Education Dept. Says States Have Lax Standards for Teachers

New York Times ^ | 6/12/02 | DIANA JEAN SCHEMO

[kattracks]

ASHINGTON, June 12 — Facing a federal deadline for getting a "highly qualified" teacher in every high poverty classroom by September, many states have begun hiding unflattering data about teacher qualifications and defining quality downward, so that even poorly prepared teachers win top ratings, the Education Department said in a report presented to Congress on Tuesday.

The 66-page report, which is based on information states provided to the federal government, said a handful of states, including New York, Texas and North Carolina, had begun raising their requirements for qualifying teachers. But it criticized the majority of states for lax standards and noted that one test California demands that all teachers pass, the California Basic Educational Skills Test, is set at the 10th-grade level.

States also set passing grades on another common test that assesses a teacher's reading, writing and math skills "shockingly low," the report to Congress said.

Of the 29 states using the exam, known as the Praxis Pre-Professional Skills Test, only Virginia ranks passing as a score at roughly the national average in reading. Fifteen states pass teachers who read in the lowest quarter of the national average, and nine states will pass teachers in the bottom fifth of all readers.

In a speech to teacher training specialists on Tuesday, Education Secretary Rod Paige noted that ill-prepared teachers were heavily concentrated among poor children. About 43 percent of math teachers in poor neighborhoods, for example, lacked a background in math, compared with 27 percent in wealthier neighborhoods.

"We're talking about helping children so far down on the achievement scale they're not even a blip on the radar," Dr. Paige said. He noted that on national reading tests "40 percent of white fourth graders can read while only 12 percent of black fourth graders can read" with facility.

In 1998, Congress ordered annual reports starting this year, amid concerns about teacher quality. The law requires states to put "highly qualified" teachers in every high poverty classroom by this September and in all schools by 2005.

The report said that 43 states indicated that more than 90 percent of their teachers had full credentials, and that four of them contended that no teachers relied on state waivers of certification requirements. Beyond the skepticism in the report itself, Education Trust, a Washington-based group that represents schools in low-income neighborhoods, said the assertions by the states were at odds with national data and other information.

While Washington was one of the school systems reporting no teachers on waivers, Pat Lattimore, the system's director of human resources, said semantics might be a factor.

She said that roughly 25 percent of the district's 6,000 teachers were using provisional licenses, with a deadline for becoming fully qualified teachers, but that the district did not use the term waivers.

She said the superintendent, Paul Vance, accepted the report's criticisms and had undertaken an overhaul of the district's school system.

[Jen]

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[concerned about politics]

one test California demands that all teachers pass, the California Basic Educational Skills Test, is set at the 10th-grade level.

If they fail, they're hired to teach 11th and 12th. It's Politically correct. Can't hurt their self esteem.

[goodieD]

mebbe johnny could read if he were taught READING and not homosexual tolerance and self esteem.

[upchuck]

In a speech to teacher training specialists on Tuesday, Education Secretary Rod Paige noted that ill-prepared teachers were heavily concentrated among poor children.

Well, duh! Looks like highly qualified teachers, who probably have sufficient senority, don't want to teach in a ghetto. Gee, imagine that!

He noted that on national reading tests "40 percent of white fourth graders can read while only 12 percent of black fourth graders can read" with facility.

Just to put this in perspective, I'd like to see these same stats from 1950, 60, 70, 80 and 90. Not sure about 1950 but I have a hunch the percentages were higher in 1960 and 1970.

[EdReform]

BTTT

[Eska]

I completed certification through an alternative program. Passed the three sections of the Praxis, no problem. My wife has two Master's; never had to take Praxis. I actually think she would have a tough time without a review. Of course she has taught special education for over 15 years, different concepts than regular ed.

Testing is a good idea but not everything. They can't even recruit enough teachers as it is. I'm sure raising the bar without massive increases in pay will help the situation.

Government schools are here to stay; just like lawyers & doctors have their own scams in place.

Maybe some people on free republic will become teachers and save the day; or are the problems too great and pay too low?

[blackbart.223]

"If they fail, they're hired to teach 11th and 12th. It's Politically correct. Can't hurt their self esteem."

Most public schools have long ago dropped education in favor of indoctrination. It doesn't matter if little Bobby or little Sally can't read so long as they know how to use a condom or that Malcom X is a hero of the twentieth century. Political correctness runs rampant in the public schools.

