[Black Agnes]

Let me be the first to tell you....Most high school math, chemistry and physics teachers aren't qualified to teach math, chemistry or physics. (Most of them never even had introductory courses in these subjects at college. Edukation majors take 'child development' courses...not academic courses) It would be almost impossible for any well intentioned parents to be *less* qualified to teach those subjects than the publik skool teachers I had. My chemistry teacher couldn't balance his checkbook, much less a redox equation. Ditto a math teacher and one of my history teachers. A well intentioned parent with the motivation and drive and materials could do the job at least to the degree that a 'qualified, union approved, teaching goon' could.

[StayAt HomeMother]

“Most high school math, chemistry and physics teachers aren't qualified to teach math, chemistry or physics”

I am not implying all teachers are qualified, nor am I defending or protecting incompetent teachers. Any teacher can give “A’s.” This is a main reason why standardized tests are so useful. If my kids earn a "5" on the Advanced Placement Calculus exam and at least a 700 on the math portion of the SATs then I am pretty well assured they have indeed learned some math.

I have heard many complaints that teachers are being forced to “teach to the test." Well, why not? Example: Mr. Smith may love to teach about the World War II, but the standards demand he teach US History from the end of the Civil to present. If Mr. Brown won’t or can’t teach all the subject matter he is assigned, then he should find employment elsewhere - perhaps at a junior college where he might legitimately focus on the years 1939-1945.

I am urging Freepers to be part of the solution. Support standards, and look carefully to see how your local schools are doing on them. Work to get conservatives on your School Boards. We have one liberal on our twelve member Board who only won by about three dozen votes and another liberal, from a conservative area, who recently won by about a hundred votes. (Freepers in Fairfax County should know to whom I am referring.) We elect a new School Board next November - two (or better, three) more conservatives on the School Board would make a HUGE difference.

In the meantime, Freeper parents need to know what is going on in their children’s schools. If you can’t change the system, at least ensure YOUR child does not have the worst teacher in the school.

[shetlan]

....Most high school math, chemistry and physics teachers aren't qualified to teach math, chemistry or physics.

There is no time for teaching math, etc. The curriculum is too packed with promoting multiculturalism and restructuring America's system of government.

[THE Aardvark]

Teachers don't need to know about their subject. They are there to facilitate learning. I heard this from someone involved with preparing non education majors to become teachers when a new teacher complained about being assigned to teach a subject outside of his field.
There is one thing to remember about standards. They are a mile wide and an inch deep, and if your district uses block scheduling, the standards must be taught in a half year. There is no time for in depth study of any subject, especially if you figure in the PC garbage added to the mix.