Replies to '11/24 Great School Debate'

Don't be mad or upset. Know that there are parents and people out there who recognize and appreciate the expertise that teachers are providing to our youth. I hear everything you said and agree with you. Educators and thier skills should not be taken for granted. I know I couldn't do it right!

 

Michelle

Parents diagnose their children's health issues on a regular basis, and only go to a professional when there is an illness. 

 

My children have had no problem with their education, so no need for a professional. 

 

Home education works, formal training is not necessary and doesn't show any better  results.  Too bad you feel insulted by that, it is simply the truth. 

 No Child Left Behind does not define what "highly qualifed" means.  That is defined at the state level.  Most states defined "highly qualified" as being able to pass a test that has been shown to have no correlation with a teacher's effectiveness in the classroom.  Moreover, this test is something that, in math, barely touched on anything above Calculus.  Oh, and that four year degree does NOT have to be in the subject taught, at least in South Carolina.  To make matters worse, if someone has been teaching for several years, they can be grandfathered in, despite abysmal ignorance of the subject taught.  The only thing that No Child Left Behind has done is give parents warm fuzzies, give lower grades more incentive to "pass on" students, so they won't look bad, and administer more tests.

The reality is that anyone with a high school diploma should be able to do reasonably well on the tests to be "highly qualified".  It won't happen that way, given the failures that are rampant in some schools.  I know one thing for sure, if your student has a learning disability, the school will spend a lot of money to cripple your child.  I watched it happen, as Special Ed teachers gave students the answers, rather than help students learn.

Teachers do not get the respect they deserve for the hard work they do, but there are a lot of bad teachers out there, too.  Don't think any of the special titles/certificates people can get indicate anything about that person's ability to teach.

You need to get over your insult at  having to share the educational stage with those you think are unqualified because they have no formal education training. It is a fact of life that a degree and specialized training is not needed to homeschool. Your training has more to do with teaching in an institutional setting with many children. Homeschooling is one-on-one. As far as teaching the subjects is concerned, most people that graduate high school should (in theory if the esteemed teachers have done their job) have the ability to teach to the high school level. My college degree is more advanced than an Ed degree so I feel especially qualified and to teach most subjects. Your comparison of the teaching profession to the medical profession is laughable. You are comparing a profession of low expectations to a field of high expectations and expertise. The only thing you seem to have correct is that teaching is not a hobby-nor is it a task that is so difficult or mystical that it takes formal training. You need a reality check in the worst way.