According to the National Council on Teacher Quality, teachers in the United States are often unprepared for class or even more alarmingly, unqualified to teach. The Council reports that only 24 states in the country require a basic skills test when applying for certification; and it appears that across the nation there are shockingly low standards for elementary school teachers.
Teaching students to read is arguably the most important responsibility elementary teachers have but only 10 states assess teacher proficiency in reading and instruction, and only 11 states adequately test new teachers’ knowledge of basic mathematics. Thus, teachers are expected to instruct students to a level of proficiency which they themselves have yet to reach.
Students in the United States are constantly assessed on basic reading and math skills and are constantly scoring under grade level expectations. These students are then told that they are lazy and do not take their studies seriously. Some are given resource help to address particular needs, while others are simply held back to repeat classes and grades.
There is no doubt that the apathy of students plays a huge role in the performance issues facing America, however if we really want to fix this epidemic problem, educators need to take a look in the mirror… as does our entire society.
In countries where students outperform American students, the teachers are among the highest paid, most highly educated members of society, and the teachers themselves are devout in their dedication to their particular discipline and the educational process… all conditions which simply do not exist in the United States.
Thoughts?