Thursday, April 20, 2006

Certifiable

Apparently, research shows a teacher's level of certification does not indicate effectiveness in the classroom. According to the Brookings Institution, certification also produces no significant increase in student performance.

Scholars offer this advice to school administrators: help more candidates get work as teachers and then devote greater efforts to identifying and keeping those who are most effective.

Researchers go on to say when districts reject sensible alternative licensure programs, they drive away professionals looking for a career change by requiring newbies to take extra classes at their own expense. Instead, after training in subject area and survival strategies, the new teacher should be given a trial in a classroom. Administrators should observe the teacher in action, retain those who excel and dismiss those who fail.

Could the answer be that simple?

19 Comments:

At 4/20/2006, Blogger Lofty said...

I think it is that simple. Certified in 3 states already, and taking some of the tests Florida requires this Saturday to make it 4, I am convinced most certification requirements mean nothing. All of the hoops are there to help insure that a first year teacher has the minimum skills necessary to be effective. Unfortunately, even the best educated, most dynamic, wonderful, first year teachers are not all that effective. Teaching, much like a sport, takes practice. Some people get better and better at it as they practice, some should find another career.

The one big problem I see with the Brookings recommendation is that administrators generally do a terrible job of observing and mentoring new teachers. Few principals can tell you what they have done in their building to increase teacher self-efficacy (which is a determinant of student performance), nor do they understand the real desire of novice teachers for frequent candid, meaningful, feedback. I had a professor once who said "The only reason to give grades in grad school is to keep people from wading in pig shit all their lives." In other words, let people know if they should be seeking a new career. Otherwise work as a colleague, not just an evaluator, to make sure they are effective.

 
At 4/20/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

As a teacher in my 6 th year and having come into this profession with no certification at all (I have all my papers now thank you!)), I have to totally agree with that article. (Especially since I was the one who brought it to your attention...thanks for the props!!!) Anyway, I have been teaching students with disabilities over these past 6 years. People continue to think I am working in a circus. In actuality, I have a profound fondness for students that other teachers look at in the hall as utterly unteacheable. (word??) To me, it has to do with interpersonal skill as well as knowing what you are teaching. I have seen teachers who at first intimidated me with their degrees and certificates, but later disappointed me because they just didn't get what teaching was really about. Just because you have initials next to your name or certifications up the wazoo, does not make you a good teacher. If our governments (state and federal)wanted to make a difference in education, they would take all the funding spent on these ridiculous certification programs they make teachers go through (hello!!!! ESOL???) and spend it on developing on site training programs to identify strong teachers based on actual classroom experience and effectiveness. And lets not overlook the fact that making this type of change would also free up more money to make teacher salaries competitive. (but, I am not complaining, I CHOSE to be a teacher)

 
At 4/20/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with Port Tampa - admin should do a better job observing teachers and offering constructive feedback. That would reduce turnover and help dedicated teachers improve.

Sunshine - you are a constant inspiration. Keep it UP. ;-)

 
At 4/20/2006, Blogger Lofty said...

"I have a profound fondness for students that other teachers look at in the hall as utterly unteachable." A teacher after my own heart. I'm willing to bet you possess what researcher Martin Haberman calls the dimensions of "star teachers" (he focuses on poor and minority students). They are: persistence, generating the desire to learn in others, taking responsibility for the learning of at-risk students, forming generalizations from specific acts, an awareness that teachers and students alike make serious errors, knowing what they must do to satisfy the school system and avoid burnout, and taking a professional rather than a personal approach to the classroom. That last one is tough. A professional approach includes the "unconditional positive regard" a therapist gives a client, not the "I teach because I love children" approach of many regular classroom teachers who fold like a house of cards as soon as one doesn't love them back.

Shit, you guys have me missing the classroom.

 
At 4/20/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Let me just go on record as saying that Sunshine (Mr. "Anonymous" above) is a great teacher. Persistent doesn't even begin to cover it.

And we could use more thought-provoking teachers in the classroom. Plenty of openings next year, PT. I know of one teacher in particular who isn't returning...

:-(

 
At 4/20/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Moonbeam, with comments like that, people are going to think we actually like each other!

 
At 4/20/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

OMG, a discussion that is bordering on conservative education principles - teacher certifications, along with smaller class sizes and wired classrooms, show little or no measurable effect on student progress.

Expectations, testing and accountability work best. And guess what, we have actual evidence of it, not just testimonials (which don't matter anyway do they kate?). Even the Brookings can't keep it's head in the sand anymore. How much longer will you Kate?

 
At 4/20/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice shot at the end, C.

Please don't tell me we've found common ground. That would ruin my whole day.

 
At 4/20/2006, Blogger Lofty said...

