

Pringle has bachelor's and master's degrees in education, but that's not enough under federal education law. Because she doesn't have a science degree, she'll have to take a test showing her mastery of the topic or pass a state evaluation that could include a test.

Around the country, public school teachers are going through a quality check. By the end of the 2005-06 school year, federal education law says, every teacher of core subjects from English to the arts must be highly qualified.

The premise of the law is widely embraced: Quality teaching leads to higher student achievement, and poor and minority students, in particular, deserve a greater supply of teachers who are well versed in their subjects.

Of 3 million teachers, it is not clear how many meet the mark. By Monday, states must report their share of highly qualified teachers and how quickly the number will rise over three years.

"Highly qualified" means teachers who have a bachelor's degree, a state license or certification and clear knowledge of the topic they teach.

Beverly Ingle, a sixth-grade teacher at Laredo Middle School in Aurora, Colo., is starting her 25th year teaching. She may not be highly qualified because of the way the law handles different grades.

Middle school teachers must have a college major in each subject they teach — in her case, social studies and reading — or pass a rigorous test in those subjects. If Ingle taught sixth grade at an elementary school, she would only have to show mastery over a basic elementary curriculum.

"It's really unfair, but what am I going to do about it?" Ingle said. "I'll suck it up, like we always do as teachers, and I'll take more classes."

States are figuring out how teachers can show mastery of their subjects without taking tests that some consider demeaning. Among the proposals: strong job evaluations, service on curriculum committees, published articles and leadership. Under the law, states may consider how long a teacher has taught a subject but, significantly, may not base their standard on that.

The law isn't meant to punish, said Eugene Hickok, the undersecretary of education.

The Education Department is working with states to address common concerns, such as: How can someone who teaches several subjects to disabled students reasonably demonstrate mastery of all those topics? What about a rural teacher who handles several grades?

At the same time, Hickok said, the law intends to make sure that longtime teachers are in class because of skills and knowledge, not because of seniority. "It's not unusual, sadly, to have 12- or 15-year career professionals in place who really aren't the kind of professionals we need," he said.

Meanwhile, the law encourages new routes to the classroom. The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence requires teachers to pass tests in subjects and instruction ability but demands no classroom experience or traditional education coursework. Mentoring comes on the job.

"The marketplace for teachers is so much broader than we allow today," said Lisa Graham Keegan, a leader of the organization. "We just have to go get them."

The National Education Association, the country's largest teachers union, says the law should be changed to close loopholes for teachers in charter schools and those earning an alternative certification. The NEA also says states deserve more flexibility, such as with special-education teachers who handle multiple subjects.

In some cases, teachers face no extra steps. Jamie Sawatzky, a fourth-year history teacher at Rocky Run Middle School in Chantilly, Va., qualifies with a degree in his subject. But he worries the law will prevent school administrators from hiring people who have intangible qualities to be brilliant teachers.

In New Orleans, new superintendent Anthony Amato must turn around a school system that, as he puts it, is most noted for failing test scores and leadership troubles. The teacher quality assignment is another huge task, as 40 percent of his teachers are not certified to teach their subjects or not certified at all, he said.

He has added literacy and math training for teachers and worked with local universities to coordinate teacher certification programs, among other steps.

"I feel the sense of urgency from the federal government, and I don't mind at all. That's how I work anyway," Amato said. "If we can make it work here, it can be a real message to urban systems nationwide: Don't back down."

The law may prompt some veterans to retire early and may discourage people from becoming teachers, said Charlene Christopher, a special-education specialist at Norfolk Public Schools in Virginia. But some won't be fazed, she said — the ones "who will be there until they roll us out."

And if states fall short of the teacher mandate? Greater pressure from parents could be in store, as states, districts and schools must publicize information about how many teachers miss the mark.

Ultimately, the hammer may be money. Federal officials may withhold aid that many schools rely upon, as Hickok acknowledged, although he said states are showing good faith.

"If a serious effort is being made to accomplish the purposes of No Child Left Behind, even if you fall short, that's different than a statement that says, 'We really don't care,'" Hickok said.

"I'm still in a state of anger and resistance," said Pringle, an eighth-grade teacher at Susquehanna Township Middle School in Harrisburg, Pa. "It's not fair to change the rules in the middle of the game. ... I have prided myself in staying current and being active in the field. For all that to be reduced to a multiple-choice test is an insult."

