News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Letters

October 30, 2009

Readers' forum: Oct. 31, 2009

People ill-informed about license changes for teachers



I am truly concerned with what Dr. Tony Bennett is attempting to do with public education in Indiana, especially with teacher licensing and such. As a teacher and librarian, it looks to me as if he is ready to let just about anyone with a high school diploma and some work experience become a teacher or a “workplace specialist.” I am totally amazed at the power this man has assumed and how he has eliminated so many people from the Department of Education. (I understand his wife is a charter schools consultant in Indiana — seems to be a conflict of interest here somehow!)

Recently, I received some background from the Indiana State Teachers Association. I would like to share it.

“In July, Dr. Tony Bennett, Superintendent of Public Instruction, proposed that the Advisory Board of the Division of Professional Standards change teacher preparation, teacher licensing and school administrator licensing regulations. With the exception of life licenses, all other teachers will be impacted.

“High standards for the teaching profession are crucial to our students receiving the high quality instruction they need and deserve. As professionals, teachers are committed to ensuring that all of our students receive the very best instruction possible, and higher standards for licensure are the foundation for high quality instruction.

“At the same time, we are committed to assuring that teachers are treated as professionals who should be trusted with the responsibility for their own professional development, and we are adamantly opposed to requiring teachers to pass a test as a condition of relicensure.”

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has scheduled three public hearings to receive comment on the proposed rule revisions for educator preparation and accountability. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, the hearings are all during the school day, from 10 a.m. to noon. They are Oct. 27 at Rochester High School in Rochester; Oct, 29 at Scottsburg Middle School in Scottsburg; and Nov. 2 at the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis.

ISTA has made a formal request to the Department of Education to reschedule the hearings for a time that is convenient for educators. For more information on the proposed changes, go to: www.doe.in.gov/news/2009/07-July/REPA.html.

I feel that most citizens have no idea about what’s going on here, and someone needs to open this up and inform the public so they can respond and take action before it’s all over and done!



— Karen Long

Terre Haute

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Letters
Latest News
Multimedia
Like us on Facebook!
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
Front page
AP Video
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast Raw Video: National Mall Concert Shut Down Beryl Threatens Rain, Winds on Southeast Coast Tropical Storm Beryl Strengthens, Nears US Coast UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks Shell Readies Arctic Drill Ship Today in History Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results Astronauts Enter World's 1st Private Supply Ship Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria Dragon Arrives at Space Station in Historic 1st Passenger Restrained on Flight to Miami Arrested Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
NDN Video
Woman, 80, Falls Out of Skydive Harness Mid-Jump Dog runs alonside cyclists for 1,100 miles Lady Gaga Cancels Indonesian Show After Threats Obama Honors Fallen Troops at Arlington Cemetery Long Story Short: Beyonce back on stage Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD Raw Video: Man Rescued From River in China Celtics crush Sixers in Game 7 Alleged Lego Thief Faces Felony Charges Has Snooki Named Her Baby? Heat Wave Warms Holiday Weekend Beyonce Entertains the First Family Inspiration for the class of 2012 Colorado College Student Shot While Trespassing Will Smith & Josh Brolin on "Men in Black 3" 80-Year-Old Skydiver's Nightmare Jump JWoww Sizzles in a Black Bikini Sliders on the Grill Cruise ship crunch Backstage With Beyonce
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News