[Eska]

How many parents allow their kids to use calculators. Kids today can't add; ever wonder why? This is serious problem with many students. Just one more small relection why education is suffering.

[concerned about politics]

We homeschool. The first thing we teach is reading comprehension.
If a child can read and comprehend what they read, they can learn ANYTHING from the written word.
The next step is where to locate the information. It makes my job easier.
They can teach themselves more, and if they have questions they know where to find the answer.
If they can't find the answer then, I'm here to help.
This way, they learn to be responsible for themselves not only in school, but in life as well.
It builds their self esteem the right way.
Because of this, I am a school choice advocate. Other kids need their chance to succeed, too.
There's help out there, they just aren't givin that "choice" - yet.

[blackbart.223]

"How many parents allow their kids to use calculators?"

Too many I suppose. But they allow them in school also. Basic math skills should be taught without calculators.

Advanced math with a calculator is virtually impossible if one doesn't understand the basic laws of math.

[concerned about politics]

Maybe some people on free republic will become teachers and save the day; or are the problems too great and pay too low?

Working an average of 6 months worth of days and still getting a full years pay isn't a bad deal, really.
Half a year off sounds like a pretty easy job, not to mention they can't fire teachers for doing nothing all day. Union rules.
I have a friend who's brother is going to be a teacher so he "doesn't have to work for a living."

[Texasforever]

How many parents allow their kids to use calculators. Kids today can't add; ever wonder why?

You make a great point. If a kid does not know WHY 2+2=4 then that kid is not educated. I never let any of my kids use a calculator until they had at least Algebra II under their belt. I relented on calculus because I needed a calculator myself. LOL

[Eska]

No calculators until algebra II. No joke, I see kids that never developed the math ability we all have considered basic. They are addicts to the TI's.

You really see & notice it with high school grads between 20-30 years of age in apprenticeship programs. Actually quite scary when you think about it. You expect to review trig with these kids and find they can't even add or multiply. Ask them to do a square root and they are overwhelmed.

[Texasforever]

You expect to review trig with these kids and find they can't even add or multiply. Ask them to do a square root and they are overwhelmed.

Before I retired, I managed the Electrical engineering department at a major construction company. Some of the new grads were in a word pitiful. They could not do anything without a computer program, they were functionally illiterate when it came to writing a coherent report. They NEVER questioned computer results even when those results were wildly out of reasonable parameters. That is a VERY dangerous situation when designing barely contained bombs like an oil refinery.

[Eska]

I am at school at 6:45 and there until 5-6 in afternoon; often until 7:00. Spend a couple hours at home most nights. Plenty of nights I changed my alpinglow sunset moose hunts due to school preparation.

Every other weekend, I am in school on saturday. Extra-curricular activities also require teachers to spend their free time at school. I start in mid August and finish up mid June. Take classes in summer as required which I pay out of my pocket. The 2 months off is quite nice though.

My state requires a 5th year degree plus completion of a new ($15,000) masters every 7 years. I started at 31,000. I also spend about $2000 from my own pocket on school supplies each year

Teaching is very rewarding but long hours, low pay, and no thanks what-so-ever.

I'm sure there are teachers that spend 8 hrs a day but the vast majority are quite dedicated and give alot from themselves.

Sure wish more conservatives would take the leap and help change the NEA rather than just cackle like magpies. Don't ever think teachers spend just 6 months at it, way off track. If you would go into the school and look around; you would see that I'm telling you the truth.

[Texasforever]

Teaching is very rewarding but long hours, low pay, and no thanks what-so-ever.

My kids had a few teachers like you and both the kids and their parents appreciated them. Hang in there.

[F16Fighter]

Many states have begun hiding unflattering data about teacher qualifications and defining quality downward, so that even poorly trained teachers win top ratings...

And this is news?? The above has been the modus operandi of the NEA since the mid- 1960s.

The public school teachers are "dumbed down", so of course the education of public school kids follows suit...

But (whew!) thank heavens public schools, in all their enlightenment, have seen fit to tutor ALL the 8th graders on the importance, and with fine precision, the "art" of stretching a condom over a banana.

[homeschool mama]

Hey goodieD!

homeschool bump