State To Require Teachers To Take Test On Reading

Broad Street Greenie wrote:

How about making prospective parents pass a few simple tests: can they run a household budget? can they read a bedtime story? what do they know about nutrition? How about basic first aid?
Teachers are not the end-all and be-all answer to the many problems children face. Fifteen year olds need to stop having sex that results in a little bundle of joy that they are ill equipped (financially and otherwise) to care for.
DOES THE WHOLE WORLD NEED A WAKE UP CALL?!!!

Well said!

ByeBye wrote:

Wow, are the teachers against this test, what are they afraid of? There should be tests for each subject a teacher teaches. I know most teachers have nothing to fear but I'll bet some do.

Where have you been? The tests are called Praxis!

Stop_ Nanny_States wrote:

<quoted text>
SPOT ON!
That's right. Let's blame the teachers for poor performance of students. What was that about the silk purse and the sow's ear?
These kids come to school, without their homework done, throwing things out classroom windows, and "it's the teachers' " fault.

Then flunk them ...but when you pass them along grade to grade ... then it becomes YOUR fault.

Wow! Look at all the screaming teachers. It seems from the tone of these posts that ALL parents are lame losers and ALL teachers are pure excellence. And let me guess, after all this parent bashing if a few posts critical of teachers appears then you'll all be up in arms shreiking that you're being bashed.

I was taking my kids to the library, reading to them, teaching them basic addition and subtraction skills and basic vocabulary before they ever stepped into a classroom. Many parents are their kids first teachers and we do just fine, and with a lot less bitchin' too.

Htfrd frst grd teachr wrote:

Put any test you want to in front of me, and I'll pass it. Build the $500 million dollar schools, and that won't change a thing either. You want a test for people to take? Here's one for EVERY parent out there:
1. How many minutes a day do you read to your child instead of plopping him/her in front of a video game?
2. Do you know where your local library is?
3. Do you speak english at home? Because if you don't, all state tests are in english that your child must pass.
4. Do you teach your child manners, respect, social skills which are appropriate for school?
Again, blame must be placed somewhere, so let's hit the front lines. Keep cutting the budget and taking away our reading funds (yesterday's headlines). Step into a suburban school and see how many on site tutors they have who work one on one with struggling students every single day. You want to build schools? Build a few for the "constant" little Johnnies and Janes who disrupt the class to the point where it's impossible to teach the other 19 in the room. Keep cutting the social workers who can provide the needed help to these kids too. The word 'inclusion" just doesn't work in the real world, sorry.
Happy "National Appreciation Week" teachers of CT!! Here's your thanks, another damn test......Anytime any one of you out there who wants an inkling about what our jobs are about, my door will be wide open for you to come through and get a firsthand look..

Many teachers just plain suck at their job so who do you blame for that?

Some facts from the 60's...

FACTS about this decade.
Population 177,830,000
Unemployment 3,852,000
National Debt 286.3 Billion
Average Salary $4,743
Teacher's Salary $5,174 (high end)
Minimum Wage $1.00
Life Expectancy: Males 66.6 years, Females 73.1 years
An estimated 850,000 "war baby" freshmen enter college; emergency living quarters are set up in dorm lounges, hotels and trailer camps.

Reader wrote:

Some facts from the 60's...
FACTS about this decade.
Average Salary $4,743
Teacher's Salary $5,174 (high end)

So what's your point? Would you expect someone back then with a college background to make the same as a coal miner or a sales clerk?

What does "high end" mean? A teacher nearing retirement age compared to our country's average salary?

Can't provide us with some other occupational salaries from that era-- only teachers? How about providing us with the same kind of data for the present decade.

What was your job and your average salary? What year did you retire?

Sparky wrote:

<quoted text>
So what's your point? Would you expect someone back then with a college background to make the same as a coal miner or a sales clerk?
What does "high end" mean? A teacher nearing retirement age compared to our country's average salary?
Can't provide us with some other occupational salaries from that era-- only teachers? How about providing us with the same kind of data for the present decade.
What was your job and your average salary? What year did you retire?

The average was probably closer to $4200 in the early 60's, there are facts on the national allotments and reqs on salaries etc in the edu field(s) for the searching, it would be interesting to compare stats from then and now. Simply, I sometimes wonder if anything was really any easier back then, before present day materialism and media hype, twinded it tentacles around the US as we know it to be today.
Five thou a year, a 30 yr mortgage, seems to be a pretty dautning task, for any young person starting out, no matter what the year would be.
You did see min wage was 1.00? Surely the net must have some of the other "facts" you're asking about...

