A beyond-capacity crowd of teachers told the Utah state school board last week that it is making a big mistake by allowing non-certified people to join their ranks.
The board adopted a program in June endorsing the hiring of instructors in public schools who do not have any classroom training. People who possess a bachelor’s degree and pass a “mastery of course” test can be hired to teach. The board’s action was motivated by teacher shortages caused by low-retention rates and a decline in students majoring in education.
However, current teachers don’t approve of the board’s solution to the problem of attracting teachers. As teacher Cara Baldree put it, “Just because you comprehend third-grade math doesn’t mean you can teach third grade math.”
Teacher Roger Donohoe disagreed with the boards decisions as well, telling the board,”Instead of fixing a leak in the dam, you’re plugging the hole a stick of dynamite.”