Head of the teachers union AFT suggested that incoming teachers take an exam like attorneys do (bar exam).

 

The article was in the WSJ but it's a pay site.

 

Found an article on HuffPost about it.

 

I'd be curious to hear thoughts from existing teachers.

 

 

Ohio Teachers Debate Union Call For More Rigorous, Bar-Like Exam

Head of the teachers union AFT suggested that incoming teachers take an exam like attorneys do (bar exam).

 

The article was in the WSJ but it's a pay site.

 

Found an article on HuffPost about it.

 

I'd be curious to hear thoughts from existing teachers.

 

 

Ohio Teachers Debate Union Call For More Rigorous, Bar-Like Exam

 

I don't see why not. If nothing else, it'd be a great revenue stream for the states.

 

Financial advisors have to take exams, lawyers do, accountants do, nurses do, electricians do, etc., etc....Why not teachers?

I don't see why not. If nothing else, it'd be a great revenue stream for the states.

 

Financial advisors have to take exams, lawyers do, accountants do, nurses do, electricians do, etc., etc....Why not teachers?

 

Teachers do have to take exams. They are called Praxis II examinations that a teacher has to take upon completions of classes. A teacher would have to pass to get certified in there area, if they don't pass they won't be certified. So there are already test that teachers have to take to become certified.

What problem are we trying to solve with this? Do we feel that a good portion of teachers aren't competent in the subject matter in which they teach?

I don't see why not. If nothing else, it'd be a great revenue stream for the states.

 

Financial advisors have to take exams, lawyers do, accountants do, nurses do, electricians do, etc., etc....Why not teachers?

 

As futurecoach said, prospective teachers DO take exams. I had to take three: one exam in chemistry, one in physics and one in Principles of Learning and Teaching.

As futurecoach said, prospective teachers DO take exams. I had to take three: one exam in chemistry, one in physics and one in Principles of Learning and Teaching.

 

Ky requires passing the Praxis to be certified, but how many other states require the Praxis or something similar?

Ky requires passing the Praxis to be certified, but how many other states require the Praxis or something similar?

 

You can check individual states at this link: Praxis

What problem are we trying to solve with this? Do we feel that a good portion of teachers aren't competent in the subject matter in which they teach?

 

I was unable to read the editorial written by the AFT president so I can't answer that.

 

From the summaries I've read they feel it will raise the quality of teachers entering the profession.

For the record I know several lawyers who started out as teachers, did that a few years, then around 30; went the law route.

 

Interesting indeed.

 

To second what others have said, teachers have to take the Praxis II exams, many of them are logic type written exams ( probably more along the lines of L-SAT's?!)

I was unable to read the editorial written by the AFT president so I can't answer that.

 

From the summaries I've read they feel it will raise the quality of teachers entering the profession.

 

Possibly. Some things, tests can prepare and raise the qualities, but there are other instances during the day to day where no book, nor test, nor field hours that can prepare you like experience.

 

To this day, the best teachers I ever had and currently see today, are the ones who are the best communicators. Hands down. Which, in my opinion is grossly underrated in the profession. I'm not sure any test out there can gauge that? You either have it or you don't.

You can check individual states at this link: Praxis

 

Kentucky has some of the highest requirements around for some areas of teaching when compared to neighboring states.

Possibly. Some things, tests can prepare and raise the qualities, but there are other instances during the day to day where no book, nor test, nor field hours that can prepare you like experience.

 

To this day, the best teachers I ever had and currently see today, are the ones who are the best communicators. Hands down. Which, in my opinion is grossly underrated in the profession. I'm not sure any test out there can gauge that? You either have it or you don't.

 

I think that you hit the nail on the head. I've yet to meet a teacher that wasn't quite competent in their subject knowledge. However, some of the areas in which teachers struggle include classroom management and teaching method variety.

 

You can give teachers exams with increased rigor and you will get people with increased knowledge of content. However, that doesn't mean that you are improving the teaching that occurs in the classroom. It looks great on paper, though.

Head of the teachers union AFT suggested that incoming teachers take an exam like attorneys do (bar exam).

 

The article was in the WSJ but it's a pay site.

 

Found an article on HuffPost about it.

 

I'd be curious to hear thoughts from existing teachers.

 

 

Ohio Teachers Debate Union Call For More Rigorous, Bar-Like Exam

 

From waaaaaaaaaaay back when I first started teaching, like others have said, the Praxis IS required to teaching in most states I looked at as options. If memory serves me correctly, and I'm not sure why I remember this, Oregon had the highest requirements as far as scores are concerned in my field. Not sure why it would be a union debate, it's already required. I wish there was a tough test everyone had to take before they were allowed to have kids. That would raise scores quite a bit.

I think that you hit the nail on the head. I've yet to meet a teacher that wasn't quite competent in their subject knowledge. However, some of the areas in which teachers struggle include classroom management and teaching method variety.

 

You can give teachers exams with increased rigor and you will get people with increased knowledge of content. However, that doesn't mean that you are improving the teaching that occurs in the classroom. It looks great on paper, though.

 

Agree 100%. The ones that do the best on these tests, do not always make the best teachers. I will never forget my math teacher in high school. He was brilliant in math, but had a very hard time teaching it. He just couldn't understand why we didn't get it the first time he explained it......:lol:

 

Also classroom management is key. If you don't have control of you your classroom, doesn't matter that you scored high on these tests.

How about continuing education for teachers? Some subjects, and particularly technology change in time. I don't think teachers' continuing education would necessarily need to be as regular as other careers require, but I don't see much reason not to require continuing education of them. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, accountants, attorneys, financial professionals, architects, and engineers all have to participate in continuing education throughout their careers.