----- Original Message ----- From: "Jon Gabriel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 6:20 PM Subject: RE: The War on Schools
> >From: Gautam Mukunda <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Reply-To: Killer Bs Discussion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: Killer Bs Discussion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Subject: RE: The War on Schools > >Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 08:59:57 -0800 (PST) > > > >--- Nick Arnett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Here in California, we're eliminating the teacher > > > shortage. First, we made > > > money available to train new teachers in exchange > > > for a three-year > > > commitment. A lot of people took advantage of that > > > over the last few years, > > > so we had quite a few more teachers available. Now > > > we're closing the gap > > > *completely* (and then some) by cutting school > > > funding, which will eliminate > > > all of the unfilled positions *and* require schools > > > to lay off the vast > > > majority of those whom we just trained. Bingo, no > > > more teacher shortage. > > > In fact, now we have a teacher surplus! > > > Nick > > > >But the largest component of the "teacher shortage" is > >created by the teacher's unions, not a lack of > >funding. An example. A few weeks ago I received an > >(unsolicited) offer to teach history at a very, very > >elite American private high school. I had to turn it > >down, unfortunately. This school, however, is so > >academically successful that it has an average SAT > >score in excess of 1500 - and admissions are need > >blind, with full financial aid for any admitted > >student. Their teachers are, obviously, very well > >qualified. Practically of them, however, could teach > >in a conventional public school. Why? Because > >teacher's unions have created a set of artificial > >hurdles that have no relevance for teaching skill - > >taking "education" courses for certification. Just > >about every education researcher of whom I am aware > >agrees that these courses teach nothing useful. > > While a high school teacher for ancient history or English may not require > CE courses they are most certainly relevant and in fact crucial for science > teachers (especially bio & chem). Definately not physics. Grad students still use books written in the '50s. Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
