Teacher Certification Exams?

Question

I don't believe that passing a state exam(s) can make a teacher anymore than going to McDonalds can make anyone a hamburger. However, state exams get more complicated and more expensive as the years go by.

Now, what is your view of people who want to teach full-time but cannot pass certification exams even if their life depends on earning a state license? I personally know people who have a Master's Degree in different fields of study but are not certified because they cannot pass the NY State Teacher Certification Exams.

I personally do not want a teacher in the classroom teaching my son how to read and do basic math if he or she is struggling to pass state exams, which are not easy but at the same time, not impossible to pass.

What is your view of people who want to teach full-time, call themselves teachers but cannot pass state exams?

Your view?

Answer 1

First, until I had my certificate, I didn't call myself a teacher. Having a degree is one step in becoming a teacher.

I hate those tests! I'm in Illinois and I had to pass three to get certified. Two were required to graduate. The first was a basic skills test. It was ridiculously easy. If there is a college student out there who cannot pass it, they shouldn't be in college and certainly shouldn't be teaching. The other tests were harder, but I feel they were unnecessary. Why does the state believe I need to take a test if I am maintaining a 3.7 GPA at my University? Why does the state not trust the colleges in their state?

The tests were expensive in time and money. I had to drive a couple of hours to take them because they were not administered near me.

I just question how someone was able to graduate from college--some with honors--and not be able to pass these tests. There seems to be a problem in the University system that gives these people passing grades and moves them through the program and they don't have the knowledge to pass exams. Here, you can take it over and over again until you pass it. I don't believe that is correct either. I see nothing wrong with three stikes you're out. If you can't get your act together and pass these tests, why should you have the ability to stand in front of a classroom and teach children?

Answer 2

I graduated with BS in art education in '74, got my masters in guidance and counseling in '76. I taught for five years and was good at my job. I student taught for a semester as an undergraduate, and did practicum for my MS for a year. I never took a state test. In 2002 I graduated with an MS in special education with a perfect 4.00 but before certification I had to take a basic skills test. Now mind you I was 49 years old this time. I studied because it had been one long time since I took Algebra or had to tear a sentence apart to see the dangling participle. I passed with a 89% and felt very good about it. For my special ed certificate I had to take 5 tests in order to be certified as a Learning Behavior Specialist in the state of Illinois. You only had to earn 70% on these tests to pass. I luckily scored over 85% on every test. My point being that if a person can pass these tests at 49 (though I did study) then they should be able to pass them at 22 when their brains are surely much sharper than mine was. At least in Illinois there isn't a three strikes and you're out rule. It was probably the hardest thing I ever did but I did it. I don't believe it should be the end all if you don't pass - there should be another way - maybe extra classes, because it's a shame that it does keep people out of the field that might be excellent teachers.

Answer 3

Well, I think the teacher's exam is the minimum requirement to be licensed to teach. Would you want someone teaching your child who cannot pass a teacher's exam? However, you will NEVER learn how to teach until you are in a classroom alone with 25 children 180 days a year. If your students are not learning, then you can have a perfect score on every teacher's exam in the world and still can't teach worth a lick.

Answer 4

I am confused on your opinion, you seem to contradicts yourself.

"I don't believe that passing a state exam(s) can make a teacher anymore than going to McDonald's can make anyone a hamburger. "

Yet you also say

"I personally do not want a teacher in the classroom teaching my son how to read and do basic math if he or she is struggling to pass state exams,"

Now, my opinion is that teachers are not made, but born. College just gives teachers the fundamentals of child development and psychology along with theories to better them in the classroom. Yes, there are some people who are simply poor test takers, but teacher spend 4 years for this stuff. We have to make sure our teachers are quality teachers, standardized testing is one way of doing this.

Answer 5

we go to college for 4 years and even though you graduate with a 3.5 now you have to take 1 test on all the knowledge you learned in the past four years. there is no way to study and it's almost like a hit or miss. we only get 3 chances and then our whole college career is down the tubes. it would be like asking your son to take 1 math test at the end of 5th grade and he may only go to 6th grade if he passes. if he fails 3 times he can no longer go to school period! sound stupid? teachers are well prepared to teach out of college and are provided extensive resources once we get a job. did you ever hear the saying that "teachers are life long learners" ? that is bc we are continually taking classes to better educate your childen for THE REST OF OUR LIVES. who cares if we couldn't pass 1 test. that is why the government should let us alone and do THEIR jobs and we'll do ours. besides...it's hard for ANYONE to understand what teachers do and go through for your children, cut them some slack and have some faith! believe me...teachers do not teach for the reward of their pay check...they teach forthe reward of making a difference in children's lives!

Answer 6

There's some pretty good answers here; however. consider: maybe a person just isn't good at standardised testing. Just because someone can't pass a test does not mean they can't be great teachers....