Tim Slekar, dean of education at Edgewood College in Milwaukee, warns of the strategy that corporate reformers are using to undermine and destroy the teaching profession.
They say there is a shortage. They ignore the fact that the “shortage” is caused by the exodus of experienced teachers due to policies that create intolerable working conditions. They then say that the “solution” to the manufactured shortage is to eliminate entry requirements for teachers, thus lowering the bar to anyone with a college degree.
He writes:
It is happening all across the country. Policy makers, pundits and idiots keep screaming teacher shortage. And, in the same breath advocating and putting forth policies that do away with teacher licensing. Why?
First the BS answer: Allowing license flexibility or doing away with teaching licenses altogether will fix the shortage and if “we” don’t do something fast children will face empty classrooms.
The TRUTH: Softening teacher license policies or doing away with the license altogether will kill the profession of teaching.
Its that simple. Yet trying to get media and policy makers to understand this seems almost impossible. Trust me. I have been trying for 4 months.
Now it’s up to you. Take what you learn below. Call your legislators. Call your local media. Chain yourself to a tree naked. Oops. That was supposed to say “chain yourself to a naked tree.” Do whatever you can to get this ALEC backed attack on the profession of teaching to the people.
Wait, call a chiropractor, I think I’m getting whiplash. I thought rephormers were the ones saying we need to increase requirements to get into teaching? I thought the whole problem with education was all those lousy teachers? I’m so confused.
the hoax has turned into a never-ending SHELL GAME
Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Education and commented:
It is all part of the Master Plan!!
I think we should propose doing away with dental licenses. After all, there’s nothing that can’t be fixed with a piece of string and a door knob.
Or if you have plastic appliances that look like teeth, a little super glue will do you.
Depressing.
Makes me feel really special that I spent all that time getting “educated.” Of course not getting rehired/fired because I didn’t teach a canned program “with fidelity” should have clued me in that knowing what I was doing was no longer important. Heck, anybody cn teach.
There can be a compromise. Virginia has a “career switcher” program, which provides for alternate certification for individuals with a college degree. I am certain that there are many individuals, who have excellent academic qualifications, who could take some additional courses, and working with an experienced teacher, earn the experience and credentials to teach in K-12.