Why do teachers so resist the notion of a basic teacher competency test?

Question

Teachers and teachers unions consistantly fight against any sort of basic teacher competency testing. Why is it that teachers are the only professional group in the US who believe they should not have to demonstrate a mimimum level of competency (basicaly 9th grade equivalent) in order to engage in their profession? By the way, most teachers I have met are complete idiots. I actually understand why they oppose this notion; because most would fail. "Education" as a university major is a very bad joke and produces some of the greatest morons in our society.

Answer 1

Degrees in education are the worst joke ever perpetuated on the American tax payer. Competency exams would start to expose and unravel this fascist organization for what it really is. A social engineering experiment gone bad.

Lizzy---Who is teaching our students now? Take a look at a lot of American universities and see how many new students are in remedial subjects. Its a huge shock to find out you have to study .How about requiring teachers to get degrees in REAL subjects. Math, science, etc. Education can be a minor. Its a national disgrace that we have to import so much of our brain power these days. I plan on going into adult education myself after I retire. Maybe I can undo some of the damage.by teaching something people can use.

Answer 2

I think it depends on the person who is taking the test and which test he/she needs to take. I know several people who have taken the AEPA (Arizona's teacher competency test) and could not pass it after 4 or 5 times and decided not to continue trying. The sad thing is they would have been awesome teachers. The tests do not show how well you will be able to teach in a certain area. They only test to make sure you know the material which is being covered. I have taken 3 different AEPA tests in 3 different areas and some of the questions are crazy. Plus, they only give you credit if you give the answer which THEY want. If you give an answer which is correct but they think a better one is the best choice then they mark it wrong. They do not realize that all people have different views on how to teach children. I feel that if a State Board of Education wants to know how a person will teach, then the State Board of Education should have someone go in and observe how the person will teach in a classroom. For example, I am a special education teacher and I use a lot of manipulatives in my teaching since most of my students learn better that way. I cannot show them how to use manipulatives on a competency test. However, if the State Board of Education would send someone in to observe me teaching the students with the manipulatives the person would get a better view at how I teach. As far as teacher retention, once a teacher passes the state specific test he/she needs then the teacher does not have to take them again as long as certification is always kept current. A teacher usually makes a personal decision to quit teaching. Many quit because of the low salary, disrespectful students, etc.

Answer 3

More than a competency test or higher pay to attract more intelligent teachers is needed to fix the looming education crisis.

Yes there should be testing, and no continuing ed is no substitute it is a moneymaking sham. Intelligent people can read a bulletin or be given a one hour summary of most one to two day courses.

The system needs a complete overhaul, and a politically incorrect one. Students need to be separated on learning abilities and desire so that classes can do the most good. I certianlly donth think high school should be an entitlement. By then those who are a disturbance should be sent to manual training academies.

Longer term studies and research on specific topics needs to be implemented (depth over breadth) If a person learns how to research, ask questions, and solve problems independently we will have much better journalist, chemists, engineers, inventors and doctors in the future.

There are some really good teachers (teachers at heart) out there and my heart goes out to them working in the current system. But there are a lot of slobs mixed in, coaching wannabes and people who just defaulted to a teaching major becase they didnt know what to choose, or didn't make it in another major.

In my major the professors called the second year first semester classes the "weed out" classes because they weeded out the ones who needed to go to teaching or business majors. Sad but true.

Answer 4

I think you answered your own question.

Union. The unions job is to make sure their members KEEP their jobs and to create circumstances to make MORE jobs. Smaller class sizes, no discipline administered by teachers, passing students who fail, etc.

The whole idea is to keep their job.

The U.S. has slipped from #1 in education to #12. Why? What's changed other than how education is administered? Union control.

What's the answer? Throw more money at it is the unions answer. Except for the fact that the more money we spend, the lower or educational progress moves!!

If teachers have to prove they're competent, and fail, then what do you do with them? The union won't let you fire them?

Politics is the only thing left for them!! The lawyers have made it so noone but another lawyer knows what a law means, the stupid (or stoopid) teachers could make them so any idiot could understand them!!!

Answer 5

I think that you have basically answered your own question. They would be quickly unemployed and there would be a sudden teacher shortage. It is also why home schooling and private schools have started to become more popular. There are now teachers in the public school system that are literally card carrying Communists and in class tell students that America is the evil empire and that capitalism is evil and that Communism is the best way to run a goverment. And the Communists at the ACLU quickly jump in to defend them. Another reason why I am so against Hitlery Rotten Clinton being president of this nation.

Answer 6

The Union opposes it because if there were to be such a test, we would have no teachers left... Same reason they hand out tenure after 3 years and teachers can't be fired without years of battling and red tape- "Education" is a joke!

Answer 7

My parents are teachers, 2 of my sisters and their husbands are teachers, and my wife is a teacher. Of the teachers that my daughters have had in school, one would would be a candidate for your theory, but mostly because she was unmotivated, the rest have been bright, intelligent people. Based on my personal experience, I find your broad sweeping generalization to be rather in bad taste.

Not all professionals have to be tested to prove their competency, I would hazard that most do not. Most school systems require continuing education which is a reasonable substitute for competency testing.

If you really want to have good teachers, I suggest making teaching a very desirable profession by making it high paying and competitive.

Answer 8

As far as I knew.... you have to take numerous tests before obtaining a license to be a teacher... such as the MTEL tests in Massachusetts. I'm not sure if that applies to all states, but I do know of many.

So there are competency tests...

and as for LonBears comment, "Degrees in education are the worst joke ever perpetuated on the American tax payer" ... I ask you.. if no one pursued a degree in education.. who would teach our children? Our future would see instant demise.

Answer 9

I totally agree with you ! Two thirds of teachers would fail a 6th grade test...We're on the brink of becoming a third world country !!!

Answer 10

I think you are right. Many would not pass. My son had to explain to his 4th grade teacher that a shark is a fish and not a mammal.