TEACHER PREPARATION Most any student eligible for entrance into our Wisconsin universities can be admitted to our 35 teacher training courses. In South Korea, only 5% of applicants are admitted to elementary education courses. In Finland only 1 in 10. We produce a surplus of teachers. Despite our many highly dedicated teachers, we employ relatively low standards when hiring teachers. A bipartisan but controversial National Council on Teacher Quality evaluation study found that not one of our thirty-five Wisconsin education institutions cracked the top list of education schools in the country. A more recent Four Star 2017 survey identified only two of our schools as even Two Star! Why not allow only those Wisconsin high school graduates with the top third of SAT scores be admitted to teacher education? With tougher certification, competitive salaries and an exciting, challenging “Stretch Targets” culture, will we not begin getting again the ‘best and the brightest’ to teach? Most experts agree that effectiveness in teaching is not a question of charisma. Rather it is a mastery of subject, good coaching and hard work at learning the craft. “Good teachers are not born, they’re made!” (Elizabeth Green)
CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS Wisconsin and Massachusetts were at similar levels of mediocre K-12 performance back in 1993. Today, Massachusetts, now at global achievement levels is rated the best state in the nation, while Wisconsin has shown virtually no improvement. What did Massachusetts do differently? According to a Wisconsin Policy Institute study, just two things: (1) Created and implemented six years later very rigid, targeted high school graduation requirements (MCAS). (2) Required, like their lawyers and their doctors, that all K-12 teachers be certified to very high standards in their respective subjects (MTEL). The first year only 40% of the Massachusetts teachers were so certified. The State gave the remaining 60% five more years to pass. “Muscle and weight behind state standards!” (A. Borsuk, Refocus Wisconsin) Yet in Wisconsin in August, 2016, sadly the DPI to recruit teachers made it rather easier to be licensed!
EXCEPTIONAL TEACHERS/TEACHER RESPECT The first requirement for exceptional teachers is to NOT feel sorry for their students. Rather, to come into the class room each day with very high expectations for their kids! These certified teachers that buy wholeheartedly into “Stretch Targets” and work hard to improve their skills and the skills of fellow teachers are a critical factor in performance. Most of our Wisconsin teachers are good, well intentioned and want more of their students. As an entire district moves ahead on “Stretch Targets”, and eventual huge improvements in performance and rising student scores are observed by the public, community respect for these great teachers will grow enormously.