Are We Disqualifying Experience?

Does No Child Left Behind Include No Teacher Left Behind?

The concern for “highly-qualified teachers” as part of the NCLB is a primary and reasonable goal. Yet the impact on experienced teachers seems to have been removed from the equation. It was gratifying to learn that the Center on Education forum papers does address the mastery of teaching strategies – and that comes from experience. In the article Analysts Worry NCLB Won’t Solve Teacher Issues Ms. Cortese asserted that the HOUSSE fails to address elements such as improving teacher preparation and pay. Teachers are rewarded, financially, for experience, but now they will be penalized for not having specific hours in their subject matter or having passed the teacher certification. I have seen this backfire at St. Petersburg College. We had an excellent adjunct instructor who taught a certification course. He was experienced and worked full time in the subject area he taught. However, when we because a four year college, the state required that all instructors must have a Masters Degree with 18 hours in the subject matter they teach. This instructor, along with many others, decided it was not worth the effort. I agree that standards must be set, but whether one can be “grandfathered in” and credited with experience should be part of the equation.

These conferences will prove invaluable as time goes on and the effects of NCLB are witnessed. The argument remains that there is little time left in the classroom for subject matter with high-stake testing weighing heavily on the student, teacher and administration. We need to be sure, high-quality means high-quality.