Public forum, Oct. 29

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October 29, 2009

Anonymous Pharos-Tribune Thu Oct 29, 2009, 08:31 AM EDT

Comments sought on teacher rules

The Rules on Educator Preparation and Accountability are under deliberation by the Indiana Department of Education. Public comments are welcome until Friday at www.doe.in.gov/repacomment.

The proposal, if approved as constructed, will have huge implications on how teachers and administrators are licensed, how future teachers are educated and, ultimately, on the K-12 students in our public schools. Dr. Tony Bennett, Indiana’s superintendent of public instruction, has rightly observed that the most important factor in determining a high quality education is having the very best teachers. All of us at Indiana University Kokomo agree with him, but not on the ways to ultimately achieve that goal.

We are concerned that some of the approaches planned under the new rules would have a negative impact on teacher preparation and quality. The principle rationale offered for many of the changes is that the State of Indiana needs to make it easier for individuals to become licensed teachers and school administrators. For example, Superintendent Bennett cites a looming shortage of qualified teachers in the areas of mathematics, science, and technology. What he doesn’t mention is that the state already has a successful “Transition to Teaching” program that requires only 18 credit hours to earn a teaching license in secondary education and 25 credit hours for elementary education.

Another proposed reform asserts that dramatic changes are required to strengthen the content knowledge base of teachers. This implies that current teachers lack the necessary content knowledge for their courses; an assumption that is not true and one that we do not agree with.

IU Kokomo’s Division of Education offered a program similar to Superintendent Bennett’s proposal. In 2007, with the input of the community, students, and faculty, the campus introduced a revised secondary education program. This action was based on the feedback of our students who declared a strong preference to earn a degree in secondary education rather than one based in the subject area.

The proposed rules also would have an impact on pre-school licensure, effectively eliminating the early childhood generalist license. This change would severely reduce the pool of highly qualified teachers, prepared to meet the early childhood education needs of this region.

IU Kokomo and our Division of Education are dedicated to preparing the very best teachers for our region’s schools. Please take time to voice your concerns at www.doe.in.gov/repacomment.

Stuart M. Green, interim chancellor

and Julie Saam, interim dean of the division of education

Indiana University Kokomo

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