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Lesson Plans


certification

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
Pablo90512
Tue, 2 Nov 1999 19:43:48 EST

I guess the certification issue has touched a lot of nerves. We have severe
shortages of teachers in many areas through out our country. We have football
coaches teaching physics in small rural areas. It's a rude awakening when
the students go off to college and compete with those who have been properly
instructed in their fields of study.

Laws have been created, in our state, to make it easy to get a certificate
without proper course work. When I say that all sorts of red flags go up. I
am not talking about people with MFA going for an education degree and
repeating things. I am talking about the teacher who has had one or two
beginner classes in art and decides down the road it would be fun to teach
art. I am sure some are very good art teachers. It's important as
professionals that we keep a high standard for our profession. The person
who graduates and is still a terrible teacher like in any teaching profession
...shouldn't be teaching either. Unfortunately most principals don't
care..and leave them in. No one would dispute having proper credentials for
teaching English, Math, Science...Why not art?
I live in an area where there really isn't a problem with shortages...but
because the laws are so liberal about certification, I truly see unqualified
people entering the field because a principal does not want to take the time
to interview for the best possible candidate. They will recruit all over the
county for a football coach.