Rules are always being changed in the middle of the game. Just look at the kids who went through years of sometimes reekingly poor public education and are now forced to take high-stakes tests to advance to the next grade or graduate. If it's good enough for them, it's certainly good enough for you.

Just take the test. It's the price you now pay for being a public school teacher whose salary is paid for by the taxpayers.

If you don't like it, teach in a private school where you are only accountable to your students and their parents.

If parents rent, their property taxes are included with the rent. So who doesn't pay property taxes?

If parents rent, the owner surely sets the amount of the rent to include property taxes, but the owner of the property pays the taxes, the renters do not.

People who live in public housing don't pay property taxes either.

People who have property of low value pay low property taxes. Under your system, would there be a minimum amount that would cover tuition? Or would any amount of taxes suffice?

Even as terrible as everyone claims education is in America; I believe denying basic education to all of America's kids would be much worse for our country in general. I don't see how education can be privatized without such a scenario down the road; too many parents would not fund their child's education without it being provided by the government.

I agree. I've always taught in districts with fairly high poverty levels, and many of the parents wouldn't be able to afford tuition for their children - or wouldn't make it a priority - if they had to pay for it themselves.

I see many homeschoolers abusing the system, unlike the dedicated people on FR. That is why I believe eventually there will be certifications required for everyone. I'm sure you know and have witnessed what I'm talking about.

Yes, I've seen the same. The students are habitually truant, but not old enough to drop out, so the parents claim to be home-schooling them to avoid being prosecuted for neglect.

I also know some dedicated home-schoolers whose children are well-rounded, polite, and far ahead of most of their public-school counterparts. Then again, I've also seen very good public schools, and very poor ones; I've seen excellent public school teachers and abysmal ones.

I think many FReepers tend to assume that most people in the United States share their values and goals, and are as intelligent and knowledgable as they. It would be nice if that were true.

I believe I'm intelligent and educated enough to teach most high school subjects if I needed to, even though my undergraduate degree is in science. I have no problem with being tested in science or any other subject I might be teaching, to show that I do know my subject matter.

Teaching isn't all knowledge - some very brilliant and knowledgable people can't explain what they know in layman's terms - but one must have a certain amount of knowledge before one can hope to impart it to others.

>>>Under your system, would there be a minimum amount that would cover tuition? Or would any amount of taxes suffice?

Still working on 'my system'. I have docs all over about starting a charter school.

>>>Or would any amount of taxes suffice?

If schools are privatized, this could be worked out per individual school. Just like Colleges offer scholarships or grants to be applied for. My children go to Catholic school now. Per charitable understanding, our tuition for our children aren't enough. We have to offer full tuition for students that can't afford.

>>>>People who live in public housing don't pay property taxes either.

I'm pretty much to a point where charitable empathy is gone. We subsidize their schools, food, housing, et al. So much so, it affects how my own children are being raised. This is the line in the sand for me. I won't lower my standards for my family to help others that just take and don't try.

"The law isn't meant to punish, said Eugene Hickok, the undersecretary of education."

Hickok was the big cheese under Ridge in the PDE (Pa Dept. of Ed.) before moving up to the federal level. Unlike most if not all the other states, the state of PA is NOT accredited though it is the home turf of the NEA. A highschool diploma in PA is NOT accredited! There is no accreditation board! There are excellent correspondence schools and cyberschools that are regionally (some internationally) accredited...and yet PA doesn't give their students any reciprocity regarding the compulsory education law.

PA takes corruption in education to it's peak.

I have been a reg repub alot longer than FR has been around. I have also seen first hand (from both sides) the problems we face in education.

I'm not so ignorant as to believe everything is one-sided. Spend some time as a teacher in a public school and you will have your eyes opened and perspective widened too.

At one time, I too believed teachers were not much more than babysitters; you see I was as naive as you. Once you become a teacher you quickly realize how much more complex the problem really is. You also realize that the biggest hurdle we face in education is how to socially improve the American family. It all starts in the home.

Domestic Church is a teacher.

And you may want to start doing some 'affiliation' searches on the NEA before you go defending them. NEA does NOT have our Nation or Children's best interests in mind.

http://www.cpusa.org/link/category/17/

>>>You also realize that the biggest hurdle we face in education is how to socially improve the American family. It all starts in the home.

I do agree with this statement.

And yes, not all teachers are babysitters. But the overall system keeps quality teachers and curriculums at the broken level it is.

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