I've been to a couple presentations on this subject, and its always a tricky issue. Illinois is putting up new standards for teachers across the board. Someone attempting to get a teaching certificate in 2002 (or 2003 I can't quite remember) is going to be held to these standards. Developing the standards was something that some very good people at the Illinois State Board of Education did to raise the bar for people looking to get teaching certificates. The big problem is not necessarily with the standards, but with assesment.
Most teachers come out and say that no one test is good enough to measure everyone against, and I agree. With new standards in place, who is to decide whether or not someone is good enough to teach. Who gets to hold the rubber stamp? The standards were developed long before evaluation was conceptualized. The group that wrote the standards did their job, and now a separate group will have to come and evaluate candidates using the new standards. The portfolio system currently in use is more like a class-list, and obviously the new standards beg for something more. I am not in favor of good qualified people having to jump multiple hurdles and answer to multiple committees. Most people think its bad enough having one boss. Its hard to battle an impending teacher shortage by making the job significantly tougher to get. I would like to see something that accurately reflects the passion someone has for the molding minds in a classroom. I have no idea what that may be. There has to be some sort of compromise where a person can prove their content knowledge while simultaneously demonstrating their passion. Mike Davis Science Theatre Productions www.stproductions.net [EMAIL PROTECTED] (773)343-2500 -- This is the CPS Science Teacher List. To unsubscribe, send a message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For more information: <http://home.sprintmail.com/~mikelach/subscribe.html>. To search the archives: <http://www.mail-archive.com/science%40lists.csi.cps.k12.il.us/>
