The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) alerts in its latest study of teacher preparation programs that “Many in the field…have rejected any notion that its role is to train the next generation of teachers.”
For instance, California now allows elementary school teacher certification candidates to major in anything except elementary education. This study draws attention to this and many other shortfalls in United States teacher preparation, while providing a ranking of preparation programs.
What kind of candidate do most undergraduate education programs deem acceptable for the teaching profession? Shockingly, a 2.5 high school grade point average is sufficient for admittance to most of these schools. Such a low standard guarantees that young adults with subpar levels of academic aptitude will be granted control over the education of millions.
A 2.5 high school GPA does not necessarily doom someone to failure as an adult. However, a GPA this low in high school often reflects poor academic training or a lack of a desire for learning — hardly qualities desirable in teachers. Even more alarming is that most teacher candidates are required to demonstrate proficiency at “only middle-school level skills.”
One glaring shortfall with preparation programs is woefully inadequate reading instruction. According to the study, only 29 percent of elementary and secondary programs require even minimal reading instruction. These minimal standards are quite easy to meet — just two lectures and an assignment for each of five reading instruction components. Is it any wonder that 16 percent of Americans are functionally illiterate?
According to NCTQ, a full 30 percent of Americans never become proficient readers. Yet the NCTQ notes that reading instruction is “basically a free-for-all, with each instructor providing his/her own unique mishmash of content…”
Preparation of teachers in English instruction also proves dismal. For instance, New Mexico has the highest proportion of Hispanic residents. NCTQ studied seven out of the eight elementary education training programs in the state. Of these programs, five scored the lowest possible rating on English instruction. And nationally, 70 percent of education programs also scored a zero.
Most expect elevated levels of immigration over the next several decades. Millions of young people in particular need to be absorbed into this nation as productive citizens. Adequate English instruction is tantamount to their success, yet many of these students stand to be subjected to inadequate teaching methods.
Lawyers, doctors, and engineers all study methodology, procedure, and theory prior to practicing, yet much of the educational establishment chose to veer away from training teachers how to instruct. NCTQ explains that the problem of “personal philosophies” permeates teacher preparation. Just as acting according to a “personal philosophy” could result in a mistrial for lawyer’s client, a surgery gone awry for a doctor’s patient, or an engineer’s bridge collapsing, so a teacher’s “personal philosophy” risks forcing permanent ignorance on pupils.
