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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

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