Mr. C- Actually, smaller class sizes,as well as smaller schools, do have a measurable positive effect on student achievement. Smaller class size is also a positive correlate of retention of high performing teachers. (Hmmm, methinks the two are probably related.) Since about 61% of teachers cycle in and out of teaching every 5 years, it makes more sense to try to retain the experienced than to recruit new teachers because teacher experience is another correlate of student achievement. Bracey and Molnar did an excellent job in covering the relevant research in "Recruiting, Preparing and Retaining High Quality Teachers: An Empirical Synthesis" (2003) available online through Arizona State U.

As for wired classrooms-depends on what you mean by "wired." Computer use for instruction is not a statistically significant predictor of student success. However, in those school systems where computers have significantly reduced teachers' administrative workloads they do have an impact on teacher satisfaction and retention, and you guessed it, teacher satisfaction and retention are predictive of student success.

 
At 4/20/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

PT - You lost him at "Actually".

 
At 4/20/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

As a once in a while browser of this site.. (to the dismay of my dear friend Moonbeam) I am myself dismayed that so few of us have chosen to comment on this topic. Call me crazy, but I really feel that education in this country has become more about "who has dropped the ball and how can we scare the sh&* out of those in charge of it now"...rahter than "who is going to pick it up and RUN with the damn thing!!!) Again, I CHOSE to be a teacher and really like my job. But I mean, if we are looking for more people, and quality people at that, how are we going to attract those that would really do a good job and stay for a while if they see an existing mess, no real viable means to clean it up, an well, not much financial incentive?

 
At 4/20/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Look, it's not whether we took a few liberties with our female party guests.....WE DID! ;)

 
At 4/21/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

*beaming*

Conservatives with an ax to grind are not looking for solutions. They want to do away with public schools altogether.

 
At 4/21/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Actually, no I don't. I believe public school have a very large role to play in our education system. What I want to change is how they are administered and how they survive. At the very least, I believe there is a system available today to bring public schools up to par with private schools and at the same time help rebuild the communities in which they reside (for those that need it). And the best part of all, there isn't an autocratic director deciding which schools stay and which go. Student achievement and parent satisfaction make the decision.

PT, the study you reference is focused on teacher training, retention and satisfaction. From the summary the study itself provides, This report provides a synthesis of research on teacher shortage and teacher quality topics. The authors provide several recommendations including that Colleges of Education should work collaboratively with school districts and community colleges in the recruitment, preparation, and retention of teachers.

Considering the original topic of this post is, research shows a teacher's level of certification does not indicate effectiveness in the classroom. According to the Brookings Institution, certification also produces no significant increase in student performance, then you clearly have not been paying attention. Teacher certification, training, retention may make better teachers in your opinion and those of your colleagues, but it plays no role in student achievement and performance. Simply making the argument that we need teachers recruited, prepared and retained requires several implicit assumptions (which are mostly false) by the researchers about the role teachers play in a childs education and their success. The students are what matter, not the teachers.

Since liberal kate's original post refutes the only evidence you have provided, I'm not going to bother with you any further. I will simply dismiss you for not paying attention.

Typical of the liberal side of education reform discussions - Completely. Off. Point.

 
At 4/21/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ech. Such a pompous ass. Saying you care about students while blowing off teachers is a contradiction.

I knew you wouldn't get it.

 
At 4/21/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ahh, name calling. The typical liberal response to a solid conservative argument. Thank you for helping me win a bet.

Until next time.

 
At 4/21/2006, Blogger Lofty said...

Mr. C- I think you must be springloaded to the kneejerk position as I agree that most certification requirements are completely bogus, as do the writers I cited (though they didn't come out and use the term "bogus"). My citation was not of a research study, but a "synthesis" of research which, if you examine the footnotes will lead you to the original research that pertains to teacher certification requirements, teacher quality and student achievement. I'll type real slow-teacher certification does not significantly affect teacher quality. Teacher quality is affected by satisfaction and retention. Teacher quality has a small affect on student achievement.

So you are correct, student quality matters more than teacher qualtiy in the student achievement equation. Student socio-economic status, health status, level of parental education, hours of television viewed, even access to clean drinking water and lack of exposure to lead, all have a greater impact on student achievement than teacher satisfaction, retention, and quality. So instead of fighting about teacher quality and accountability let's put our efforts where they really need to be. Let's completely privatize all education now, and just license parents.

 
At 4/21/2006, Blogger Lofty said...

Kate- on second reading I noted a subtext in Mr. C's response to my comment that seems to indicate he really wants to keep this a private thing between the two of you. Perhaps it was your post about bra shopping.

 
At 4/21/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, that's hysterical. And so true. Although, you know what he really likes? My calls for socialized medicine and redistribution of wealth.

Gets him HOT.

 

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