School Paraprofessionals Must Pass Exam or Earn College Credits to Keep Job

Shreveport, LA, Times ^ | 05-25-03 | Brumble, Melody

[Theodore R.]

Caddo Parish classroom paraprofessionals and their colleagues across the nation face their own version of high-stakes testing.

Paraprofessionals, also known as teacher aides, or simply "paras," must demonstrate that they are qualified, either by earning 48 hours of college credit in specified courses, gaining a two-year college degree or passing a state-approved competency test.

[Theodore R.]

Is this "testing" gone amuck, or a serious effort to improve the quality of school instruction? Considering the low salaries of such aides, it would seem to me to be the former.

[FreedomPoster]

Based on results, I'd say that requiring ed-school coursework would tend to make someone less qualified to actually impart knowledge to others.

[Clara Lou]

The article doesn't specify what kind of courses are being required. I would think that the idea is to see that these aides have thee "basics" of a college education, such as one might get at a community college-- English, math, science, etc. Ed-school courses would be a waste of time. There aren't universities easily accessible to every wchool district in Louisiana. And I agree with these aides-- "you want us educated, you pay us accordingly." I'm speaking from Texas experience, but I can't imagine that Louisiana has any more funds for higher pay than Texas does.

[Betteboop]

It's the same thing in New Jersey. We got notice that our paras have to have college credit or certification too. We have two Paras (sisters) in our high school that have been there a total of over 60 years. They work second jobs, too, to make ends meet. When are they going to have the time (or money) to get these certifications?
They should be "grandfathered" (or grandmothered) in anyway. One does almost exclusively, Xeroxing, and the other assists Special Ed teachers; and she's good with those kids!
I'm more concerned about some of the teachers who could use an additional English course!!!!
I'm a clerk but have a college degree in English Lit, so it doesn't apply to me.

[Theodore R.]

This sounds like one of the "good ideas" presented to Congress to "improve" "education." Of course, it is totally unworkable and unrealistic -- the cornerstone of the Kennedy-Bush Education Act of 2002, often called the "No Child Left Behind Act."

[LiteKeeper]

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