`anne Frank' Revival Falls Flat Emotionally

After Holiday, Shoppers Rush Home With Leftovers

Sunday, December 28, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





Teaching standards in Pa. point way to educational excellence &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In the face of it, few could argue with Governor Ridge's proposal to
increase the quality of teaching in the state's public schools. Indeed, it
received a strong endorsement from the Pennsylvania State Education
Association (PSEA)- &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; although not without some caveatsAmong other things, the governor proposes
that qualifications for certification be upgraded, both to initially receive
it and- as something new- to keep it. Those seeking to teach grades 7 through
12 would be required to have a degree with no less than a B average in the
subject area they expect to teach. Also secondary school applicants would be
required to place higher than the national average on the standardized test
that all teaching applicants are required to pass. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Currently teacher applicants in Pennsylvania can qualify for certification
if their grades averaged 2.5 (C+) or higher. The governor's proposal to raise
that to a B is questioned by some educators on the basis that there is more to
teaching than scholarship. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Among examples cited are those outstanding authorities in their field who
have difficulty communicating their knowledge- or whose specialization is
beyond the needs of elementary and secondary level students. What is important
to the student is the ability of a teacher to make the subject matter
relevant, to bring it to life, and to get the student both interested and
involved in trying to put that knowledge to work. The ability to do that is
not measured by the average grade of the teacher when he or she was a student. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In fact, that is implicitly recognized by the governor in another of his
proposals- to allow what he calls "alternative certification." It would permit
a person who lacks academic credentials but has substantial "real life
experience" to qualify as a teacher. Such a person could earn certification
after a supervised, one-year experience at teaching in the classroom. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The point in question is that an "experienced" person could qualify for
certification without any academic background- no evidence of his or her
potential grade- while those who did undertake the rigors of academic training
would be required to maintain an unusually high average grade. Moreover, what
the "experienced" teacher would lack is training in the art and science of
teaching. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A PSEA spokesman was quoted as questioning whether this option is a
"loophole" designed to support another of the governor's excursions into
changing public education. His version of the Charter school as an alternative
to public schools permits the employment of "alternative certification"
teachers for 1/4 of its teaching staff. The crucial point for the governor
seems to be that Charter schools would have no teacher organization; they
would be non-union. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 His proposed requirement for above-average placement on the national
teacher tests for certification applicants, raises other questions. For
example, Pennsylvania, like most states, objects to any suggestion that there
be national standards for education. "One size does not fit all," they
proclaim. And they cite differences in cultures, needs, interests, and
purposes to justify independence. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Yet, every assessment of public school performance- using such things as
SAT scores- is based on comparisons with SAT score results in other states and
even other nations. Are national standards to be adopted, or are they not? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Still, the fundamental intent of the governor's proposals- to improve the
quality of education in Pennsylvania- cannot be questioned. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The enormous increases in the total sum of knowledge have already taken it
beyond the ability of any one individual to grasp. The resultant complexity of
everyday functions in the world demand an ever-higher level of understanding
and ability by anyone seeking to participate in it. The simplest task requires
an ever-higher degree of learning. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Education is the essential in gredient for the individual as it is for his
community, state, nation, and the world. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The governor's bid to attract only the "best and the brightest" into the
teaching profession, requires that the profession not only be that attractive,
but that government, business, and the public perceive it to be that
attractive. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 To reach that goal, improvement of teacher standards is but one step. There
are others, which are at least as important, and which must also be proposed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Tom Bigler is professor of communications at Wilkes University and a Times
Leader columnist. His column appears Sunday and Wednesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Teaching Standards In Pa. Point Way To Educational Excellence 
In The Face Of It, Few Could Argue With Governor Ridge's Proposal To Increase 
The Quality Of Teaching In The State's Public Schools. Indeed, It Received A 
Strong Endorsement From The Pennsylvania State Education Association (psea)- 
Although Not Without Some Caveats.