Reader wrote:

<quoted text>
The average was probably closer to $4200 in the early 60's, there are facts on the national allotments and reqs on salaries etc in the edu field(s) for the searching, it would be interesting to compare stats from then and now. Simply, I sometimes wonder if anything was really any easier back then, before present day materialism and media hype, twinded it tentacles around the US as we know it to be today.
Five thou a year, a 30 yr mortgage, seems to be a pretty dautning task, for any young person starting out, no matter what the year would be.
You did see min wage was 1.00? Surely the net must have some of the other "facts" you're asking about...

Sorry if I had you pegged wrong, but I thought you might have been knocking teachers by showing us that even 40 years ago, we were making more than the average salary.

I can remember, my dad buying a new Oldsmobile in 1964 for a little over $3,100. A Cadillac was closer to $5,000.

What gets me is back then a single paycheck could support a family and there could still be enough money left over to put into savings. The woman's lib movement kind of pushed the notion of a 2-paycheck family and that became the norm and the basis for prices in the early 70's. Sadly, women's pay still hasn't caught up. And I'm saying this as a male.

eliasin robles wrote:

It was about time!!!!!

I agree. As a college professor, it breaks my heart that many students who major in education and aspire to be teachers are barely earning passing grades and their writing and critical reading skills are atrocious. When these students are in their early 20s, it's a little late to blame the parents. As adults, these students now make their own choices, and many of them simply don't want to accept the realities of the professional world. I know that I would not want many of my students to one day teach my children...

Sparky wrote:

<quoted text>
So what's your point? Would you expect someone back then with a college background to make the same as a coal miner or a sales clerk?
What does "high end" mean? A teacher nearing retirement age compared to our country's average salary?
Can't provide us with some other occupational salaries from that era-- only teachers? How about providing us with the same kind of data for the present decade.
What was your job and your average salary? What year did you retire?

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/img/incpov96/p...

pg 7 for a quick over all glimpse

Sparky wrote:

<quoted text>
Sorry if I had you pegged wrong, but I thought you might have been knocking teachers by showing us that even 40 years ago, we were making more than the average salary.
I can remember, my dad buying a new Oldsmobile in 1964 for a little over $3,100. A Cadillac was closer to $5,000.
What gets me is back then a single paycheck could support a family and there could still be enough money left over to put into savings. The woman's lib movement kind of pushed the notion of a 2-paycheck family and that became the norm and the basis for prices in the early 70's. Sadly, women's pay still hasn't caught up. And I'm saying this as a male.

No problem..that's why I thought comparing stats would be interesting-to see what is out of whack where so to speak, having been raised around that same timeframe, on a teachers salary, and also having worked in that 'arena' too.(maybe people were just still more budget minded then??)

Htfrd frst grd teachr wrote:

Put any test you want to in front of me, and I'll pass it. Build the $500 million dollar schools, and that won't change a thing either. You want a test for people to take? Here's one for EVERY parent out there:
1. How many minutes a day do you read to your child instead of plopping him/her in front of a video game?
2. Do you know where your local library is?
3. Do you speak english at home? Because if you don't, all state tests are in english that your child must pass.
4. Do you teach your child manners, respect, social skills which are appropriate for school?
Again, blame must be placed somewhere, so let's hit the front lines. Keep cutting the budget and taking away our reading funds (yesterday's headlines). Step into a suburban school and see how many on site tutors they have who work one on one with struggling students every single day. You want to build schools? Build a few for the "constant" little Johnnies and Janes who disrupt the class to the point where it's impossible to teach the other 19 in the room. Keep cutting the social workers who can provide the needed help to these kids too. The word 'inclusion" just doesn't work in the real world, sorry.
Happy "National Appreciation Week" teachers of CT!! Here's your thanks, another damn test......Anytime any one of you out there who wants an inkling about what our jobs are about, my door will be wide open for you to come through and get a firsthand look..

Totally agree!! But I have to also point out that certain methodologies used in modern curriculum are failing the students. Not the teachers' fault either. Encouraging a Kindergartener or 1st grader to write, for the sake of writing, and allowing them to repeatedly misspell words and utilize improper grammar just so they get used to writing down words is hurting the kids. My two daughters were completely frustrated by not being taught or corrected for 2 years, and then suddenly in second grade the teacher was telling them how to truly spell words or form sentences. They both love to read, but to this day are awful spellers. Now, my son- by contrast- different school system, different curriculum, learned the "right" way. He was instructed from day one on proper spelling, formation, grammar, etc. He never had a problem, is a stellar reader and speller.

