Phila. Teachers Warn About Reforms Predicts Teachers Will Flee Schools

ABC NEWS ^ | April 19 2002 | AP

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

The best thing that could happen to education (besides doing away with public education altogether) would be to close all colleges of "Education." Their methods classes are useless at best, indoctrination sessions at worst. There are thousands of qualified college graduates who could easily teach math, science, history, etc. but aren't "certified" and don't want to spend two years and $10,000 to get the certificate and then take a big pay cut to teach.

If an individual with a degree wants to teach, the school should do a background check, test his subject area knowledge, give him a six-week course on writing tests, maintaining discipline and other practical tips, then pair him with a good experienced teacher for a while (say 2-4 months). If he can hack the training session, pass the test, and if the teacher he taught with agrees he has the ability to teach, let him teach! Jeez, this ain't rocket science!

[ReaganIsRight]

I had a manager (who got canned very quickly) who wanted me to hire a Philly teacher as a favor to get the poor bastard out of the Philly school system.

Luckily, he failed an important skill test, and I didn't have to detail how bad he was in the basic interview.

The position was for a NON-DEGREED individual, and he wasn't qualified!

[skr]

It's somewhat telling that these teachers are taking their supposed education and applying for jobs which are mostly record-keeping. It's also telling that they're leaving before they find out if they would pass muster under the new system.

[Domestic Church]

"Ed Rendell the Philly mayor let this downward spiral continue, and now he's campaigning for PA governor! Go figure. (The Pubbies hope he gets the Democratic nomination because he'll be easier to beat.)"

Casey got over $100,000 from teachers unions alone so far.