You hit the nail on the head. I tried for a position teaching computers at a local tech-college and was turned down. I didn't have the correct "certification". The fact that I make a living using my skills didn't count. Their comments were..."You may know about computers but that doesn't mean that you have the ability to teach". Well, computer training is exactly what I do. People actually pay me to do one-on-one training. I don't need a piece of paper to determine that I'm qualified.
Educators are the most snobbish bunch of people that I've ever met.
I am "not qualified" to teach courses on the law to criminology students in college.
Go figure.
This is the peoblem with government monopolies and public unions... This is one of the result of this (checking the quality of teachers is another...)
But this isn't a problem of schools per se but of the organization of schools. This should be reformed...
Another example: I was born in France, where schools were excellent. Mathematic teachers had to have a degree in mathematics and a minor in education... When I came here, I couldn't believe what I was told, that all that was required of teachers was a degree... in education. So you could have a completely inept teacher in mathematics who never learned math but had a degree in education (I understand this is changing little by little)... This is stupid!
So the peoblem aren't schools but the fact that teachers' unions have had too free a hand in changing requirements to protect mediocre teachers...