Eddie M wrote:

Wow! Look at all the screaming teachers. It seems from the tone of these posts that ALL parents are lame losers and ALL teachers are pure excellence. And let me guess, after all this parent bashing if a few posts critical of teachers appears then you'll all be up in arms shreiking that you're being bashed.
I was taking my kids to the library, reading to them, teaching them basic addition and subtraction skills and basic vocabulary before they ever stepped into a classroom. Many parents are their kids first teachers and we do just fine, and with a lot less bitchin' too.

You sir, did a good thing. Unfortunately, today, not many parents take an interest in that and expect the job to be done for them. That's the issue the poster was making a point about.

Htfrd frst grd teachr wrote:

Put any test you want to in front of me, and I'll pass it. Build the $500 million dollar schools, and that won't change a thing either. You want a test for people to take? Here's one for EVERY parent out there:
1. How many minutes a day do you read to your child instead of plopping him/her in front of a video game?
2. Do you know where your local library is?
3. Do you speak english at home? Because if you don't, all state tests are in english that your child must pass.
4. Do you teach your child manners, respect, social skills which are appropriate for school?
Again, blame must be placed somewhere, so let's hit the front lines. Keep cutting the budget and taking away our reading funds (yesterday's headlines). Step into a suburban school and see how many on site tutors they have who work one on one with struggling students every single day. You want to build schools? Build a few for the "constant" little Johnnies and Janes who disrupt the class to the point where it's impossible to teach the other 19 in the room. Keep cutting the social workers who can provide the needed help to these kids too. The word 'inclusion" just doesn't work in the real world, sorry.
Happy "National Appreciation Week" teachers of CT!! Here's your thanks, another damn test......Anytime any one of you out there who wants an inkling about what our jobs are about, my door will be wide open for you to come through and get a firsthand look..

Well to answer your questions, like no 2 all I need is follow the stench of the homeless using the pc/s to find the building with books the government appproves. You would be surprised at how many teachers are rotten and are protected by your union. I hope they fire everyone one of them who fails,

It is called the PRAXIS II.

ByeBye wrote:

Wow, are the teachers against this test, what are they afraid of? There should be tests for each subject a teacher teaches. I know most teachers have nothing to fear but I'll bet some do.

Learning more and understanding more about language constructs is not a bad thing and many may actually find this is pretty interesting stuff that makes teachers more confident about the reading instruction they provide to students (although some teacher prep programs, I think, do a good job with this now); but, this point, of course, doesn't change the school and learning realities that so many others have already noted. Wow, that was one long sentence! It would also be good to know who else contributed in developing this test and whether there was or will be some sort of piloting as well as research examining if taking/passing the test positively impacts student achievement. Correlation or cause???Hmmm, does this remind anyone of the research on NCLB, highly qualified teachers, and student performance? On that issue, Education Week is a good source for articles and commentary for anyone interested.

This is not an either/or argument. It is true that many families do not support their children's learning adequately. However, it seems to me that is all the more reason to ensure that prospective teachers have the knowledge they need to effectively teach these children in spite of this. That is how we break the cycle.

Teacher preparation programs vary widely in quality. This test will force programs to evaluate their own students' performance on these tests and improve as needed.

I honestly don't understand the anger in previous comments about this. It seems like a common sense step to me.

Would you go to a lawyer who couldn't pass the Bar?

first off, i love teachers. they are needed and i wouldn't be where i am today without them. i'm 36 and i remember all my teachers from k-12, but couldn't tell you three college prof's names.

BUT, for every one really good teacher there are 2-3 not so good one's. my mother worked in a school system and currently my wife does. so many times i hear stories about when the bell rings the cars are racing out of the lot. teachers that sit behind their desk and get their work done because "i don't get paid to work at home". teachers that guesstimate grades because the don't have the desire to truely calc out the true grades. or teachers that don't want to follow that proceedure because it takes too long.

but, if i were a teacher i'd welcome a test every year or five to test my skills and show me where i can improve over what i've heard in the past which is paying a teacher or letting a teacher keep their job based on students performance. good luck if that ever happens!!

i, an engineer need to take a series of tests to prove i learned something in college...EIT/FE and PE exams. before i can stamp that drawing for that bridge you drive over i need to be well certified.

i would love to be a HS math teacher, teach kids Algebra, Geometry, PreCalc but in all honesty $35K and a year of student teaching and interning just isn't that attractive. i do have a BS in Engr, minor in Math and have probably 8-10 adv math classes under my belt, learned more theory than most. teachers make a lot of money, but it takes way too long to make it. granted you have nearly 2 mo off in the summer, and a few weeks in the winter, but compare your salaries to some other professions that require certification and a master's degree...most of you teachers get my sympathy.

good luck

Fine. Let's also "test" high school seniors. Before they're allowed to graduate, the must prove THEY know how to read.